When I was little, I used to include the exact page and item numbers from the Toys R Us Catalog in my gift lists to my parents so there was no mistaking what I was asking for. Not sentimental, but effective. But the older I get, and the more cluttered my house gets, the more I’d rather do something than have something — to have a one-of-a-kind experience that stays in my memory, not in my closet.

The following gifts offer the chance to explore the best of what the area has to offer, around Baltimore and beyond. There are things to drink and eat, wonders both natural and artistic to behold, and opportunities to do absolutely nothing at all.

leslie.streeter@thebaltimorebanner.com