According to psychologists, it's more satisfying to spend money on experiences than material goods. That's why many holiday gift-givers are choosing to forego traditional presents, in favor of giving recipients the opportunity to learn a new skill or explore a lesser-known corner of San Francisco.
Interested in giving the gift of an experience this holiday season? Here are six places that specialize in exactly that.
Workshop (1798 McAllister St.): Since 2009, this NoPa favorite has taught DIY skills to the masses, from sewing and knitting bootcamps to leatherwork to photography. Students can take day-long workshops covering a variety of skills, or project-oriented workshops that aim to create a single item, from a macrame plant hanger, apothecary shelves, homemade ginger beer.
San Francisco City Guides: One of the city's most underappreciated resources, the City Guides (a program of the SF Public Library since 1980), provide free, donations-accepted tours of the city's landmarks to locals and tourists alike.
Some of their offerings spotlight San Francisco's greatest hits, like the Japanese Tea Garden or Fisherman’s Wharf, while others, like a tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco filming locations or an architecture tour of the city's "grand old clubs," explore forgotten histories that will impress even a lifelong SF resident. Give a generous donation to your guide, and maybe throw in lunch at the conclusion of the tour.
Garden For the Environment (7th Ave. and Lawton St.): This Inner Sunset center aims to teach San Franciscans how to sustainably grow their own food, with classes for gardeners of every skill level. Most workshops run $25 or less, and cover topics like raised bed construction, urban composting, and how to plant appropriately for each season. There are even classes on the ins and outs of raising backyard farm animals, like chickens and ducks.
SCRAP (801 Toland St.): Local artists love this not-for-profit "creative reuse center," which sells a labyrinth of donated textiles, craft supplies and other materials at low prices. SCRAP also offers a workshop space, with classes in weaving tapestries from paper, "yarn-bombing" (the graffiti art of covering basic objects with yarn), sculpture-making with found objects, and sewing. Offerings vary depending on teacher availability, and new classes pop up regularly; most are under $40.
The Cheese School (2124 Folsom St.): Satisfy your cravings and learn more about cheese at the Cheese School, which educates students in both cheese tasting and cheesemaking. Students can learn the best cheese pairings for other beloved foodstuffs like wine, beer and chocolate, or explore the cheeses of a particular region of the world, from France to Spain to Portugal. And cheesemaking classes offer wannabe cheesemongers the chance to learn how to make their own burrata, mozzarella and chevre.
Urban Hiker: Get a different perspective on San Francisco with one of Urban Hiker's four- to five-mile city hikes, which run $49/person. Their moderate to strenuous group treks include the Goldsworthy Gallery tour, which focuses on Andy Goldsworthy's rustic outdoor sculptures in the Presidio; the Tales of the City tour, which traverses Telegraph Hill and North Beach; and the Urban Jungles tour, which explores the forested hilltops of Sutro and Twin Peaks. For those seeking a challenge, private hiking tours are also available.
Looking to give a more traditional holiday gift? Check out our neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the best local stores for holiday shopping, and our guide to local craft and maker fairs.
