Wherever You Will Go
We are in the FINAL stretch toward the holidays – with Christmas just 12 days away, now might be a good time to start singing songs about maids-a-milking and golden rings. If you’e still stumped for what to gift someone, first of all – have you been reading the CGG this year? I’m kidding, sort of. But really, if you’re stuck on a particular person on your shopping list, I’ve got the perfect catch-all gift that’ll work for just about anyone.
Breakaway Experiences is a relatively new business on the block. Having launched in June 2014, their role is to curate top notch, trusted suppliers to give your giftee the experiences of a lifetime. All you have to do is think back to the time your mother-in-law / cousin / non-materialistic best friend said, “You know, I’ve always wanted to try…” and take it from there. Browsing the Breakaway Experiences website is like reading most people’s bucket lists, with activities categorized by type – from action & adventure through to a day at the spa – to make it easy to find the perfect ‘day’ to gift someone with.
You have two choices in terms of ‘what’ to gift someone from Breakaway Experiences. You can either single out a individual experience – like dog sledding or horseback riding – or you can present someone with a gift certificate for them to pick out their own special activity. If you do go the former route, rest assured – they can always exchange their experience for something else, if say, you find out they’re actually deathly afraid of horses after you buy them a trail ride afternoon. Your options, as the pictures above demonstrate, aren’t just limited to any one season either. In fact, there’s a whole ‘Winter‘ category on the site that hones in on activities for the snow bunnies of the world.
At the moment, Breakaway Experiences only offers up activities in four provinces (BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) but they are expanding at a quick clip, so keep your eye on their site to watch for new, exciting experiences you can partake in. That being said, there’s also something to be said for gifting someone with an experience as part of a bigger gift, like a trip to Montreal for a weekend of shopping, dining, and dance lessons.
Location limitations aside, there are many ways in which Breakaway Experiences makes a stellar gift. Corporate offices looking to treat their employees to something more thrilling (and less fattening) than a basket of chocolate can gift each employee some cash to spend on the experience of their choice – whether they want to jump off a plane or simulate flying one. Foodies looking to try out something new will love the culinary and brewery tours, exclusive menus, and cooking classes offered up. It’s a unique gift idea that can work if you know someone really well – and thus know how badly they’ve wanted to go caving or whitewater rafting for the last decade – but is equally useful for when you’re a little less familiar with someone’s needs or tastes. The site even has a Wedding Registry option for newlyweds looking to infuse some adventure into their lives together.
Perhaps most relevantly though, Breakaway Experiences is the perfect choice for people who have enough stuff – and for those who are tired of shopping for it. If you’re got festive fatigue and are exhausted trying to scope out (and obtain!) that perfect present, here’s a tip from the gift maestro herself: create a memorable day for your loved one instead. Our memories generally last longer than our physical items. While I LOVE seeking and sharing gift ideas with you guys, I regularly buy things for my loved ones that fall into the experience category, because I know that sometimes the greatest gift of all, is some time to enjoy life and all it has to offer.
Did I mention though, that Breakaway Experiences also works in a pinch because it’s instant? If you forgot someone or you just missed out on that last sweater in size small that you know your mom would love, well then, never fear. Breakaway Experiences has got you covered. And so do I! I’m giving away 2x $75 Breakaway Experiences gift certificates to treat yourself or a loved one to a day they won’t soon forget. If you’re interested in nabbing one of them, here’s how to enter for your shot at winning:
1) Subscribe to the Canadian Gift Guide by entering your email (or clicking ‘Follow’) in the ‘Gift of Gab’ Box’ on the righthand column of this page. You MUST be a subscriber to enter this giveaway – if you already subscribe, good on ya! Once you’ve signed up, leave a comment on this post by midnight on December 25, 2014, telling me which activities you’d like to try out from the Breakaway Experiences website.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 26, 2014 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: There are a two ways to score extra entries into this exciting draw. Whatever entries you do, it is imperative that you leave proof of your bonus entry activities in separate comments. If you do them all in one comment, they won’t be counted.
– Like Breakaway Experiences on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall telling them what your favourite activity ideas are. Link back to your FB wall post in a separate comment below.
– Follow Breakaway Experiences on Twitter and send out a Tweet about this giveaway that tags them and me (@cdngiftguide) and links back to this post. Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I’d love to try the cooking class with the Urban Element, the bi-plane flight for two over Parliament Hill (‘tho I’d be scared out of my mind!) and the high tea spa party at The Upkeep Shoppe.
I posted on BE’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BreakawayExperiences/posts/1535182450056825
caving in Collingwood
I’d like the Horseback Riding Experience for my granddaughter or the spa for myself.
Ottawa River guided fishing for my husband
http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/glassblowing-workshop
Glassblowing Introductory Workshop in Ottawa. I always wanted to try this! They actually have a whole course, which would be great for someone who lives in the city. (Ok, off to explore what else they are offering 🙂 )
The Craft Beer and Culinary Tour (in Victoria BC) would be just the thing to make my husband a very happy man -he is a beer snob! 🙂
I have always wanted to go caving so the Collingwood caving
Both hubby & I would love the brewery tour!
I would love the Lady’s Spa Day at Novo Spa! http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/novo-spa-ladys-day-spa
Hmmm the chocolate spa, caving, Flying on a bi- plane that all sounds Awesome to hard to pick just one
I would love the Seadoo – Bowen Island Dinner Tour
I’m torn. I would love the dog sledding, but I hate the cold. Maybe the brewery would be better 🙂 or brewery then dog sledding, even better.
I’ve always wanted to try dogsledding so I’d pick that.
I’d love to try the Brewery Tour
I’m a subscriber. From the Breakaway Experiences website I’d like to try out their “Dark Table – Dinner for 2” thanks.
I would like to take the Distillery tour in Vancouer.
i would love to do the Renewal Spa Package at Novo Spa
spa package
I would enjoy the Renewal spa package! Thanks
Would love to experience the Luxury for 2 at Novo Spa.
A guided fishing tour for my husband would be a wonderful gift to win! Thank you for all the exciting offers!
I would like the –> Mount Pakenham – All-Day & Night Adult Ski/Snowboard Lift Ticket
in Pakenham, ON
I Like Breakaway Experiences on Facebook
Here’s my comment on their page https://www.facebook.com/BreakawayExperiences/posts/1535244036717333?comment_id=1535479553360448&offset=0&total_comments=1
I follow @BreakawayExp on twitter.
Here’s my tweet:
The Drag Race Experience in Cayuga for me and my hubby would be wonderful!
Tough call, river rafting, ziplining or tandem skydiving would all be amazing. I better stop looking at the offerings as they all look so tempting.
There are a few but I have always wanted to try but the tandem sky dive would be first http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/tandem-skydive-12500-ft
Some great activities to try, I’d like to try this one: http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/brewery-tour
I’m a subscriber.
heli hike in alberta!
I would love to try whitewater rafting
Dog Sledding looks amazing! would love to try that this winter!
I think the Scuba for 2 would be awesome
I want to try the dark table dinner for two in vancouver
I would love to go on a shopping trip in Montreal!
I would love to do the dog sledding experience!
Lady’s Spa Day at Novo Spa http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/novo-spa-ladys-day-spa
Re: OMG, I luv to try the The Drag Race Experience in Cayuga . Wow, prize is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. Pick me
glass blowing in ottawa sounds amazing
Dogsledding in Gatineau
I’d try the Victoria Craft beer tour!
Horse back riding! My girlfriend is obsessed with horses and…. I kind of am too….
Flying Lesson from Barrie to Toronto City Center (CN Tower) and back – See more at: http://breakawayexperiences.com/en/flying-lesson-from-barrie-to-toronto-city-center-cn-tower-and-back-to-barrie#sthash.K2ulVsGI.dpuf
I’d love to go to Montreal for the dance lessons
THE GIFT CARDS ARE GREAT
I would use it for the ice fishing experience for my husband.
I’d like to try the Glassblowing Introductory Workshop
I think I’d love to try the Chocolate body wrap at D spa or the Gourmet Food Tour in the Capital.
liked breakaway experiences on facebook and left a comment
I’m in the wrong province for this one, but the biplane flight over parliament hill sounds super fun!
followed and tweeted https://twitter.com/LisaEchoEcho/status/546392715756191744
I’d love to go to Boeing Flight Simulator Experience and to the spa!
tweeted https://twitter.com/VictoriaEss2/status/546524926199353344
737-800 Boeing Flight Simulator Experience would be a great experience for my husband!
The Brewery Tour and the Cooking Class with Urban Element would be fun.
I would try the horseback riding.
Biplane Flight Over the Gatineau Hills for 2
The brewery tour in Victoria.
I would like to try either the Chilliwack River One Day Rafting Trip or the Sea Kayak – Smooth Classic Tour. They all look great though, this website just got added to my favourites!