Gift-buying season is underway and if you're running into dead ends for ideas, you might want to consider experiences over things this year.

Being able to buy the perfect gift is a talent that some people excel at and others struggle with.  It's pretty impressive when someone remembers in December that you mentioned how much you love something way back in July.  It takes a knack for really paying attention and getting to know someone.

But gifts don't always have to be things.  I would argue that some of the best gifts are experiences that you share together with someone.  It could be something as simple as an afternoon at a coffee shop or something as big as a trip across the country.  Experiences bring memories that last a lifetime.

The lead-up to an experience is half the fun too.  Think about how it feels when you're getting ready to go on vacation.  You imagine the food you'll eat and the places that you'll go.  Planning for it is almost as fun as actually going on it.  When you gift someone an experience, you're giving them the anticipation of doing that experience also.

The fact that we don't have to go on vacation to have an incredible experience is pretty cool.  In Western New York, there are a bunch of experiences that would make for incredible gifts.  It's another way to shop local and support things that are happening right here.  Just think about things that the person you want to buy a gift for would like to do, then get out there and get them.  They're all over the place!

5 Experiences That Make Perfect Gifts In Western New York

Gallery Credit: Brett Alan