Give the Gift of an Experience in Auburn-Opelika this Holiday Season

The 2021 Gift Guide: One of a kind, memorable experiences in Auburn-Opelika

Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for the person who has it all? No idea what to buy your in-laws? Do you need to amp up your gift-giving game this holiday season? Auburn-Opelika is here for you! Check out this list of experiences offered in Auburn-Opelika so you can give a memorable gift this holiday season.

Hand-made Candles at Auburn Candle Company

Auburn Candle Company is a hand-poured, custom candle workshop in downtown Auburn. The local shop offers a unique experience where you can pour your own candle in-house and pick fragrances to match your tastes perfectly.

Treat someone creative in your life to the experience of making their own candle! Enjoy the quality time spent making the candle, learning about the process, and leave with a sentimental reminder. Who doesn't love a good candle anyway? Reservations are not required. Make it a group outing and reserve space for parties of 10 or more.

Best for: the family, to get the house smelling good; a girls night, because who doesn’t love a good candle; a date, to pick a special scent for the two of you; friends from work, to unwind and get the office smelling good; roommates; to make matching candles for your rooms.

Cozy Cocktails and Jazz Music at Piccolo

Conveniently located in the Hotel at Auburn University, Piccolo is Auburn and Opelika’s only true jazz lounge. This tucked-away retreat offers cocktails, small bites, and Auburn’s best wine list. The lounge is adorned with roaring fireplaces, creating a cozy, romantic winter oasis.

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and give the gift of a relaxing evening full of jazz and drinks.

Best for: a date night, a girls' night, or any 21+ friend

Axe Throwing at Blade & Barrel or Axe Marks the Spot

Hunting for something fun to do this holiday season? Auburn-Opelika has not one, but TWO axe throwing venues to hit the target on the perfect holiday gift this year. Blade & Barrel, located in Midtown, has nine lanes available to rent for up to eight people per lane. The facility is BYOB, so grab your favorite beverages, rent a cooler, and give someone the gift of throwing an axe into a wall this year. The newest addition to the axe throwing scene, Axe Marks the Spot, located in Opelika, offers lanes available for rent as well this holiday season. So pick your poison and give an aggressive experience to a loved one this year.

Best for: A fun night with friends, an unforgettable date night, an office holiday party, an exciting gift for the kids, or for anyone in your life that needs to get their anger out (just don't stand too close)

Rock 'N Roll Pinball

Rock 'N Roll Pinball is a new pinball arcade in downtown Opelika. Their 27, high-end vintage pinball machines are set to “free play” so you can buy time and enjoy the fun and friendly atmosphere of the arcade. Play for an hour or get a pass to play all day. Rock 'N Roll offers a bar serving soda, snacks, and beer to quench your thirst from all that pinball play. Trade Christmas lights for the neon lights of pinball machines and embrace your inner gamer with this quirky gift idea.

Best for: the kids, grab a beer and let the kids play; your friends, relive the glory days and take them to play the games you grew up on

Tickets to a Performing Arts Show

Founded in 2019, The Gogue Performing Arts Center is Auburn’s gorgeous theatre offering a variety of shows from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical to Yamato: The Drummers of Japan, just two of the many performances in the 2021 – 2022 calendar. The Gogue sells both single performance tickets and season passes.

In Opelika, East Alabama Arts was founded as an amateur painting club called the Opelika Arts Association in 1965, but it has evolved throughout the years into a professional presenting and arts education organization. East Alabama Arts offers a variety of performances. The 2021 lineup includes the Million Dollar Quartet: Christmas, The Knights with Pianist Aaron Diehl, Syncopated Ladies, and many more! No matter who you’re trying to buy a gift for, East Alabama Arts offers something for every audience.

Give the gift of a show this holiday season and surprise your loved ones with a night (or multiple nights) at an incredible performance!

Best for: music enthusiasts, theatre junkies, fans of dance, or anyone looking for an unforgettable show!

Tickets to an Auburn Basketball Game

Looking for a slam dunk gift idea for the Auburn Tiger in your life? This one is easy. Auburn's basketball program is HOT and basketball tickets are always a great gift. Click here to purchase tickets for that special tiger in your life.

Best for: AU faithful, recent graduates, little tigers, roommates, and mega-sports fans

Distillery Tour and Spirit Tasting at John Emerald Distillery

John Emerald Distilling is a small batch craft distillery located in historic downtown Opelika. The distillery released the first legal whiskey distilled in Alabama since Prohibition, John’s Alabama Single Malt Whisky. They are located in an 8,000 square foot facility with a tasting room where you can taste their spirits in a craft cocktail or neat in a tasting flight. The production facility sports a 350-gallon hybrid pot still along with all the equipment needed to make the magic happen.

Tours of the Distillery are offered to experience the behind-the-scenes production of their liquor made in-house. Following the tour, get a taste of the liquors seen during the spirit tasting portion. Take your special someone on a tour of the beautiful distillery, or bring the whole crew! Or pick up a bottle and check out their website for some tasty cocktail recipes to make for the holiday party!

Best for: anyone over +21

Relaxing Spa Day at Grand National

Blending modern techniques with the natural elements of Alabama, the Spa at Grand National is "a serene oasis tucked beneath lush fauna of Auburn." The spa's services include body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures, individual massages, waxing and so much more!

The Spa at Grand National also offers massages perfect for you and that special someone or share the day with a friend to unwind and catch up. These massages can be booked for either 50 or 80 minutes. The massage, called the Secret Garden Signature Poultice, was created especially for Grand National guests and promotes relaxation by using a warm, herbal poultice to "help ease muscle aches and pains, stimulate circulation and detoxify stagnant energy in the body."

Best for: A spouse or partner to enjoy a romantic couples massage, your stressed-out boss, a mother or daughter for a mother-daughter day, a friend to relax and unwind together

Bowling Night at Good Times

Good Times is not your average bowling alley. In addition to bowling lanes, Good Times also offers 30+ arcade games, two escape rooms, two rooms reserved for private parties and a menu featuring pizza, burgers, wings and more. There is also a full-service bar for those 21 and up. Good Times is the perfect gift for someone who’s looking for a night of friendly bowling competition, good food and arcade games!

Click here to reserve a night for the fun-loving people in your life!

A Day Outdoors at Chewacla

Located just off Shell Toomer Parkway, Chewacla State Park houses over 600 scenic acres in which visitors can hike, run, bike or relax to their hearts’ desire. The facilities include a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playground, a modern campground, picnic areas with tables, grills, and shelters, cabins for overnight camping, and plenty of trails.

Chewacla is the perfect place for someone looking to spend some quality time in nature—and the good news is, you can buy gift cards to cover the cost of admission to the park! Spend the day biking around the trails, hiking to the beautiful waterfall, relaxing by the water, or camping out. No matter what you're idea of the perfect day in nature is, you can do it at Chewacla.

Call 334.887.5621 to learn how to purchase a gift card and give the nature enthusiast in your life the best gift they’ll ever receive!

Best for: a mountain biking buddy, a nature guru, an active friend, your camping crew, or a spouse or partner for a romantic lake-side picnic