What to give a man who wants to do things
A good experience gift for him has one big thing at the center: a race, a golf tournament, a road trip, a sky full of balloons or aurora. Everything else in the trip is built around that day, so he has something to look forward to and a plan that already works.
The six trips below suit different men. Some have fixed dates, so give those early. Others can be done whenever he likes. Each one is a day-by-day plan, and the last section explains how to give it.
Four days at the Kentucky Derby
This is for the man who likes a big sporting occasion and a good drink. The Kentucky Derby plan runs April 29 to May 2, 2027, with Oaks Day, Derby Day and a Sunday of bourbon and Louisville Slugger bats. The 153rd Derby is listed for May 1, 2027, with Oaks the day before.
Plan around the bag rules: Churchill Downs allowed one small bag per guest in 2026, with clear containers for food. Check the track's site for 2027 times and rules.
- Churchill DownsTwin Spires, Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday.
- The Brown HotelSunday brunch where the Hot Brown was created in 1926.
- Louisville Slugger Museum & FactoryWatch bats being made; open Sunday 10 to 4.
- Angel's Envy DistilleryFinishing tour and a port-finished bourbon cocktail.
The Ryder Cup in Ireland, 2027
For the golfer. The 2027 Ryder Cup is at Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, with matches Friday 17 to Sunday 19 September. General admission sold out, with demand more than 12 times the tickets available, so this plan is for someone who already has tickets, or a gift to go with them.
The Ryder Cup plan spends the first days on castles, music and a round at Lahinch, then Friday and Saturday at Adare Manor and Sunday singles on the pub TV. There is no on-site parking, so the plan uses the pre-booked park-and-ride shuttles, which run 10 to 30 minutes from the course.
- Adare Manor Golf ClubThe Ryder Cup venue, with Friday foursomes.
- Lahinch Golf ClubThe 1892 Old Course; a caddie is required.
- Cliffs of Moher700-foot cliffs, best in the late afternoon.
- King John's CastleAnglo-Norman castle on the Shannon in Limerick.
Seven days in Iceland by car
For the road-trip man who likes waterfalls and a bit of weather. The Iceland plan picks up a car at Keflavík, then does the Golden Circle, the South Coast out to Diamond Beach, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
It is easy to fit around his calendar, since nothing is tied to an event. Days are long drives with short walks, and the plan includes a guided glacier walk and a lagoon soak.
- GeysirStrokkur erupts every few minutes.
- SólheimajökullGuided crampon walk on an outlet glacier.
- Diamond BeachIce chunks on black sand.
- Sky LagoonOceanfront lagoon and the seven-step Ritual.
Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque
For the early riser who likes machines and big skies. The 55th Balloon Fiesta runs October 2 to 10, 2027, and the Albuquerque plan covers October 7 to 10, with two dawn mornings at the field and a Santa Fe day trip.
Sessions cancelled for weather are rain-checked, so he should keep his ticket.
- Balloon Fiesta Park and RideDawn Patrol and mass ascension at the field.
- Sandia Peak TramwayTram up to 10,378 feet at sunset.
- Petroglyph National MonumentThousands of carvings on volcanic rock.
- Canyon RoadOver 100 galleries in Santa Fe.
Ten days in Japan by train
For the man who wants a first big trip abroad and likes food. The Japan plan goes from Tokyo to Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka by train, with a meal planned at nearly every stop and lighter afternoons between cities.
Highlights include an onsen night in Hakone, dawn at Fushimi Inari and a day among Nara's deer. The plan's sushi, ramen and yakitori stops suit a man who plans his day around lunch.
- Fushimi Inari TaishaThousands of vermilion gates, near empty at dawn.
- Shinjuku Golden-GaiHundreds of tiny bars in six alleys.
- Hotel Green Plaza HakoneOpen-air bath with Fuji views on clear days.
- Kuromon MarketGrilled scallops and uni for a market breakfast.
Northern lights in Tromsø
For the man who wants a night he will talk about for years. The Tromsø plan is five days in February 2027, with guided aurora chases on two nights, husky sledding, reindeer and a floating sauna.
Visit Tromsø says the lights may show from late August to early April when the sky is dark and clear, often between about 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.. Clear skies matter most and weather changes fast, so several nights give the best odds.
- Tromsø Villmarkssenter TownMush your own husky team on Kvaløya.
- Sauna Pust TromsøHarbor sauna with a cold plunge in town.
- ØlhallenMack Brewery taproom, open since 1928.
- PrestvannetForested lake away from street lights.
How to give a plan
Any trip plan can be given from the plan's page for $5. You add his name, your name and a short note of up to 500 characters, which shows on the gift.
You get the gift link by email to forward or print as a card, or have it emailed straight to him. He opens it whenever he likes, the plan is copied into his own account, and he needs no account beforehand.
A plan is a day-by-day itinerary with real places, times and maps, in the app and on the web. It is not a booking, so no flights or hotels are bought and he picks his own dates. He can move dates, swap stops and share it with whoever goes along.
It is a one-time price with no subscription and a 7-day refund. A refund before he opens the gift cancels the link. See all gift details, or the guides for couples and parents.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good experience gift for a man who has everything?
Pick one big event or place he would never book himself, such as the Derby, a Ryder Cup week or a night under the northern lights, and give the plan for it. He gets the itinerary and chooses his own dates.
Is a Highlights plan a booking?
No. It is a day-by-day itinerary with places, times and maps. No flights or hotels are bought, so he picks his own dates and books what he needs.
How much does it cost to give a plan?
It is $5 per plan, a one-time price with no subscription. There is a 7-day refund, and a refund before he opens the gift cancels the link.
Can I give a trip without knowing his dates?
Yes. The plan is copied into his own account and he can move the dates. Event trips such as the Derby, Ryder Cup and Balloon Fiesta follow set dates, so check them first.
Does he need an account to open the gift?
No. He opens the link whenever he likes and the plan is copied into his own Highlights account, with no account needed beforehand.
