Give the gift of travel: Interest-driven travel experiences to book

Wrap a ribbon around your dreams. Here are five ways to share the gift of travel with those you love.

Links lovers

The golfers in your clan will be over the moon with the mere idea of a trip to Scotland, the home of the game. Offer to blend some of the globe’s most coveted golf rounds with a stay in the charming seaside town of North Berwick, tucked between two bays, and surrounded by historic links. Students of the game will be mesmerized by the history and tradition woven throughout the landscape. When guests check in to the historic Marine North Berwick hotel, they will be welcomed by a gracious staff, sweeping views of the iconic West Links (where golf has been played since the 17th century) in the foreground and the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock beyond. A knowledgeable concierge can make or confirm tee times in the area. When not making memories on the hallowed fairways, guests visit the hotel’s wellness center or stroll into town to sample local cafes, pubs and shops. To plan a grand tour of historic golf destinations, tap into Marine & Lawn’s curated collection of iconic hotels, matched with the finest courses in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

MORE INFO marineandlawn.com/marinenorthberwick

Island lovers

Unwrap a family adventure in an island sanctuary on the remote northern Baa Atoll in the Maldives. At the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, you’ll stay within a natural UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in which you and your family can sleep in overwater or beach bungalows, tucked aside jungle greens and surrounded by sparkling turquoise waters. Kids will thrill to snorkel with manta rays, help rehab sea turtles, identify local dolphin populations and assist with the transplant of coral frames. You’ll want to cycle through the former coconut plantation on a lizard- and bat-spotting safari before taking to the water for a wide array of water sports in the sheltered lagoon or beyond. For those not ready to go deep in a wet suit there is another option: sample the experience in the Hologram Room, where family members can virtually "swim" with manta rays, whales, seahorses and octopi. For an old-school experience, board a resort fishing boat to catch your dinner using traditional hand-line fishing techniques. Then gather under a blanket of stars and learn from Landaa’s on-site astronomers. Ask about the resorts’ Specialty Suites, where vast ocean-facing lounge decks, infinity pools, and overwater hammocks combine to create a dream vacation perfect for multigenerational families.

MORE INFO fourseasons.com/maldives

Outer space lovers

Do you have a family member eager to be an outer space explorer? They'll be thrilled to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It’s an otherworldly technology center where one can experience the Discovery Shuttle simulator, feel three times the force of gravity in the G-force Accelerator and peruse one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world.

For the gift of a lifetime, offer the opportunity to train like an astronaut with a visit to Space Camp. The internationally known program has been inspiring future explorers for more than 32 years and boasts more than 700,000 alumni. The camps offer space, aviation and robotics instruction for children between the ages of 9 to 18 and adults of all ages.

MORE INFO rocketcenter.com

Music lovers

Pair some sunshine with a trip to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.

Embracing the motto that "music is the language of the soul," this unique collection enables families to see and experience more than 7,500 instruments and artifacts from around the world. Live performances, family-friendly festivals and a wide array of lectures and classes are available. You’ll want to check out the Steinway piano on which John Lennon composed "Imagine" as well as the instruments of Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and George Benson. Wireless headsets allow guests to see and hear exhibits throughout the museum. Kids will enjoy the Experience Gallery, where they can touch, play and hear instruments from far-away cultures.

MORE INFO themim.org

Adventure lovers

Give your family the world via an adventure trip crafted by Tauck travel industry pros. Through their Tauck Bridges program, you’ll experience hands-on learning, off-the-beaten-path adventures and insights into local cultures. Whether you opt to explore Costa Rican rainforests, the wilds of Tanzania, the Swiss Alps or the islands of the Galapagos, you’ll create memories more lasting than the latest gadget or hip fashion item. Check out the company’s e-brochure or order one to be mailed. It’s designed to offer parents and grandparents a colorful tool that will lure children into the vacation-planning process. After all, anticipation is part of the adventure.

MORE INFO tauck.com