Anny Chih will be gaining more than warm vibes and new keepsakes when she exchanges gifts for the holidays.

This year, Chih and her friends have decided to swap homemade presents in a unique way: the gift-giving participants will be using skills gained taking lessons that they'll then translate into custom creations.

One friend is learning how to pickle, so Chih said those in the exchange can likely expect such goodies as pickled veggies and onions when they open their presents. "It's like a gift for yourself and a gift for them," said the Vancouver-based freelance writer.

"It gives you the chance to try something that you've always wanted to try, and then save money at the same time on your presents."

Chih is clearly keen to embrace new challenges. This past fall was no exception as she had a chance to learn the art of swashbuckling when she signed on for sword fighting lessons at Academie Duello in Vancouver.

The 26-year-old took part in the course through Samba Days. The homegrown company offers themed-gift experiences tailored to a variety of interests and lifestyles. Everyone from foodies to adventure-seekers will find something to appeal to them, such as wine tours, skydiving, spa packages and gourmet getaways.

Chih learned the basics such as how to wield a sword and a few self-defence skills. By the end of the eight-class session, she was tested and advanced to the Green Cord, the first official rank.

But Chih isn't just a proponent of taking part in unique experiences -- she also selects and invests in them as gifts for loved ones.

Chih and her pals took a friend celebrating a birthday to Tofino, B.C., to give her surf lessons to mark her big day.

For Christmas, she once purchased tickets to the movies, Vancouver Aquarium and Science World British Columbia for her brother and niece as a weekend package of activities for father-daughter bonding. And during another festive season, Chih gave her dance-loving sister and brother-in-law private ballroom lessons with their pre-existing instructor.

"Whenever I look at getting people gifts, I do look at experiences because when you get them something that they might not necessarily want as an item it just means that you have to get a gift receipt and they usually want to return it," she said. "But when it comes to experiences, you know what type of activities they would like, and then you make memories. And that's a lot better than just having something to put on your shelf."

Alex Barseghian arrived at a similar conclusion after attending a family wedding in England several years ago.

The day after the nuptials, he recalled all the couple talked about was a gift that offered a choice between a hot air balloon ride or taking a spin in a Ferrari for a weekend.

After learning such gift experiences were available for purchase at various outlets and involving different brands in the U.K., he started to think of how to bring the concept to this side of the Atlantic.

Barseghian founded Samba Days in 2008, and the company now offers more than 500 experiences for purchase across the country.

Barseghian said their primary category is people in their late 20s and early 30s. It's a demographic that shares something in common with those approaching their golden years: the desire to try out something new rather than merely amassing more items, he noted.

"Life should be experienced, not collected. So to me, that mantra is perfect for boomers, as it is for people in their 20s and 30s," Barseghian said. "It's not about getting more shoes or ties or sweaters or having more stuff."

"Boomers really recognize that as they're travelling more and they don't need 18 of the same thing anymore. They look back on life and they want to experience and live more."

Experiential presents also offer an outside the box alternative for gift-givers -- and recipients -- seeking to go the eco-friendly route.

Emphasizing the green in giving is a central part of a holiday campaign spearheaded by Metro Vancouver.

"Create Memories, Not Garbage" encourages individuals to become a "Green Angel" by giving an experience or thoughtful gift for the holidays with an eye towards sustainability.

Metro Vancouver is the government responsible for waste management in the region. One of its goals is to minimize the amount of waste going to landfill or energy facilities, said communications co-ordinator Lena Zordan.

"Our goal is to reach 70 per cent diversion by 2015, and this campaign is a way to reach an audience around a time where there typically might be an increase in garbage but in a positive way," she said.

Individuals have been posting thoughts and ideas on experiences they plan to give on the campaign's website, such as sharing a potluck dinner and drinks with friends and giving babysitting coupons to an in-law.

Zordan said the initiative is "definitely not an anti-shopping campaign." Rather, they are encouraging individuals to give local experiences like a gift certificate for a haircut, a spa outing or a day on the slopes.

But experiential gifts don't necessarily mean spending big bucks, she noted.

"We also want to appeal to people that maybe don't have a lot of disposable income this year that to give a gift, you don't need to spend a lot of money," Zordan said.

"You can do things that have a lower cost but that are still memorable like having a board game night or cooking a dinner and entertaining in that regard because those are the things ... that we all remember."

Check back next Wednesday for the last instalment in CTVNews.ca's gift-giving guide.