Best Travel Gifts: Thoughtful Ideas For Foodie, Artsy, or Outdoorsy Wo

Are you stuck on what to get your friend who loves to travel? A great way to approach your mission of finding the perfect travel gift is to think, “What are my friend’s hobbies? What does she like to do when traveling?" ✈️ By focusing on WHO your friend is, and WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO on vacation, it makes shopping for a travel gift so much easier and ensures you pick out an intentional and thoughtful gift! 🎁 In today’s article, we’ll show you our top picks for thoughtful travel gift ideas, including both physical items AND memorable experiences. Read on to discover high-quality, eco-friendly, and of course, stylish travel essentials that are bound to suit your recipient’s personality and tastes - whether they appreciate arts and culture, outdoor exploration, or culinary adventures while away from home. 🖼🏕🎨🍽🎭 Here’s what you can expect from this blog: Best travel gifts for artsy women Best travel gifts for outdoorsy women Best travel gifts for foodie women Best Travel Gifts for Artsy Women We all have that one friend with their own artful way of doing things; from how they dress to what they do in their free time, they add their own flair to everything they do! Whether she’s snapping street art in Lisbon, hunting for handwoven textiles in Oaxaca, or sketching sunsets in Santorini, the artsy traveler thrives on creative inspiration. These are the best travel gifts for your artsiest friend. Best journals, sketchbooks, and stationery for art-lovers on vacation Help her capture every detail of her adventures with thoughtfully designed travel journals and sketchbooks. This stationery set is perfect for the woman on the go. 🖋 She can document her journeys and update her friends on her travels. Plus how cute are those notecards?! Your friend won’t forget a single detail of her excursions with this travel journal. Perfect for documenting everything that goes on! It also includes packing lists, itineraries, travel notes, and world maps! 🌎 Talk about all inclusive. This mini sketch book is perfect for the artist on the go! Your traveling friend will be able to instantly sketch out any beautiful scene she comes across. And it comes with a paint palette and a brush! 👩🎨 Who wouldn’t want this? Gift cards to must-see museums, galleries and performing arts For the woman who finds magic in brushstrokes and ballet, give the gift of access. Gift cards or memberships to major museums - like The Met, Tate, or the Louvre - are perfect for international jet-setters. For those staying closer to home, local performing arts centers or virtual courses (like MoMA online) can offer inspiration long after the trip ends. 🖼🎨 Wearable travel gifts for women who love to explore galleries and artisan markets Fashion meets function for the gallery-hopping, market-roaming traveler. Like this reversible infinity scarf that doubles as a hood or neckwarmer! Plus it has a zippered pocket for extra convenience. 🧣 This trench coat is chic, stylish, and super lightweight - making it perfect for travel! ✈️🧥 This tote bag fits everything and is super cute! Did we mention it’s sustainable too? 🌱 Best Travel Gifts for Outdoorsy Women She’s up with the sunrise 🌅, hiking trails instead of city streets, and chasing waterfalls instead of wi-fi. For the nature-loving traveler, the best travel gifts are equal parts rugged, stylish, and ready for adventure. Whether she’s backpacking through Patagonia or road-tripping through national parks, these picks bring beauty and function to the great outdoors. 🦋🌎💧 Stylish clothing and accessory gifts for outdoor travel adventures Just because she’s trail-bound doesn’t mean she’s style-free. Opt for breathable and functional pieces that look just as good as they perform. These APD swimsuits are the perfect gift for the friend who loves a tropical vacation! 🏝🌺🐠🏄♀️ From surfing, to swimming with the fish, to jumping off waterfalls, or even just lounging on the beach, she’ll be stylish and ready for any kind of water-based adventure. They also double as a bodysuit for smart packing (2 in 1)!🩱 This unisex windbreaker is perfect for breezy walks or hikes and super cute. Plus don’t forget about the zippered pockets! Get the matching pants for a chic sweatsuit look. These bold leggings may be camo but they def don’t blend in. 😉 Whether they’re hitting the hiking trail or just exploring town, these leggings are the best travel gift ever. Not only are they super comfy and chic, they’re also super easy to dress up. No need to change for dinner! Just throw on some heels and go. 👟👠 It's always important to have a hair tie on-hand when doing an activity - especially if it's outdoors! Between wind, rain, heat, and whatever else, a cute scrunchie is essential to braving the elements. Our favorite are these No-Waste APD sustainable scrunchies. They come in tons of different fun patterns and colors, and are made using leftover fabrics from other APD pieces! Ethical and stylish? Yes, please! Outdoor travel gadget gifts Help her capture the moment and navigate the wild with must-have gadgets! A compact camera like the Fujifilm X100V, is perfect for documenting her adventures. 📷 Classic tools like a compass or a handheld GPS will give her the chance to go smartphone free and really get in touch with nature. 🧭 Smartwatches with GPS tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and offline maps are great for multi-day treks and tracking stats! ⌚️ Don’t overlook solar-powered gear, multi-tools, or a portable water filter - essentials for any nature-based excursion. Best Travel Gifts for Foodie Women For the woman who plans her itinerary around reservations, local markets, and street food stalls. 🍴 She’s a regular Anthony Bourdain! The way to her heart is through her stomach 🫀 and these travel gifts cater to her love of flavor, culture, and the stories behind every bite - whether she’s dining at a Michelin-star restaurant in Tokyo or discovering a hole-in-the-wall dive in Naples. 🍝 E-gift cards and reservations to the best and latest restaurants for travelers Give her the thrill of a highly coveted table - even before she books her flight. E-gift cards to renowned restaurants or reservation services like Resy, Tock, or OpenTable let her take control while dining like a local. If you know where she’s headed, look into tasting menus or pre-paid experiences at trending spots or beloved institutions. It's a delicious way to say, “Bon appétit!” 🍷 Books for traveling foodies Fuel her wanderlust between bites with books that celebrate culinary adventure. 📚 Go for chef memoirs like Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton or Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson. Coffee table-worthy guides like Where Chefs Eat or Signature Dishes That Matter inspire future trips and deepen her love for food and culture. Bonus: they make great travel companions for long flights or lazy café mornings. ☕️🥐 If she already has a trip planned, look into some high-quality restaurant guides for her destination! Easy-to-pack accessories that travelers can wear to casual and upscale restaurants Help her transition seamlessly from beach bar to fine dining with travel-friendly fashion. This stylish reversible custom print kimono is the perfect transitional piece. Wear it to the beach with a stylish swimsuit bodysuit. Bring along some tailored shorts and then swap out your flip flops for heels! 👠 You could even ditch the swimsuit and wear a black mini dress underneath... and now you’re ready to hit the town! This cotton terry dress in a custom and exclusive-to-APD print is super comfy for daytime activities and even better to wear at night! Wear with sneakers for daytime errands and heels for nighttime fun. Super comfy and it has huge pockets! You won't even need to carry a purse. This sweatshirt jacket is another great piece that can be dressed up or down for any kind of occasion! Wear it as a jacket or a dress! Did we mention it’s one-size-fits-all? How convenient! Final Boarding Call: Give the Gift of Inspired Travel Whether she’s sketching cityscapes in a Paris café 🇫🇷, hiking sunrise trails in Sedona 🏜, or tasting her way through Bangkok’s street food scene 🇹🇭, every type of traveler deserves a gift that speaks to her passions. In this guide, you’ve discovered the best travel gifts for the artsy, outdoorsy, and foodie women in your life - each chosen to inspire, delight, and elevate their next adventure. 🛫 Looking to give something truly special? Many of the stylish accessories and wearable gifts mentioned here are available from APD, where fashion meets function for the modern explorer. Designed with intention and crafted with care, our pieces are made to travel beautifully - just like she does. Have a favorite travel hack? Let us know in the comments! 🧳 Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for our next blog launching on May 2nd. In the meantime, keep up with us on social media and subscribe to our mailing list! If you enjoyed this blog, check out our other travel blogs! 10-Day Travel Packing ListWhat to Pack in a Carry-On BagTravel Essentials Need some help packing?