13 Unplugged Activities To Gift This Holiday Season

By  Carolin Lehmann
luxury edition monopoly game Pottery Barn

One of Etsy's top holiday gift trends for 2018 is unplugged activities — and we totally get why. Curling up in front of the fireplace with a game or book sounds so much nicer than even ​more​ screen time. Our jobs and schools already require enough of that. Etsy has seen more than seven million searches for "games" and another 400,000 searches for "DIY kits" this year, as if we needed any more proof that people want to unplug and recharge. So, consider the following holiday gifts for adults and kids alike.

1. SandyLeafFarm Kimchi Kit, $19.86

kimchi making kitEtsy

You know what's therapeutic? Making your own kimchi. This handy kit from Etsy eliminates any guesswork and includes ingredients imported straight from South Korea.

2. SunnyLife Catalina 10 in One Board Game, $50

10 in 1 board gameShopbop

This board game set is not only a great way to fill those long winter nights, but also looks beautiful displayed in your home. And you're getting more bang for your buck, considering it offers 10 games in one, ranging from chess to pick-up sticks.

3. Monopoly Luxury Edition, $269

luxury edition monopoly gamePottery Barn

We may already own Hog-opoly and Cat-opoly, but once we go this bougie we may never go back. Monopoly's luxury edition is made of solid wood and looks stately on any coffee table. But what else makes it extra special? Well, it has a drawer that pulls out, holding money, dyed bone dice, and wooden houses and hotels. Plus, there's recessed faux leather rolling area up top. Long story short, it's sturdy enough to be treasured by generations to come.

4. CalhounAndCo Always Play Nice Please Deck of Playing Cards, $12.50

playing cardsEtsy

Playing cards are essential, but these handmade tropical-theme ones from Etsy go beyond basic.

4. Areaware Little Puzzle Thing, $15

ramen puzzleAreaware

This hilarious ramen mini puzzle can be completed in 20 minutes or less.

5. ​Johanna's Christmas: A Festive Coloring Book for Adults ​by Johanna Basford​,​ $13.50

adult coloring bookBarnes & Noble

Don't forget to throw in some colored pencils.

6. Crate and Barrel Two-Player Chinese Checkers, $39.97

chinese checkersCrate and Barrel

You're going to want to leave this marble board out on display year-round.

7​. Los Angeles: Portrait of a City​ Hardcover XL Taschen Book, $70

los angeles taschen bookTaschen

We may be a bit biased (as we're based in Santa Monica), but this is the Taschen book you should be gifting this holiday season. It's a photographic tribute to Los Angeles.

8. Fredericks and Mae Chalk, $30

colorful chalkFredericks and Mae

Ok, so this gift works best for a California Christmas — but its packaging is too good to pass up.

9. Uncommon Goods West Coast Style IPA Beer Brewing Kit, starting at $20

beer brewing kitUncommon Goods

Everyone has a beer aficionado in their life — and this is the gift for them. The kit allows you to brew your very own IPA with hops sourced from the Yakima Valley in Washington.

10. MoMA Design Store Colorful Backgammon Set, $89

backgammon setMoMA Design Store

Backgammon set or piece of art?

11. Anthropologie The Mystery Mansion Card Game, $20

card gameAnthropologie

This style of card game was all the rage in the Victorian era. It involves placing picture cards in order to create a story — and it just looks beautiful.

12. The Met Store Luxury Linen Watercolor Set, $150

linen watercolor setThe Met Store

This watercolor set is a piece of art itself. Its linen folding pouch is from Italy and it includes 12 Schmincke watercolors, three sable brushes, an artist's cloth, a water bottle, and a pad of Fabriano acid-free Italian watercolor paper.

13. PrintableWisdom Calligraphy Starter Kit, $30

calligraphy starter kitEtsy

Calligraphy is a great skill to have in your back pocket. So spend this winter learning how to write beautifully with this starter kit from Etsy.

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