Where is she located? That will help us make suggestions.

Also, I know this is stuff, but if she doesn't have a digital frame that lets you upload photos remotely, that would be great. We scanned and uploaded a bunch of old family photos as well as recent ones and photos from trips we took together. It's like a random walk down memory lane as the photos scroll through. And doesn't take up much space -- which was key for my parents who have a lot of stuff!

If local, something I have done for multiple family members over the years is book a pedicab tour of the monuments, esp a nighttime one where it’s all lit up. They bundle you up with blankets and even my mom who is a wimp about the cold said it was cozy and a lovely experience. You could go with her or if the kids are older they could go with her and you could all do hot cocoa after.

We used this company every time:
https://www.dcpedicab.com/en/mobile
We’ve had a few different guides but the best one is named Donald Clark. He’s a high school history teacher and this is his side hustle so he’s super knowledgeable about the history of the area and great at sharing it in an interesting way.

One year I got my elderly Dad a 'snack box' subscription-he got a box of snacks each month for 6 months. Relatively healthy ones : )

He enjoyed it and got to try new things! Maybe your mom would like something consumable like that? They have all kinds (snacks, teas, ect).

Personal chef coming to her house for her and a few friends

My mom likes to see showcase homes. When she visits next we will be going to walk around Hillwood Estates for a morning - https://hillwoodmuseum.org

I ordered my mom a personal Cameo video from Randy Rainbow. She really loved it!

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly an experience but the Williams Sonoma frozen croissants make a good gift because you can take out one or two and have a little treat for a special occasion.

That’s a good idea, I can have food baskets sent to her house.

Anonymous wrote:Is there a local theater that has a subscription offer, so that she could go see a show each season?

She has a subscription to the philharmonic but has a hard time finding people to go with her so she ends up giving most tickets away. What she wants most is spend time with us and I am doing my best. She’s coming for 2 months, we’re going there over spring break and summer vacation. I don’t consider this a gift though.

Brookside gardens light festival
Meadowlark gardens light festival- not a lot of walking
Bull Run Festival of Lights - this is driving only
Huntley Meadows in Alex - walk around
Roosevelt Island - walk around
Kennedy Center does free tours

I know you said nothing too physical but these are flat, mostly, and some allow wheelchair access.

I have older parents and these are some of the things I've done, too. Hard to buy for older people because they really don't need stuff anymore. But getting them up and about and seeing beautiful things is a good thing.

Not exactly an experience but the Williams Sonoma frozen croissants make a good gift because you can take out one or two and have a little treat for a special occasion.

Is there a local theater that has a subscription offer, so that she could go see a show each season?

Ask her? When my Mom couldn’t travel on her own, she really enjoyed revisiting local places that were important in her life — including the house she lived in when she was very young. She would often take pictures, and enjoyed sharing stories from her life. We went places like the Arboretum, the Botanical Garden, the Tidal Basin, etc. All of us enjoyed it, and it was an invaluable opportunity to learn about local history through my Mom’s personal experiences.

Some of the things she most enjoyed were very personal and things that I never would have thought to ask about. I was able to track down specific kinds of fruit and candy that she remembered from her youth. Similarly, I did some baking for my uncle, and we all enjoyed having him share his memories and way-back-when stories.

What’s a good experience gift for an elderly grandmother who doesn’t want stuff but also doesn’t want to travel, or do anything too physical? We’re already taking her to see the nutcracker, restaurant etc. No idea what else we could do.