BOTTLEROCKET SOCIAL HALL | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

They say to give experiences, not objects. It’s good advice — but they didn’t consider logistics.

It can be tricky to buy tickets or arrange plans as a Christmas gift; things come up, schedules change and conflicts arise. Instead of making plans for a specific activity, then, why not slip a yearlong membership in a loved one’s stocking?

From century-old cultural institutions to new hotspots, there are plenty of places that would be happy to have you or your loved ones as members — and those memberships usually “pay for themselves,” so to speak, after only a few visits. You’re gifting not only joyful times in the year ahead, but something even more important: flexibility.

There are dozens of worthy memberships for your gifting needs, but here are six we’re particularly fond of.

Bottlerocket Social Hall

The Allentown hotspot goes out of its way to build a community around its retro-minded bar and endlessly cool events. Key to those efforts is the Lyceum Member program, named for the building’s former status as St. George Lyceum. For $10 per month or $100 per year, you get “never-ending happy hour pricing” on drinks, access to free shows and members-only nights each month and more — including a swank personalized membership card that will put your library card to shame.

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Quantity or quality? Why not both? A membership to the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh includes yearlong admission to the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Warhol and the Carnegie Science Center. Individual memberships are currently on sale for $67.50, with dual memberships (either two adults or an adult and a child) currently priced at $94.50 and family memberships at $144. Not a bad price for daily admission to four sprawling museums — and, at the dual level and higher, you can use your membership at more than 200 other institutions around the country.

Kennywood Park

Why set aside just one day for Kennywood next summer? You can go to the landmark theme park over and over again for prices as low as two standard daily tickets. (That means you could even drop by just for the Potato Patch, which we heartily recommend.) At current rates (which include a holiday discount), season passes start at $99.99 for the lowest tier, a level that grants summer admission to Kennywood with select blackout dates. Spring for the Platinum Season Pass (currently $189.99) and you’ll score unlimited admission (with no restricted dates) to Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild and Lancaster theme park Dutch Wonderland, plus more perks.

Mondays Brewing Club

Is there someone on your list who just wants a good beer at the end of the day? Make them a Community Founder at Mondays Brewing in Peters and they’ll have a new local favorite. Members get a discount on all food and drink at the taproom, a free crowler fill each month and more. Mondays offers a wide variety of beer, from serious brews for the hop heads (their Primrose Golden Tripel collaboration with Devout Brewing packs a hardy 8.3% ABV) to refreshing varieties such as the cheekily named Screaming Toddler.

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium

Why walk through the park when you can stroll through the zoo? Visit so often that the animals start to recognize you with a membership to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, which includes unlimited daily admission (and free parking) all year long. An Individual membership costs $89, and full family memberships start at $159 — for a family of four, that’s less than $40 per person. You’ll also get bonus perks including reciprocal admission at zoos around the country and discounts on tickets to select Pittsburgh Cultural Trust events.

Row House Cinemas

You’re a discerning cinephile. Sure, you want to see “Die Hard” at Christmas and “Halloween” at Halloween, but you also want your share of Godard, Miyazaki and Tarkovsky over the course of the year — plus cult hits, retro faves and whatever else the programmers at Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville come up with. Rather than pay as you go, opt to join the Row House Film Club; at the lowest level, it’s only the cost of one ticket per month, which you’ll immediately get back in the form of one monthly free admission (and a free popcorn). You’ll also get access to free member movies and more; opt for the premium pass and you can go as often as you like, for free. Who needs cable? Row House just became your living room!