Blog With Gigi

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But what exactly is an experience gift you might ask? Well, an experience gift is a present that offers an opportunity to create memories and share quality time with loved ones. It can be anything from a day trip to a museum, a cooking class, a camping trip, or a concert ticket. The idea behind experience gifts is to give something that lasts beyond the holiday season and creates a lasting impression on the recipient.

Experience gifts are a great idea for kids this holiday season because they offer a chance to learn new things, discover new skills, and spend quality time with family and friends. And this is exactly what I promote here with Kids Activity Planning! They also provide an opportunity to reduce clutter and promote sustainability by avoiding the accumulation of more stuffs, which is eco-friendly. So let’s see what you can give your kids and teens to further show them your love!

1- Art, sport lessons & more

There are literally hundreds of classes and lessons to choose from. You can opt in for just one, so your kid can discover an activity and go for more if he enjoyed it, or straight up with a bunch of lessons! Sometimes, they offer the possibility of having an adult joining in, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to have a fun and bonding activity with your kids and teens!

• Music lessons
• Art class
• Painting class
• Cooking class (you can opt for online cooking classes too)
• Pottery class

If you’re the sporty ones, here are some great takes:

• Dance class
• Yoga class (great for pre-teens and teens)
• Indoor rock climbing
• Trampoline with friends
• Bowling
• Ice skating or roller blading
• Ski lesson
• Archery class
• Horseback riding

2- Tickets, passes or subscriptions

Tickets are a great experience gift to share with them, while offering a museum annual pass to a kid is giving him the world to explore and learn. These gifts can be a life-changing experience too! Definitely mind-opening.

• Sport event
• Movies
• Musicals
• A day in an amusement park
• Holiday events
• Behind the scene experience: visiting a factory or backstage event at movie studio for example.
• Live shows
• Boat rides

If the fun of entertainment outings is important, you can also turn to more cultural or sporty kind of gifts. Open-up their world with these ideas:

• Annual pass for a museum
• Annual pass for National Park or State Park
• Annual pass for a swimming pool
• An annual library subscription

3- Trips

• A weekend with friends in a hotel, with swimming pool
• A weekend road trip
• A day trip bringing a friend along
• A full weekend in a ski resort. You can definitely make a combo with some ski or snowboard lessons! (check out this past blog post I made about ski resorts and what you can do there: WINTER OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN!)
• A family vacation
• A camping trip by booking a camper or a van
• A trip taking Amtrak
• A train ride to go visit a city

If you need any help or tips planning these trips, let me help you out on USA WITH GIGI! I’ve got great things in store for you (tailor-made plannings, train tips and more…).

Some more experience gift ideas to choose from

• Sleepover weekend with a friend (with fun outings during the day, local events, a movie at the theater, a pizza night etc)
• A weekend with the grandparents: you can find either fun local events or have them go on a little road trip, or even a trip somewhere (get some help planning on kidsactivityplanning.com)
• Going to a book store to pick up new books
• Sleepover event in a museum

Here are a few great affiliate links you can use to find the perfect gift experience. A great way to use these sites is by typing in the search bars for your destination and the word “kids” along with it. You can find hotels, activities, attractions, tours and more!

• Viator: Things to Do, Tickets, Tours & Attractions | 2024 | Viator
• Trip.com: Trip.com Official Site / Travel deals & Promotions
• City Pass: CityPASS / Top Tourist Attractions in Major Cities
• Tingly, a great site to find the perfect gift: Tinggly / World’s Most Inspiring Experience in one Gift Box
• Expedia, always a safe choice for booking tickets, hotels and more: Expedia Official Website
• You can also opt for giving a gift card, so you can share a shopping experience somewhere together with your kids and teens later on! Check this out on Giftcards.com

So you see, there’s plenty to choose from for offering some valuable and special experiences to your loved ones this holiday season. The hardest part is settling on the right thing! One thing is sure though, you will make a lasting impression on them. Enjoy!

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