If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the viral meme:
“Ask your kids to name three things they got for Christmas last year.”
And the comments are filled with parents admitting… their kids can’t remember a single one.
But ask those same kids about:
- The time they made cookies past bedtime
- That spontaneous winter hike
- A hotel night where they got to eat snacks in bed
- Their birthday spent at a museum, zoo, or movie
They remember those things.
The moments. The laughter. The experiences.
And honestly? We are HERE. FOR. IT.
More and more families are swapping piles of presents for memory-making moments – and it’s a trend we can absolutely get behind. Experiences last longer than toys. They get talked about for years. They strengthen relationships. And they take the pressure off finding more stuff to wrap.
So if you’re looking to shift your holiday gifting toward connection and creativity, this list is for you.
50 Experience Gift Ideas for Kids and Families
Whether you’re keeping it simple, staying local, or going big, these ideas spark joy all year long.
At-Home Experience Gifts
- A “Bake Cookies Anytime” coupon
- A family movie night box
- A DIY pizza-making night
- Backyard campout kit
- A “Yes Day” (within reason!)
- Family game-night basket
- Hot cocoa + snowman-building kit
- Craft or art supply box
- A journal + writing prompt cards
- A monthly “Mom or Dad Date” ticket
Local Michigan Adventures
- Annual pass to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
- Detroit Zoo membership
- Flint Children’s Museum passes
- Sloan Museum + Longway Planetarium tickets
- Roller-skating passes
- Bowling night gift card
- Ice skating or open skate passes
- Cross-country ski rental or lesson
- A day trip to Frankenmuth
- Fort Clarkston, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, or similar indoor fun
Lessons & Learning Gifts
- Swim lessons
- Dance classes
- Art or pottery lessons
- Horseback riding lessons
- Music lessons (piano, guitar, voice, etc.)
- Martial arts classes
- Ski or snowboard lessons
- Coding or STEM classes
- Cooking or baking classes
- Photography lessons for older kids
Getaways & Bigger Adventures
- A night at Great Wolf Lodge, Bravarian Inn, or Zehnder’s Splash Village
- A winter weekend in Traverse City
- A family sleepover at a hotel (kids love this)
- Tickets to a concert, musical, or sporting event
- A family camping trip
- A road trip to a new city
- A visit to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- A “choose your adventure” weekend where kids pick the itinerary
- Train ride experiences
- Airbnb stay in a tiny house, cabin, or treehouse
Subscription or Membership Gifts
- KiwiCo or STEM boxes
- Magazine subscriptions (Nat Geo Kids, Highlights, Ranger Rick, etc.)
- YMCA or local gym membership for kids activities
- Kids’ book club subscription
- Science experiment kits
- Snack boxes from around the world
- Local museum annual membership
- Craft-of-the-month subscription
- Gardening kit subscription for spring
- Monthly “experience envelope” — one surprise activity per month
The Gift They’ll Still Be Talking About Next Christmas. Toys get lost. Batteries die. Interests change. But experiences? They turn into stories your kids will tell when they’re grown.
So if this is the year you want fewer things under the tree and more magic in the memories – we’re cheering you on.
