Experience Gifts for the Family Your Kids Will Love
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Give Meaningful Gifts Your Family Will Actually Remember this Holiday Season
If you’ve ever stared at a gift list wondering ‘what do you even buy for a family that already has everything?’, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why family experience gifts have become some of the best gifts to give, especially around Christmas.
Instead of adding more toys or clutter, experience-based gifts focus on something families are craving more of, which is time together. Many parents are leaning into simpler traditions (like the four-gift rule: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read) and using one great experience gift as the main family Christmas gift for their kids.
From a low-cost bowling night to a full family vacation, these gift ideas work for the whole family (and they’re often the gifts families remember long after last year’s toys are forgotten).
Why Family Experience Gifts Are Such a Great Way to Give
Experience gifts don’t just check a box, they actually do something:
- They bring the whole family together
- They create memories instead of clutter
- They work for special occasions all year long
- They’re flexible for different ages and interests
- They’re meaningful for family members who “don’t need anything”
For a lot of families, experience gifts quickly become a favorite tradition and are often the thing kids talk about when they remember last year.
Simple & Affordable Family Experience Gift Ideas
You don’t need a big budget to give a great experience gift. Some of the most memorable experiences are simple, familiar, and easy to plan.
- Bowling Night – A fun way for family members of all ages to spend time together
- Roller Skating – A classic activity that works for both younger kids and older children
- Pizza & Arcade Day – A great option during school breaks or cold winter weekends
- Movie Night Out – Pair tickets with snacks and a cute popcorn tub like this one
- Board Games + Family Game Night – One of the easiest, creative ways to give an experience at home. This can become a weekly tradition. Our favorites include Othello, Blokus, Ticket to Ride, and Connect 4 (which are all options that will grow with your kids and actually get played again).
These experiences are easy to wrap with a gift certificate, printable voucher, or even a handwritten note.
At-Home Family Experience Gifts
Some of the best experience gifts happen right at home…especially during winter break or those long New Year weeks when everyone’s a little stir-crazy.
- Family Game Night Upgrade – A new board game plus a planned night together (favorite snacks, new cuddly blankets, etc)
- Cooking or Baking Night – Choose a theme and let everyone help
- At-Home Movie Night – Popcorn, candy, cozy blankets, and a new movie everyone agrees on
- Creative Craft Night – Painting kits, craft boxes, or build-it sets
- Puzzle or LEGO Challenge – A multi-day project the whole family works on together
These experience-based gifts are a great option for families who want flexibility and something they can repeat again and again.
Outdoor & Adventure Family Experience Gift Ideas
For families who love getting out of the house, these ideas create memorable moments:
- Day Trips – Our favorites day trips include coffee shops, bakeries, libraries or children’s museums (or an outdoor attraction like a farm market, apple orchard, petting zoo, etc..)
- Camping Trip – Fun & adventurous for the whole family
- Horseback Riding – A unique option for older kids and teens
- Train Rides – A slower-paced outdoor adventure that works well for younger children
- National Parks or State Park Passes – A great gift for adult children, too
- Farm or Orchard Experiences – We have some very fun options near us that include apple picking, hay rides, obstacle courses, slides, petting farms and more
- Water Park or Theme Park Passes or Overnight Stays – Always a hit (especially during winter)
These are great experience gifts when you want something active, memorable, and different.
Educational & Skill-Based Experience Gifts
These gifts grow with kids and feel especially meaningful:
- Musical Instrument & Private Lessons
- Sports Camps
- Dance Lessons
- Art Classes or Workshop
- Cooking Classes for kids or families
- Annual Memberships to children’s (or other) museums, zoos, or science centers
They’re a fun way to support learning without it feeling like “school.”
Family Experience Big Gift Ideas
If you’re planning something for a milestone year or special occasion:
- Family Vacation or Cruise
- Indoor Water Park Resort Stay
- Hot Air Balloon Rides
- Concert Tickets or Major Events
These big experience gifts often become lifelong core memories for both kids and parents.
How to Gift a Family Experience (So It Still Feels Fun)
Experience gifts don’t have to feel anticlimactic:
- Create a printable gift certificate
- Wrap a small clue (tickets, goggles, new suitcase, sporting equipment, props, etc..)
- Do a scavenger hunt reveal
- Build a themed gift basket
Even a simple envelope feels special with a thoughtful explanation.
Who Are Family Experience Gifts Best For?
Honestly…almost everyone.
- Parents gifting experiences to their kids
- Grandparents giving a shared family gift
- Friends gifting experiences instead of more “stuff” (wine tasting, theater tickets, yoga class, paint & sip, etc..)
- Families trying to simplify Christmas gifts
They work beautifully for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and even New Year surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Experience Gift Ideas
What is a family experience gift?
An activity or event that family members enjoy together instead of a physical item.
Are experience gifts good for Christmas?
Yes, many families now choose one great experience gift as their main Christmas gift.
Can experience gifts still be gift cards?
Absolutely. A gift card or gift certificate gives flexibility while still being meaningful.
Wisconsin Dells Area Local Suggestions for Experience Gifts
Local Attractions & Day Trips for Families
- Local museums or children’s museums (Baraboo Children’s Museum, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, Wizard Quest, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Black Earth Children’s Museum)
- Animal attractions (Timbavati Wildlife Park, Wisconsin Deer Park, petting zoos)
- Nearby cities for easy day trips (Mount Horeb, New Glarus, Virocqua…)
- Seasonal attractions (Country Bumpkin Farm Market, Dells Army Duck Tours, Riverside and Great Northern Railway, Mid-Continent Railway Museum, Cascade Mountain, Christmas Mountain)
Indoor Fun & All-Season Experiences
- Indoor water parks or pools (Great Wolf Lodge, Wilderness, or Kalahari)
- Trampoline parks or open gyms (Knuckleheads)
- Bowling alleys or roller skating rinks (so many options)
- Arcades or family entertainment centers (Tom Foolery’s or Knuckleheads)
Classes, Lessons & Skill-Based Experiences
- Swimming lessons (Swim Reedsburg)
- Art or music classes
- Cooking classes (check Bekah Kates)
- Dance, gymnastics, or martial arts (lots of local options)
Outdoor & Adventure Experiences Close to Home
- State or regional parks (Plan a cross-country skiing or sledding day or candlelight hike)
- Ski hills or tubing parks (Christmas Mountain or Cascade Mountain)
- Hiking, kayaking, or nature programs (Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center and Mirror Lake & Devils Lake offer some really fun programs that would be a great experience gift)
- Horseback riding stables
Whether it’s an art class, swimming lessons, bowling, or a water park stay, family experience gift ideas shift the focus from material gifts to time together. And that’s something families don’t outgrow!
If you’re looking for a great gift that actually gets used, remembered, and talked about, an experience is almost always the right choice.
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