Give the Gift of An Experience
By Katie Moosbrugger
We all know how hard it can be to find that perfect gift. But sometimes the most memorable present isn’t something you can physically pull out of a box. Have you ever considered giving the gift of an experience? One of my favorites gifts of all time was an “experience gift.” My husband and I bought each other tickets to a Broadway show when we knew we were going to be traveling to NJ over the holidays. It was our only gift to each other that year, and while I did not receive something tangible, the memories of the show and the fun we shared in planning our outing continue to stay with me – much more so than a typical sweater gift!
Today I pulled together a list of several places throughout the Triad (and nearby) that could offer wonderful experience gifts, yet I know my list only skims the surface. If I left off an obvious favorite – or if you have another unique experience idea – please add it as a comment below!
Gift the Gift of Culture
~ Package movie tickets together with a gift card for snacks at a favorite movie theatre nearby
~ Consider tickets for a performance at The Stevens Center, Milton Rhodes Arts Center, Twin City Stage, Carolina Theatre,High Point Theatre, or the Children’s Theatre of Winston-Salem.
~ Catch a concert or show at the Greensboro Coliseum
~ Savor a night out with the Winston-Salem Symphony or Greensboro Symphony
Give the Gift of Sports
~ Purchase a season of your child’s favorite sport. Click HERE to see our directory of Sports Programs in the Triad.
~ Take the family to see a game (or a season of games) of your favorite sport at these local colleges:
Wake Forest University
UNC Greensboro
High Point University
Elon University
~ There are several other schools within driving distance of the Triad, including UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, UNC Charlotte, NC State, Appalachian State, and more!
~ Don’t forget the pros: Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets.
~ Or tickets to a local minor league baseball game: Winston-Salem Dash, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Thomasville HiToms, and Burlington Royals.
~ Of course you’re not limited to the Triad either. If you’re traveling out of town for the holidays, consider tickets to a game in the city/town of your destination!
~ Consider giving lessons of a favorite sport (think golf, tennis, skiing, ice skating) to your spouse, child, family member or friend.
Give the Gift of Membership
There are so many different memberships you can offer your recipient, and here are a few local places that make it easy:
~ Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem
~ Greensboro Children’s Museum
~ Greensboro Science Center
~ SciWorks
~ NC Zoo
~ Reynolda House
~ High Point Museum
~ Old Salem
~ Tanglewood – Annual passes can be purchased at the Front Gate or Welcome Center for $25.00. Entrance fees and Annual Admission do not include Admission to Special Events.
~ Memberships to gyms or other health/wellness organizations are always a good idea.
~ Think ahead and buy your family a pool membership for next summer!
~ There are many other places to consider membership. Visit our directories of Arts & Enrichment, Sports Programs, andBirthday Parties for additional ideas!
Give the Gift of Art (Classes, Workshops, Girls Night Outs)
~ Sawtooth Center for Visual Art
~ Greenhill
~ ArtQuest
~ Wine & Design
~ Merlot & Van Gogh
~ Studio Create
~ Little Blank Canvas
Give the Gift of Food & Wine (Classes, Tours, Dinners, Girls’ or Guys’ Night Outs)
~ Visit our list of Kid Friendly Restaurants your whole family will love
~ Southern Home & Kitchen cooking classes
~ The Stocked Pot cooking classes
~ Raffaldini Winery
~ Jolo Winery & Vineyards
~ Childress Vineyards
~ RayLen Vineyards
~ Click HERE to see more wineries and vineyards in the Piedmont area
~ Beer School at Foothills Brewery
Give the Gift of Adventure
Many of these places also offer family memberships:
~ Zip Line Tours
~ High Ropes Challenge (new attraction coming to Kersey Valley!)
~ Corn Maze Adventure
~ Snow Skiing & Tubing
~ US National White Water Center
~ Train Rides at Tweetsie, NC Transportation Museum, or Polar Express
~ NASCAR Racing Experience
~ NASCAR Junior Ride Alongs
~ Sky Dive Carolina or Piedmont Sky Diving
~ Triad Eco Adventures
~ Greensboro Balloon Rides
~ Charlotte Helicopter Sight Seeing
~ Hang Gliding
Gift the Gift of a Night Out, Overnight, or a Family Trip
~ Consider one of these overnight packages with your significant other at the O. Henry Hotel!
~ Schedule a surprise Day Trip for the family
~ Book a night or two (or more) at Great Wolf Lodge
~ Splurge on a date night
~ Plan a family vacation to Disney or Universal Studios
~ Explore Biltmore, or experience Greenbrier
Give the Gift of Summer Camp
~ Start your search for the ideal camp experience with our Summer Camp Directory
~ Don’t forget that YMCA Camp Hanes is offering $100 OFF the purchase of 2015 residential camp between now and December 31!
Other Ways to Give the Gift of An Experience
Like I mentioned above, sometimes the best gifts of all are those that are not even wrapped. Here are a couple other ways to gift the gift of an experience. Whether you are giving or receiving, these ideas offer an experience for both sides of the gift exchange.
~ Offer to do something nice for a year (laundry, dishes, yard work). You can suggest this to your children who don’t have money to spend on a relative.
~ Donate your time (not just your money) with a local nonprofit. And ask your child to volunteer with you as their gift to you.
What did we forget? Let us know other excellent experience gifts for the season!
Archived Gift Giving Posts from TMoM
*For more gift ideas for this season, visit our the Daily Blog page here.
2013 Ideas
Gift Ideas for Toddlers
Gift Ideas for Ages 3 – 8
Gift Ideas for Ages 8-12
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Gift Ideas for Women
Sustainable Toys for Babies and Toddlers
Gift Ideas for Men
10 Favorite Finds
Most Popular Toys of 2013
2012 Ideas
Babies and Toddlers
Gifts for Men
Hostess Gifts
Gifts for Tweens and Teens
Teacher Gifts
Hottest Toys for 2012