Stop Wasting Money on Toys! Try These 35 Unforgettable Experience Gifts for Kids They’re Guaranteed To Love
Are you looking for a more meaningful (and longer-lasting) gift than toys? I hear you! If you want to have a greater impact on your gift-giving, experience gifts for kids are the way to go.
Giving an activity gift can be as simple as a day at the park or as unique as a mini pottery class. Whatever it is, the focus shifts from “getting” to “doing” and creates opportunities for kids to have fun, learn, and grow in ways they’ll potentially remember for a lifetime.
While toys have their place in a young one’s life, time spent with someone who loves them will profoundly impact their life. I still vividly recall what it felt like to pick bluebonnets with my family more than I remember any birthday gifts.
If you’re trying to brainstorm and at a loss, here are 35 memorable experience gifts for kids that are perfect for all ages and interests.
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35 Fun Experience Gifts For Kids
1. Annual Zoo or Aquarium Membership
A membership is a memorable gift for kids who love animals. It offers year-round access and often includes special events, feeding times, and animal encounters.
2. Annual Museum Pass
Ideal for curious minds, an annual pass (or a day trip) allows children to explore science, art, or history museums with hands-on exhibits that are both educational and entertaining. My child loves the Natural History Museum and is engaged every time he goes!
3. Outdoor Adventure Classes
Give kids a chance to try rock climbing, kayaking, or mountain biking for a fun and challenging outdoor experience. Whether it’s a series of classes you gift them for a day or a fun outing you do together, spending time outdoors is always a nourishing treat for kids of all ages.
4. Animal Encounters or Farm Visits
Kids can learn about and interact with animals at petting zoos, local farms, or horseback riding classes. We once did an alpaca farm tour in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and it was such a fun, long-lasting memory for all of us that we fondly remember.
5. Amusement or Water Park Season Pass
With a season pass, kids can look forward to endless fun at their favorite amusement or water park. If the cost of a season pass is out of the budget, consider a day pass where they decide the itinerary for the entire day.
6. Family Camping Trip
Create family memories with a weekend of stargazing, hiking, and campfire stories under the stars. If going to a campsite feels out of reach, consider backyard glamping. We did that for our son’s fifth birthday, and it was a total hit!
7. Cooking or Baking Class for Kids
Kids can enjoy learning how to make fun recipes, helping them develop culinary skills in an engaging environment. You can take it further by cooking a meal together at home and including their favorite recipes. While cooking might not seem like a kid’s first choice, they may be more inclined if it’s a fun recipe like french toast pizza or pretzels.
8. Hiking Day
A day spent hiking is one of the best activity gifts for kids if you’re looking for something economical. Take them on a hike together and enjoy the connective respite of nature.
9. Sporting Event Tickets
For sports fans, tickets to a local game make a cool, unique gift for kids that will thrill and inspire them.
10. Photography Class for Kids
Have them learn to capture moments through a hands-on photography class that encourages creativity and observation. If a photography class isn’t available where you are, you can go on a photography walk, where you take your cameras together with the intention of capturing anything of interest. Bonus points if you use a camera instead of a phone! You can even go back in time and use a Polaroid Camera to get instant pictures.
11. Theater or Concert Tickets
A live performance or concert experience is great for kids who love music or theater. Many community colleges or local music schools will have nights where you can listen to the young musicians at a lower price.
12. Art or Craft Workshop
Painting, pottery, or DIY crafting workshops provide creative outlets and make great experience gift ideas for kids. Look up local pottery or painting studios to see what’s available in your area.
13. Subscription Box
Monthly subscription boxes with activities like science experiments, crafts, or exploration tasks let kids have an adventure at home. While a subscription box is similar to gifting a present, the boxes typically have fun activities they can do themselves or with family. You can browse through different subscription box options at Cratejoy and Little Passports.
14. Surfing, Snowboarding, or Ice Skating Lessons
Active kids will love the thrill of a surfing or snowboarding lesson designed just for them. If surfing and snowboarding aren’t available, you might be able to find an indoor ice skating rink.
15. City or State Park Pass
Often, the state the child lives in has an annual park pass, so consider gifting them or the family an annual pass so they can check out the fantastic state parks around them.
16. Astronomy Night
A night under the stars with a telescope or a visit to an observatory creates an unforgettable experience for little stargazers. If you don’t live somewhere dark enough, you can search to see if there are any Dark Sky Parks near you where you can camp for the night.
17. Flower or Herb Garden Planting Kit
An herb garden planting kit is the perfect gift for a budding horticulturist. To take it a step further, you could also get them a Hydroponic Growing Kit. An excellent alternative for a child that lives in a colder climate.
18. Kids’ Escape Room Challenge
Fun and interactive, an escape room challenge develops teamwork and critical thinking in a thrilling setting. Whether you want to do it as a family or with a group of friends, it’s great for kids who love the mental challenge.
19. Local Firehouse Tour
Many fire stations offer tours where kids can meet firefighters, see the trucks, and learn about fire safety. This is a great option for younger kids who will be delighted by the sheer size and scope of the fire truck.
20. Hot Air Balloon Ride
For a truly unique experience gift for kids, a hot air balloon ride offers incredible views and lasting memories.
21. Indoor Rock Climbing Pass
Indoor climbing gyms provide safe, exciting challenges for energetic kids. Buy them a day pass or an extended membership so they can get the thrill of conquering the ropes!
22. Rockhounding Adventure
Embark on a rockhounding adventure where kids can dig for precious stones and gems at organized mining sites. In states like North Carolina, Montana, Colorado, and Arkansas, there are plenty of family-friendly locations for finding treasures like emeralds, sapphires, geodes, and quartz crystals. Places like Emerald Hollow Mine in North Carolina or Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas offer hands-on mining experiences, making it a memorable, educational outing where kids can take home their finds. We mined for Star Garnet in Idaho and had an absolute blast.
Beyond organized mining, you can also look for precious gems in the wild, like agates on the Oregon Coast or rockhounding on public lands. Be sure you know the rules before you go and how much you’re allowed to take.
23. Woodworking Class for Kids
Have them learn basic woodworking skills, such as making items like birdhouses or toolboxes, in a hands-on crafting workshop. If you have the skills, consider finding and doing a fun woodworking project together.
24. Themed Staycation Experience
Transform a room into an adventurous space (e.g., “Safari” or “Outer Space”) and spend the day enjoying themed activities. Find something they love, whether that’s Pokemon or fairies, and invent a fun day around what they love.
25. Meet and Greet with a Park Ranger
Many parks have programs where kids can meet rangers, learn about local wildlife, and even become Junior Rangers. Look into the state parks, national parks, and national forests and see what kind of ranger-led activities they offer.
26. Animal Sanctuary Volunteer Experience
Animal sanctuaries often offer family-friendly volunteer days where kids can help and learn about animal care.
27. “Build-a-Fort” Day
Spend a day building a cozy fort with blankets, pillows, and fairy lights for a creative, low-cost experience. Once you build the fort, spend time reading books together or playing card games.
28. DIY Fairy Forest Adventure
Spark imagination with a DIY fairy forest kit! Take kids on a nature walk to gather twigs, leaves, acorns, and rocks, then bring them home to craft their own fairy forest. You could even add small figurines, glitter, or paint for extra magic. Inspired by David M. Bird and his becorn creations, we did this recently with our son, and it was a total hit.
29. Hands-On Archaeology Dig
Some museums or parks offer archaeology digs, where kids can uncover “artifacts” and learn about history. If you happen to live near places like Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, you can often join in on fun interactive dig experiences.
30. Trampoline Park Session
A trampoline park is an exciting day out! They are typically filled with interconnected trampolines that allow kids and adults to jump, flip, and bounce to their heart’s content! These parks often feature extra activities like foam pits, dodgeball arenas, and basketball hoops set up for dunking on trampolines, offering a fun way to get moving.
31. Fruit Picking or Foraging
Seasonal fruit picking (apples, berries, etc.) allows kids to explore nature and have a closer relationship with their food. You can opt for a U-Pick farm in your area, or if you’re up for the task, you can do wild foraging for local berries or mushrooms. Every year, we pick huckleberries in Idaho, and it’s the highlight of our summer. If you don’t feel equipped for wild foraging, local tours can often guide you in learning how to safely find wild food.
32. Zip Lining or Adventure Course
Take kids on a thrilling zip-lining or adventure course outing for an unforgettable outdoor adventure! Many zip-lining courses are designed with families in mind, offering kid-friendly routes through treetops, across scenic valleys, or even over bodies of water. Adventure parks often include climbing walls, obstacle courses, and rope bridges, allowing kids to test their balance, coordination, and bravery in a safe, supervised setting.
33. Mini “Spy Mission” Adventure
Set up a DIY spy mission at home or in a park with clues, codes, and hidden items to find. Kids can solve puzzles, follow maps, and use “spy gadgets” (like magnifying glasses and walkie-talkies) to complete their mission. It’s a fantastic activity for fostering problem-solving skills and teamwork.
34. Treasure Hunt Adventure with a Metal Detector
Head to a park or beach for a treasure hunt with a kid-friendly metal detector, adding an element of discovery.
35. American Ninja Obstacle Course
Setting up an American Ninja Warrior-inspired obstacle course at home or in a local park is a fantastic way to combine fitness with fun! These courses encourage kids to push their physical limits while developing coordination, strength, and agility. You can set up your own at a park or use tree stumps as stepping stones, or you can opt to buy an American Ninja Course that you set up at home between two trees.
Whether your child loves nature, creativity, or adventure, there’s an experience here to suit their interests. Next time you’re looking for good experience gifts for kids, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and choose an experience they’ll cherish for years.
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