More and more I look for gifts for my family that don’t include more stuff in the house. I think this is a huge trend for all families and we are lucky that in Bucks county we have so many options for gifts of experiences and memberships. Make pottery in Quakertown, see a show in Philadelphia or join the Mercer Museum in Doylestown. The gifts of an experience are plentiful and we have a ton of ideas!
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Email meghang@macaronikid.com for more information | |
Give the gift of time, memories & fun!
1.Swim Year Round with classes to Aqua-Tots Horsham! Providing lessons and special swim events for all levels of swimmers year-round.
2. Local Stage Shows - Bucks County Playhouse offers a year-round array of shows and theater productions. Check the schedule and buy a membership!
3. Lehigh Valley Zoo: Home to a snowy owl, 2 giraffes, kangaroo and penguins that greet you at the entrance. This zoo has plenty of animals to see, events throughout the year and animal encounters
4. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom: It really is 2 parks in 1! Adding more thrills every year, Dorney has something for the little kids (Snoopy Land is a perfect place to start an amusement park experience) to the big kids, daily shows and an extra experience with Dinosaurs. Cool off with all the slides, floats and waves in the Wild Water Kingdom area.
5. Elmwood Park Zoo: Year-round animal experiences and events make this place a great idea for a gift! Their Treetop Experience features 50 game and zip lines while being as high as 50 feet int he air!
6. Bowling: Check out Thunberbird Lanes, Glow bowling every Friday night and kids glow bowl on Sundays are especially fun!
7. Movies: How about treating them to a gift card for the movies, or better yet, a family movie date? Throw in a few boxes of their favorite candy, and it will be an evening to remember!
8. Book of the Month Club: Plan out your own book of the month club! This is a gift that keeps giving all year! Purchase 12 books all at once and give one out on the first of each month. Got a YA - book lover: Check out Upper Case, my niece loved this membership last year.
9. Lessons: Sign them up for swimming karate, art, piano, fencing, voice lessons… the possibilities are endless. This is a great gift option because if they love it, you can renew for next year’s gift! Our favorite swim school, Aqua-Tots Horsham is now offering gift certificates for the holidays!
10. Paint: Pottery, canvas, wood, you name it and you can find a place to paint or create it: Color Me Mine Montgomeryville, Fiddlestix, Uncorked Artist, Stardust Ceramics
11. Mini Golf: Putt-U is a family favorite! This 18 hole indoor miniature golf course on route 309 has 2 courses, a little lending library, rental pavilion and ice cream!
12. Subscription Boxes: Little Passports, Lego Box, Kiwi, Steve Spangler kits, Kidstir are just to name a few. Raddish Kids was recently featured on Macaroni Kid!
13. Jump Passes: Sky Zone Chalfont, Bounce U just to name a few. Guaranteed fun and tired kids when you leave these places!
14. Art Classes: Check out The Michener Art Museum has many classes and workshops available to inspire all ages to write, draw and create
15. Acting classes: the Bucks County Playhouse offers, Classes for Beginners, Improv for Adults
16. Shakespeare: DeSales University hosts an array of Shakespeare Shows, check out their full list HERE. Spring and summer brings a whole list of shows for kids: Shakespeare for Kids, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Maid Marian and many more
17. Hockey Game: Phantoms at PPL center hockey game with my family is one of my favorite past times! Watch the game, eat some Dip n Dots; it’s a great night out
18. Weekend away: Water parks seem to be all the rage right now and we have several within driving distance. Great Wolf Lodge, Aquatopia at Camel Beach and Kalahari are just a few.
19. Day Passes: Bucks County Children Museum, Giggleberry Fair
20. See a show at Sellersville Theater: They host many kid shows throughout the year!
21. Ski Weekend: Check out packages from Camelback, Bear Creek Mountain Resort or Blue Mountain
22. Magazine subscription: If your child loves to get mail like mine does, a magazine subscription is always a hit and it lasts all year. Amazon offers easy ordering and a comprehensive list of options. www.amazon.com/magazines
23. Plan a Staycation: HERE are some ideas WITHOUT the kids!
24. Trampoline Center: Skyzone in Chalfont is fun for the whole family and there’s something for everyone. Open jump, ultimate dodgeball or Skyrobics class to name a few.
25. Pool Membership for the summer: Local Pool is a great option and you don’t need to be a resident of the town to join. Then start a countdown to Summer!
26. Spa Day: How about a mother/daughter mani/pedi day? Bring Grandma along too for some girl fun. There are dozens of places around Bucks County!
27. Paintball: Get the whole family together for a day of paintball fun. Outdoor Xtreme Hatfield boasts wooded area trails, hills and fields where you can simulate a real battle experience with your group!
Day Trip Ideas:
28. Trip to Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island: Give the gift of history with a memorable trip to see the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Wall of Honor at Ellis Island. Tickets should be bought online ahead of time if possible.
29. Visit to the Sea Carousel in New York City: This one of a kind carousel at the Battery Conservatory in Battery Park is an under the sea-like experience. With 30 different sea creatures that move and glow, riders feel like they actually are part of the ocean. Check online for hours.
30. Crayola Experience: The Crayola Factory in Easton, PA is a magical place where creativity rules and everything is hands-on. Perfect for a family day trip. While you are there check out the Martin Guitar factory!
31. Davinci Science Center: The hands-on exhibits, programs, and partnership efforts present the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to kids informally, playfully, and in ways that relate to their popular interests.
32. Baseball Game: We now have multiple minor league baseball teams nearby -- the Reading Phils and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Tickets are inexpensive and the games are really geared toward the family, with different fun activities planned between innings and sometimes fireworks after the games.
33. Aquarium: The Adventure Aquarium in Camden is drivable and worth the trip. If you go before the holidays you can see “Scuba Santa”!
34. Sesame Place: the rides, the shows, the kids events make this the happiest place in PA! With many special events throughout the year, character events, this is a favorite with younger kids
35. Diggerland, A Construction Theme Park: A construction lovers paradise, it’s worth the drive and a full day will be spent, digging, riding, driving, and playing in the dirt!
36. Broadway Show: There are so many great family friendly shows currently running on Broadway. My 11 year old loved Wicked, The Music. Each offers matinee performances which is great for little ones. Tickets are available through Telecharge or Ticketmaster or try going to the box office the day of the show and avoid handling fees.
