If you're like me, the holidays can present a challenge of stuff. My kids do not need more things (and I do not need more things cluttering up my house), and this year we are giving experiences to our kids for the holidays and birthdays. They will still have a few goodies to open but for the most part, we are trying to give our kids experiences that will (hopefully) create memories. These ideas are really geared towards older kids, who are honestly the hardest to buy for, and are intended to provide the family with an experience they can do together or carve out time for you to spend alone time with your child. Many of these can be a group gift for all of your children and hopefully will build lasting memories for you all!
- Family memberships~There are some great destinations in Charlotte and not far away that can provide your kids and family with a year of fun. Some to check out:
Discovery Place
Whitewater Center
Columbia Zoo
Carowinds
Museum of Illusions Charlotte
- Wrap up some new snow gloves or a sled and plan a trip to the mountains for a day or overnight. Check out our Snow Tubing Guide for ideas of where to go.
- Greenville SC is a short drive and could make a great shopping weekend or day. Tons of great places to shop and eat, take your tween or teen for the ultimate mother/daughter getaway
- Train tickets, wrap up a toy train, and attach Amtrak tickets to it. Take a trip to Raleigh to check out all of the great museums for a fun overnight trip. Amtrak offers cheap tickets from Charlotte to Raleigh on a regular basis.
- Plan a ski trip, the NC mountains are filled with great, family-friendly ski resorts, check out of Ski Guide for details.
- Explore the NC mountains. There are tons of great day hikes and cute little towns to explore along the way. Wrap the gift up with some cozy wool socks or a compass.
- Explore Charlotte, book an overnight in Uptown, hit the ice skating in Uptown, and act like a tourist in our great city.
Stay Home:
- New PJs for the family, a movie, popcorn, and a full pint of ice cream for a treat followed by a full family sleepover in the family room is sure to build an amazing memory for you all.
- Tickets for kids~we love it when our kids make us coupon books, so why not make one for them? Mom makes you bed for a week, gets out of chores free day, dad puts your laundry away, mom/dad to yourself day, pick dinner, pick dessert, out for dinner, family football game, family hike, family game night kids choice, etc. Base the tickets on your family's interest and watch your kids delight in having some of the power in the house for once!
More ideas:
- Take a class together, cooking cake decorating, art, music, photography, and more. There are tons of classes that parents and children can take together. These are great also because you and a weekly committed date with your child.
- Family book club read a classic together, and meet once a week to talk about what you have read. Read the book to your younger children so they can participate also. Give everyone a copy of the book for the holidays and make set aside some special time each week to meet and talk about the book. You can even write inside the book each person's ideas and thoughts inside to preserve the memories of the book club.
- Show tickets, there are some great shows headed to Charlotte this year. Dinner and a show tied up with the show soundtrack are sure to delight.
- Big Air passes for the family. Bounce, have pizza, and trust me you will laugh and have more fun as a family than you can imagine
- Family climbing at an indoor climbing place
- Tickets to sporting events, check out the Charlotte Checkers, Charlotte Roller Girls, and Charlotte FC. You can also grab ticket to see college sports, basketball at Davidson or football at UNCC
