Pre-pandemic, one of the most popular gift trends for birthdays and holidays appeared to be experience gifts. I think we will start to see more of this trend again.
For those unfamiliar with the term, “experience gifts” refers to giving family and friends the gift of an experience. This includes but is not limited to attraction or museum admission fees or memberships, travel expenses, class tuition, or an afternoon with Grandma, window shopping, and having hot cocoa. Given the increasing popularity of minimizing how much stuff we have in our home, many people feel confident that their experience gifts will be well received. The idea is that any memories made through these experiences far outweigh anything that might sit and collect dust on shelves after the novelty has worn off. Plus, less stuff is better for the environment.
I was inspired to compile this list that you may want to consider as you complete your holiday shopping. I hope you find it helpful! I also tried to shop local whenever possible.
**Be sure to familiarize yourself with all COVID-19 restrictions in all of these locations before deciding to visit or gifting a visit to avoid any issues, especially when out of state or international travel to Canada is involved.**
Types of Classes
If you have a young family member who has been taking classes or would like to try to do so, making the commitment to pay for their lessons would be a great gift! The following are just a sampling of activities you might consider gifting to a young family member or friend. All of these classes are available locally.
- Dance classes
- Martial arts classes
- Swimming lessons
- Skiing and/or snowboarding lessons
- Horseback riding
- Gymnastics
- Ninja Warrior classes
Local Playspaces and Open Gyms
The winter in Vermont is very long and parents use the following spaces to not only make memories with their children but also to stay sane! A gift card/punch card/membership to any of these places is not just a gift for a child, it’s a gift for their parent or caregiver, too! Experience gifts that focus on an activity that parents or caregivers can do with a child are especially wonderful in the winter.
Monkey Do, Williston, VT
This is a relatively new business (est. 2019) in Williston that features a large play structure best suited for children ages 3 to 11, a smaller play structure for toddlers, playhouses, and an inflatable obstacle course. A much-needed addition for an area with long winters, they offer 10-visit punch cards that would make a great gift for any Vermont family with younger children.
Climbing Gyms
The two climbing gyms in the Burlington area, Petra Cliffs (Burlington) and Metrorock (Essex), both offer gift certificates, punch passes, and memberships for any aspiring climbers on your list.
Get Air, Williston, VT
There are certainly kids on your list who need to expel some energy during the cold winter months here in Vermont, and a gift card to Get Air Trampoline Park may be just what they desire! Be aware, however, some parents wait until their child hits their mid-elementary school age before they are comfortable bringing them there for safety reasons. Other parents are perfectly fine with their preschoolers going. You may want to ask a child’s parents ahead of time how they feel before purchasing it as a gift.
Open Gym Sessions
Multiple gyms in the area offer not only gymnastics classes but also publicize open gym times for the public. For example, Green Mountain Training Center in Williston offers a punch card for their Tiny Tumblers Open Gym (ages 9 months to 5 years). Regal Gymnastics in Essex also has a popular open gym time that you could offer as a gift.
Museums
While there are a couple of good museums in the area, families may also want to venture a bit farther for a good museum experience. Here are some popular suggestions:
Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
You do not have to live in or near Burlington to have heard of Echo. It is right on the Lake Champlain waterfront and hosts different science exhibits throughout the year. Since my family has been going to Echo, we’ve interacted with exhibits about live butterflies, the 50 states, weather, and dinosaurs. The addition of Champ Lane, a play space for children up to age 6, in recent years has only increased Echo’s popularity for young families. They offer a membership, which I find to be incredibly worth it; it not only pays for itself after only a couple of family visits, but it is part of the ASTC Passport Program.
This means that showing your Echo membership at any other of the 350+ science centers that participate in the program worldwide, gets you free entry into those other museums. Even better? The Boston Museum of Science and The Boston Children’s Museum are also members of the ASTC Passport Program, making a day trip or weekend in nearby Boston a lot less expensive! For those reasons, a membership to Echo makes a great holiday experience gift.
Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT
This popular museum sits on 45 acres in Shelburne. It hosts exhibits for the whole family in its 39 buildings in the quintessential Vermont setting and even has its own vintage carousel.
Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, VT
A hands-on science museum for children, the Montshire never disappoints! The Montshire offers gift memberships, as well as gift certificates (at a $10 value or more), which can be used on admission, in their museum store, or for program fees, and passbooks that contain 12 admission passes. Any option would make a great gift for the young scientists in your family!
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, VT
Like many other museums, the Fairbanks Museum offers several membership options you could give as a gift for your young natural science and history fans.
Zoos and Animals
I’ve heard nothing but great things about these popular destinations to spend some time learning about animals!
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT
A popular and historical family attraction in the Burlington area, Shelburne Farms is highly focused on sustainability. They offer day visits to their barnyard, camps for students, and a seasonal harvest festival, along with other activities throughout the year. The gift of a Shelburne Farms membership will be a source of delight for any Vermont family.
The Miniature Farm, Milton, VT
The Miniature Farm is essentially a petting farm with a few added bonuses. They offer camps for kids and even held their first fall festival this year. They sell pumpkins at an affordable price in the fall as well. See their Facebook page for more details.
The Wild Center, Tupper Lake, NY
The Wild Center is an attraction in the Adirondacks that focuses on animals found in that area. There is a museum portion in addition to many outdoor learning experiences. This makes a great (long) day trip or an overnight trip for a family. Offer to buy tickets for your friends or family!
Granby Zoo, Granby, Quebec, Canada
If this destination is on any of your family and friends’ bucket lists like it is on mine, a gift card would make an amazing gift! In addition to animal exhibits, they also have an aquatic park and a winter village, making a visit almost any time of year possible. For information about crossing the international border into Canada, click here. For COVID-19 restrictions and information on crossing the Canadian border (and back) visit this site.
Parc Safari, Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada
This zoo offers the unique opportunity to drive your car through part of their park and interact with the animals while you do so. In addition, they have several other animal exhibits, playgrounds, and an aquapark. You’ll have to wait to gift tickets to Parc Safari until next year, though. They are not opening online ticket sales until March 2022. (Also see information above about traveling to Canada and COVID-19 restrictions).
New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
Obviously, this attraction is a bit farther away and makes a better weekend activity. However, if you’ve ever visited the New England Aquarium, I’m sure you’ve found it to be well worth it. I have no doubt that if you purchase a gift certificate for someone else to go visit, it will be well received.
Other Experience Gifts
Escape Rooms
Escape Rooms are becoming increasingly popular and there are more than one in our area! You can check out Escape Room 60 in Williston and purchase gift certificates here. In Burlington, you will find The Great Escape Room; you can purchase tickets in advance online. Enigma Vermont is currently closed due to refurbishment/relocation according to its website, but you can keep up with what’s happening on their website and buy tickets again when it re-opens! If you’re closer to Central Vermont, The Greatest Caper in Montpelier offers gift vouchers.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory
Who doesn’t like ice cream? Although you’ll have to wait to take a factory tour until at least early 2022 due to the pandemic, you can walk the flavor graveyard and one can buy their ice cream with this gift card. Even better news? You can use that gift card at any Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop!
Disney on Ice
Do you have any Disney or ice skating fans in your family? This season, Disney on Ice has performances in Albany, NY, Manchester, NH, and Boston, MA, among others. Your kiddos will love the breathtaking performances and familiar music.
Vermont Lake Monsters Tickets
Any local baseball fan would love some tickets for next season!
Gondola rides
Stowe and Killington come to mind! Note that you’ll probably have to give your recipient a made-by-you coupon for their ticket for a Stowe ride until you can actually buy it; Stowe won’t start selling ride tickets again until the spring! Killington offers winter gondola rides in addition to summer and fall rides.
Arbortrek Canopy Adventures
This experience is a must-gift for all the adventurers in your family (especially if your kids are a little older). This outdoor adventure center located in Smuggler’s Notch, VT, boasts outdoor zip lining opportunities, outdoor climbing courses, and a treetop obstacle course.
Vermont State Parks
Did you know you can buy the little campers in your life (and their parents) a gift certificate to go camping in one of our state’s fabulous state parks next summer? No? I didn’t, either. It’s possible, however, as long as you are looking for a gift certificate over $20 in value! Just visit the Vermont State Park website and pick one (or more) up!
Ice Castle Tickets
The ice castles, located in North Woodstock, NH, are built by professional ice artists. According to their website, they “Include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains and much more.”
Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark
While there aren’t specific gift certificates to the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, you can purchase day passes for anyone on your list. Or maybe you’re just treating your entire family by booking a weekend getaway! You can visit their website for all of your options and details!
Six Flags Great Escape Season Passes and Tickets
Have some thrill-seekers in your family who enjoy amusement parks? Get them some season passes and/or tickets! Lake George, NY isn’t that far away and many families from Vermont travel there for some summer fun, even for a day!
Six Flags New England Season Passes and Tickets
If the families on your list prefer the Massachusetts Six Flags park instead, check out the Six Flags New England website.
Theater and/or Concert Tickets
The possibilities here are endless. Give a gift to see a local show at the Flynn or a concert at Higher Ground, or stray further and give tickets to a show in Montreal or on Broadway!
UVM sports tickets
Make sure you plan ahead, depending on which sport you want tickets for! It is competitive to reserve men’s hockey tickets, for example, and you may have to try for a few years before you’re able to purchase tickets.
Movie gift cards
Locally, Essex Cinemas (Essex), Majestic 10 (Williston), Palace 9 (South Burlington), and the Roxy (Burlington) are all fine choices! The Sunset Drive-in (Colchester) also offers gift cards. If your recipient is in Central Vermont, try the Savoy Theatre or the Capitol Theatre (both in Montpelier) or the Stowe Cinema 3Plex. Don’t forget to put extra money on it for the popcorn.
Ski passes
Bolton Valley, Smuggler’s Notch, Sugarbush, Cochran’s Ski Area, Stowe Mountain Resort, Killington Ski Area, and Burke Mountain are good options depending on where your recipient is located.
Jay Peak Pump House, Jay, VT
This indoor waterpark has a lazy river, slides, and other water play areas. Get your gift card for all things Jay Peak!
Bookstore gift cards
This is a great way to shop local and support local bookstores, such as Phoenix Books (Burlington & Essex), Bear Pond Books (Montpelier), Flying Pig Bookstore (Shelburne), Crow Bookshop (Burlington), and Bridgeside Books (Waterbury).
Ausable Chasm, Keeseville, NY
A tourist attraction in the Adirondacks, Ausable Chasm offers many outdoor experiences, including simple tours, rock climbing, rappelling, and raft tours. They offer gift certificates too.
Conway Scenic Railroad, Conway, NH
About a three-hour drive from Burlington, Conway, NH offers some great activities. A train ride through the White Mountains via the Conway Scenic Railroad is one of many. They offer gift certificates so your recipient can choose where and when they’d like to go on a ride!
Storyland & Living Shores Aquarium
Speaking of New Hampshire, the Conway area also has Storyland, a family amusement park. You can purchase tickets for next season to gift to your amusement park lovers. The Living Shores Aquarium is also on their premises. Admission to the aquarium is separate from the amusement park. You cannot go wrong if you offer to buy tickets online, in advance, for your beloved aquarium fans!
Santa’s Village, Jefferson, NH
Another beloved amusement park, Santa’s Village has themed buildings that offer many activities within, rides, and a water park. They do not offer specific gift cards but you can definitely buy tickets online to gift.
When it comes to experience gifts, the sky’s the limit. It’s pretty easy and convenient to shop local in Vermont.
What do you think? Did I miss any local museum, zoo, attraction, or experience that you are gifting to a loved one this year? We would love to be able to include your ideas for great experience gifts on this list!
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What a fantastic, comprehensive list! I will refer to this every time I need to give a gift.