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Best Experience Gifts for Siouxland Families

Christmas gifts that create joyful, lasting memories--that's what we are all looking for, right? While the right toy, game, or book can definitely be a treasure that leads to making happy memories, an increasing number of families are also finding the value in "experience" gifts. We are lucky to have a plethora of options here in Sioux City and in our neighboring communities like Omaha and Sioux Falls. From museum memberships to concert tickets, here are some of my top recommendations for experience gifts for Siouxland Families for Christmas 2022 or any gift-giving occasion, along with a few suggestions of physical items to pair with them if you'd like your kids or other loved ones to have something to physically open and enjoy on Christmas morning in anticipation of the experience gift:

*2024 update in progress! please excuse my digital dust*
red and white packages tied with ribbons surround an open, empty gift box in the background. In the foreground, the words "Experience Gifts for Siouxland Families"





Arcade Gifts Cards

Consider pairing arcade gift cards or gift certificates for the gamers in your life with keychains, t-shirts or other fan gear from their favorite games.

skeeball at Tilt Studio in Sioux City

Where to get it:

  • Pizza Ranch Fun Zone
    • Large arcade area adjacent to the Sioux City and Vermillion Pizza Ranch restaurants
    • For more information, visit the Pizza Ranch FunZone website
  • Tilt Studios
    • Arcade with a variety of games and snack bar food at the Southern Hills Mall
    • Play Card points work for arcade games, mini golf, mini bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, and all other attractions at Tilt Studio at the Southern Hills Mallr
    • For more information, check out my guide to Tilt Studio's Sioux City location, or visit the Tilt Studio website.

Bowling

Bowling is classic fun that's perfect for Siouxland winter weather! Consider pairing bowling alley gift certificates with novelty socks or bowling shirts for extra fun. 

Where to get it:


Arts & Crafts Classes & Workshops

Gift certificates to craft or fine art classes and workshops make a great gift for creative kids and adults. Pair them with art supplies, smocks, or frames!

a strawberry blonde toddler peeks out of a large red cube with many holes in it at the Sioux City Art Center's Junior League Hands-On Gallery
Fun in the Sioux City Art Center's Junior League Hands-On Gallery

Where to get it:

  • Blue Cat Gallery
    • Art gallery in Wayne, Nebraska with drop-in classes creating home decor, jewelry, and more starting at $12 per project
    • For more information, visit the Blue Cat Gallery website.
  • Le Mars Art Center
    • Gallery and classroom space in Le Mars, IA with workshops and classes in many different mediums
    • For more information, visit the Le Mars Art center website.
  • Pickled Palette
    • Paint your own pottery studio with workshops on a variety of pottery painting techniques and themes, glass fusing, and more
    • For more information, visit the Pickled Palette website.
  • Sioux City Art Center
    • Weekend workshops start under $10 per person
    • Children's classes at the Sioux City Art Center cost $50-120 per session (usually 8 weeks) and teen/adult classes can cost over $200
    • Gift certificates available, so your loved one can apply it towards whichever class they'd like.
    • For more information, visit the Sioux City Art Center website or check out my post about the Sioux City Art Center.

Museum and Indoor Play 

Getting out of the house with little kids can be tough in winter, but a few Siouxland venues make it much easier by offering indoor play options that'll keep the kids in your life busy for hours on end. Consider pairing admission or a membership to one of these venues with a t-shirt or other souvenir from the venue. 
a toddler with curly strawberry blonde hair pushes buttons on a toy cash register at LaunchPad Children's Museum in Sioux City, Iowa

Where to get it:


Movie Tickets

Movie theaters are still going strong and can be such a fun option, especially in winter. Pair tickets with some microwave popcorn and theater candy boxes to munch on while browsing the showtimes at home.

Where to get it:


Sports to Do

Gifting someone sporty? Here are some fun sport experiences in Siouxland they might enjoy. Pair with a hat and gloves, or some cocoa to enjoy afterwards.

a snowy hill for sledding is visible behind a snow covered ice skating rink at Cone Park in Sioux City, Iowa
Tubing hill at Cone Park

Where to get it:
  • Cone Park
    • Gift certificates available that can be used for ice skating or the tubing hill
    • Pairs well with: hats, gloves, and other cold weather gear, glow sticks for Glow Tubing!
    • For more information, visit the Cone Park website.
  • DropZone
    • GiftCards, 10 Session passes, and Tykes Passes available
    • Pairs well with: DropZone socks (they're required for jumping in the trampoline area and are a fun thing to wrap up with a gift card!), sweatbands, athletic apparel
    • For more information, visit the DropZone website.
  • IBP Ice Center
  • NFAA Easton Archery Center
  • Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA
  • North 40 Mini Golf
  • Siouxland Tennis Center
  • Siouxnami Water Park

Sports to Watch

Sometimes watching sports is way more relaxing (and warmer) than doing sports. Here are some Siouxland sports you can buy tickets or passes to watch. Pair with fan apparel. 
a hockey player in a Sioux City Musketeers uniform glides across the ice next to a Sioux City Musketeers logo
Photo used with permission from the Tyson Events Center
Where to get it:
  • Auto racing at Jefferson Speedway
  • Sioux City Bandits Football
  • Sioux City Explorers Baseball
  • Sioux City Musketeers Hockey
    • Individual game tickets and season passes available 
    • Pairs well with: Sioux City Musketeers hockey fan apparel, mini air hockey game, ice skates
    • For more information, visit the Sioux City Musketeers website



Unique Fun

Sometimes gift experiences defy categorization. Here's where to go for something truly unique:

Where to get it:

Little Princess Makeover at the Iowa School of Beauty
  • For kids 10 & Under
  • $13 per child
  • Includes updo, nail polish, and makeup
  • GiftCards also available for various services for all ages
  • Pairs well with: dress up play clothes, a tea set, kids makeup
  • For more info, visit the Iowa School of Beauty's Sioux City guest services page


Experience Gifts Outside Sioux City:


Great Bear Ski Valley
Sioux Falls, SD
a ski instructor helps a young child gain their balance on skis at Great Bear Ski Valley in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Photo by Kyle Vanderberg and used with permission from Great Bear Ski Valley


Great Plains Zoo
Sioux Falls, SD

Butterfly House & Aquarium
Sioux Falls, SD
  • One day admission passes and annual memberships available *Note: the Butterfly House & Aquarium is merging with the Great Plains Zoo! I'm not sure how/if memberships will be affected, so be sure to read on their website what the terms of that might be.
  • Pairs well with: Butterfly wings, plush butterflies or sea creatures, books about butterflies or sea creatures.
  • For more information, visit the Butterfly House & Aquarium website.

Sioux Falls Skyforce Basketball
Sioux Falls, SD
  • Individual game tickets, ticket bundles, or season passes available online.
  • Part of the NBA G-League
  • Pairs well with: A new basketball, Skyforce jersey or fan apparel

Arnold's Park
Okoboji, IA
  • 2020 season membership or day passes available for either the amusement park or the Queen II ship! 
  • Pairs well with: Arnold's Park or Okoboji fan gear

Children's Museum of South Dakota
Brookings, SD
  • Memberships starting at $120 
  • Pairs well with: Children's Museum of South Dakota apparel, dinosaur toys from the museum gift shop

Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha, NE
a trio of giraffe heads at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska
Giraffes at the Henry Doorly Zoo

  • Membership or Passes for daily admission both available
  • Tickets to a special event like a "Penguins & Pajamas" overnight enrichment safari in the aquarium on New Years Eve, or cold weather camping near the Snow Leopard exhibit also available!
  • Pairs well with: plush animals, books about zoo animals, or Henry Doorly Zoo apparel

Durham Museum
Omaha, NE
a blonde boy in a blue polo shirt sits next to a statue of a WWII soldier about to board a train to head to training, while looking up at another statue, also a WWII soldier shipping out, at the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska
Statues pay tribute to the Durham's past as Omaha's Union Station

Omaha Children's Museum
Omaha, NE
children play with a water table and other features at the Omaha Children's Museum
Photo courtesy of the Omaha Children's Museum

  • Memberships, passes, and tickets to special events like the OCM Bubbly New Year's Eve Party available
  • Pairs well with: OCM apparel

Top picks:


Under $10/kid: Day passes to LaunchPad Children's Museum, or Children's Museum of South Dakota
Splurge (over $100 for family): Family membership to LaunchPad or the Henry Doorly Zoo, ski experience at Great Bear

Animal lovers: Henry Doorly Zoo or Great Plains Zoo passes or membership
Sports fans: Sioux City Musketeers hockey tickets or Sioux Falls Skyforce Basketball tickets
Creative kids: Sioux City Art Center gift certificate, Iowa School of Beauty Princess Makeover

Preschoolers: LaunchPad membership
Elementary age: Zoo passes, Drop Zone gift certificate, or a Princess Makeover
Tweens: Drop Zone or Cone Park passes, Sioux City Art Center gift certificate
Teens: Great Bear Passes, Hockey tickets


For any budget and any age, there are fun options for experience in Siouxland. I hope this helps you find some that are right for your family! 

Merry Christmas!

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