Christmas gifts that create 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 2020 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:
Experience gifts in Sioux City
LaunchPad Children's Museum
- Memberships start at $14 per month, which includes unlimited admission for a whole year for 2 adults and their kids, up to 6 kids, with several options with even more fun features also available..
- Pairs well with: LaunchPad t-shirt; toys from LaunchPad's Odyssey gift shop
- For more information, visit the LaunchPad Children's Museum website or check out my post about LaunchPad Children's Museum.
MidAmerica Museum of Aviation and Transportation
- Family memberships available for $60, which includes unlimited admission for a whole year!
- Pairs well with: toy airplane, airplane book
- For more information, visit the MidAmerica Museum of Aviation and Transportation website.
Sioux City Railroad Museum
- Family memberships available for $50, which includes unlimited admission for a whole year
- Pairs well with: toy trains, Thomas the Train or Chuggington DVD
- For more information, visit the Sioux City Railroad Museum website.
DropZone
- GiftCards available for $10-150. Trampoline zone prices start at $8 for 1/2 hour, laser tag starts at $7, and the toddler zone starts at $5 for 1/2 hour, so even a smaller gift card could really mean lots of fun at DropZone!
- 10 Session Passes available: $90 for a Jump Pass for 10 x 60 min sessions in the trampoline zone, or $50 for a Tykes Pass for 10 x 60 min sessions in the toddler zone
- Pairs well with: DropZone socks, available for $2 (they're required for jumping in the trampoline area, and are a fun thing to wrap up with a gift card!)
- For more information, visit the DropZone website
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
- For more information, visit the Cone Park website.
Sioux City Art Center
 |
| Fun in the Sioux City Art Center's Junior League Hands-On Gallery |
- While some classes are free thanks to generous grants, other 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.
- Pairs well with: art supplies, artists smock
- For more information, visit the Sioux City Art Center website or check out my post about the Sioux City Art Center.
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
- For more info, visit the Iowa School of Beauty's Sioux City guest services page
Sioux City Musketeers hockey tickets
 |
| Photo used with permission from the Tyson Events Center |
- Individual game tickets available starting at $7 for kids and $10 for adults
- Season passes available starting at $295 per seat for kids
- Pairs well with: Sioux City Musketeers hockey fan apparel, mini air hockey game
- For more information, visit the Sioux City Musketeers website
Experience Gifts Outside Sioux City:
Great Bear Ski Valley
Sioux Falls, SD
 |
| Photo by Kyle Vanderberg and used with permission from Great Bear Ski Valley |
- Season Passes, daily tickets, or gift cards
- Passes can be used for sledding, tubing, skiing snowboarding, ice skating, and more.
- Read more about Great Bear Ski Valley in my Winter Sports in Siouxland post.
- Pairs well with: Great Bear apparel
Great Plains Zoo
Sioux Falls, SD
- Membership or Passes
- Pairs well with: plush animals or Great Plains Zoo apparel
Butterfly House & Aquarium
Sioux Falls, SD
Sioux Falls Skyforce Basketball
Sioux Falls, SD
Arnold's Park
Sioux Falls, SD
- One day admission passes starting at $9 for kids/$12 adults, with gift certificates and annual memberships available (build-your-membership pricing varies, but would be $80 for 2 adults and 2 kids)
- Pairs well with: Butterfly wings, plush 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
 |
| 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 in March!
- Pairs well with: plush animals or Henry Doorly Zoo apparel
Durham Museum
Omaha, NE
 |
| Statues pay tribute to the Durham's past as Omaha's Union Station |
- Membership or Passes available
- Find out more about the Durham in my post about visiting Omaha's Durham Museum with kids.
- Pairs well with: toy train or Durham Museum apparel
Omaha Children's Museum
Omaha, NE
 |
| 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
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
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!
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!
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for joining in the conversation! We can't wait to hear what you have to say. Some comments are moderated, so it may take some time for your comment to appear on the site. We encourage lively discussion, but will delete comments that are hostile, hateful, spammy, or rude.