'Tis the season for holiday gift giving. While some people are easy to shop for, choosing the right present for kids, parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents can be challenging. Instead of pricey electronics or trendy items that may miss the mark, why not focus on something truly priceless? Experts agree: quality time and shared experiences create memories that last a lifetime. So this year, give the gift of togetherness.
Here are some great local ideas for "experience" gifts this season.
Purchase a Membership
Kids ages 1 to 101 can enjoy playing, creating memories and discovering the wonder of science together. I mean really, who doesn't like to play with bubbles, fly paper airplanes or create an image on the giant light screen? Impression 5 is where all generations can learn or re-learn all about science. A membership allows free admission, exclusive member night events, discounts at the gift shop plus free or discounted admission to more than 350 ASTC science centers worldwide.
Read MoreThe delight of a child along with an adult's remembrance of bygone days pair nicely at this car museum. Find cars from the early 1900's all the way up to the 1980's.
A basic family membership gains you 2 adult and up to 4 children admission plus 10% discount in the gift shop
Potter Park Zoo memberships are invaluable. Just the basic membership allows free or discounted admission to over 130 AZA accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide plus 10% discount at the AniMall Gift Shop, concessions, and mobility rentals, discounts on Twilight Adventures Event and Zookambi Summer Camp, early registration for Zookambi Summer Camp, email newsletter announcing exciting happenings throughout the year, plus so many other benefits.
Read MoreA membership to Fenner Nature Center comes with reduced rates for educational classes and the gift shop, discounts and early announcements for camp programs, a subscription to the Seasons newsletter, invitations to members-only events and annual meetings, as well as eligibility and discounts to rent the nature center for meetings and events.
Read MoreHousehold memberships cover all members living at the same address. Benefits include an annual parking pass, Woldumar's newsletter, a 10% discount at the gift shop, special discounts on select programs, a discount to Camp Discovery, and invitations to special Members-only events!
Read MoreFind nominal fees for their programming including campfire programs, monthly chipmunk story times, daytime and evening nature walks and for ages 21+ a Wine Walk.
Read MoreTake a Tasty Class Together
Some delicious options include a kids pizza making class at Slice by Saddleback, pie making at Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe, delicious full course meals at Le Chat Gourmet and cake baking or cookie decorating at Sweet Encounters among others. For those 21 and over, how about a date together to create craft cocktails at Lansing Shuffle or perhaps cooking classes at Red Haven.
Sweet Encounter Bakery Cafe
Sweet Encounter is a gourmet bakery and café specializing in scrumptious, made from scratch…
Sweetie-licious Bakery Café
We have the best pies in the country! Five of our delicious pies took home 1st place and the coveted…
Le Chat Gourmet Culinary Arts
Le Chat Gourmet Culinary Arts offers a wide selection of "hands-on" cooking classes for cooks of all…
Lansing Shuffle
Five restaurants. Five shuffleboard courts. Two full-service bars. A lounge. And a riverfront patio…
Red Haven
We are mid-Michigan’s premier farm-to-table event and pop-up dining experience. We offer seasonal…
Slice By Saddleback - West
A wood-fired, brick oven pizza restaurant owned and operated by Saddleback BBQ. Also offering fresh…
Enjoy a Sporting Event
Baseball, hot dogs, popcorn, family time and all kinds of crazy between-innings entertainment make a Lansing Lugnuts game unforgettable.
Individual and season tickets are available at affordable pricing. Go Nuts!
Lansing Common FC has one of the most unique, enjoyable, and affordable sports experiences you can find. Our games feature high-level soccer, local players, and active supporters! Games are held at Eastern Stadium located just north of UofM Sparrow Hospital at 400 N. Pennsylvania Rd.
A Family membership includes
4 Member Scarves
4 Member T-Shirts
Entrance to All Home Matches
4 Bring a Friend Vouchers
Having a Big Ten University in our own backyard yields opportunities to attend a wide range of sporting events.
From Cross Country, Track & Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Rowing, Softball, Tennis and Baseball to Basketball, Football and so much more, it's time to yell "Go Green!" here in Spartan Country.
Create Something Together
Side by side, when you take a "Make it and Take it" class, not only will you be spending time together, you can have a souvenir of your experience. Check out Paint Your Poison, ALT Printing, Lansing Maker's Network or REACH Studio Art Center for all kinds of options.
ALT Printing Co.
Invite your friends and enjoy step-by-step instruction on the screen-printing process. We also host…
REACH Studio Art Center
REACH Studio Art Center is a vibrant non-profit community art center offering creative out-of-school…
Paint Your Poison
Paint Your Poison specializes in paint party events like team building or birthdays. We also offer…
Lansing Makers Network
The Lansing Makers Network exists to bring diverse people, experiences and ideas together in a safe…
Tiny Bit of Wood
Tiny Bit of Wood, located in downtown Lansing, is a first-generation woodworking school…
Board & Brush Lansing
Are you looking for a night out with friends? Is your inner DIY itching for a fun new project…
Wharton Center at MSU has been dazzling audiences of all ages for generations. Whether its a touring Broadway show, a musical performance, a holiday offering or one of their Act One Family Series options, experiencing a performance at Wharton is always a great choice.
Read MoreBook an overnight stay at a hotel! When you book a hotel with dedicated pool time it's guaranteed smiles and memories to last a lifetime.
Read MoreThe best thing about these ideas is that these gifts can work both ways. Whether it's grandparents gifting these to their grandchildren and their families or children giving these to their grandparents, time spent together is truly a priceless holiday gift.
Photo Credit: Choose Lansing, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Alfred Laurence, Adrienne Cooley and Val Gill.
The vision of Choose Lansing is to inspire everyone to celebrate and love Greater Lansing as much as we do! Which goes hand in hand with our mission, to positively impact our community’s quality of life by developing the region as a visitor destination. What that boils down to is we want you to love Greater Lansing just like we do.
Choose Lansing and plan on something Greater!