If you are looking for an experience gift, here is a collection of local St. Louis ideas. You’re sure to find something for that special someone on your list (kids or adults).
My kids have been collecting toys their whole lives. (Shocking, I know.) Toys are expected as gifts, but they have lost their luster. Or maybe it’s me that doesn’t get excited about their tangible gifts anymore. On my kids’ birthdays, we have always tried to take them someplace special. I think about their interests at the time. For example, my youngest loved trains, so we went to the Frisco Train Store to play (and take home a new train).
In 2019, I gave my oldest son the option of having a large friend birthday party (he had done that the prior two years) or a special experience and listed a few options. He decided he wanted to do the Penguin Encounter— a behind-the-scenes tour at the St. Louis Zoo. You have to schedule the Penguin Encounter months in advance, so the earliest we could do it was March 2020, the week everything shut down. Needless to say, our tour had to be rescheduled. We just got to go last month. It was well worth the wait.
The St. Louis Zoo has several behind-the-scenes tours of different animals. They are currently catching up on the canceled tours, so you can’t schedule one right now. Look for these in the future. In the meantime, a zoo membership or animal adoption would be a great option. They also have family night hikes and walking tours available.
My daughter loves horses. For her last birthday, I surprised her with horse riding lessons. I didn’t tell her until we arrived at Castlewood Stables. Lately, she has been asking to go to the Endangered Wolf Center. Her next birthday gift will be a tour. They have several options.
I also like to give experience gifts to my mom – something that we can do together. A pedicure or spa day plus lunch makes for a great gift.
Think about the person you are gifting. What do they like? What is someplace they wouldn’t choose on their own?
Experience Gifts for Adults
Let’s start with the adults. These ideas are perfect for a date night or a friend day out.
Take a class together.
- Try the Clay Date Night at South Broadway Art project.
- Take a cooking class at the Kitchen Conservatory.
- Check out an art workshop at Yucando Art Studio.
Explore the city.
- Go on a scavenger hunt.
- Enjoy a carriage ride.
- Go for a walk and check out some landmarks.
Experience Gifts for Kids (or Adults)
I made this list with kids in mind, but some of them are totally appropriate for adults as well.
Gift a Membership (or at least a ticket for a single visit).
- St. Louis Zoo – A membership gets you parking passes and tickets to zoo attractions plus a discount on food and merchandise.
- St. Louis Science Center – While entrance to the Science Center is free, a membership gets you free parking, free tickets to the OMNIMAX® Theater and planetarium shows, discount special exhibition tickets, and normally free Discovery Room tickets.
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Butterfly House, and Shaw Nature Reserve – This is probably the best value in memberships in the area. You get three places in one package.
- Endangered Wolf Center
- The Magic House and MADE for Kids
- Play Street Museum
- National Museum of Transportation
- St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
- City Museum
Gift a class.
- Music lessons
- Gymnastics
- Favorite sport
- Dance class
- Circus lessons
- Martial arts
- Art classes (Yucando has Kids Night Out, bonus for you!)
- Horseback riding lessons
- Swim lessons
Go to an event.
- Get tickets to a live show (play, concert, musical, ballet).
- See a movie (and get plenty of treats).
- Go to a sporting event.
Get active.
- Ice skating
- Rock climbing
- Trampoline park
- Inflatables like Monkey Joe’s or BounceU
Play a game.
- Miniature golf
- Arcade
- Bowling
- Escape room
Go on an adventure.
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Bicycle riding
- Picnic at the park
- New playground or library (Check out the features on St. Louis Mom’s Instagram.)
- Road trip or special vacation
