Looking for the perfect gift that keeps on giving? A family membership is a great idea. Gifting experiences and shared activities make the best gifts because they’re unique, memorable and are ultra customizable. Plus, you’re also supporting local attractions and fostering a sense of community. It’s a win-win for everyone! Here are a few ideas for places and activities to put on your membership gift list.
Zoos, Aquariums & Wildlife Centers
For animal-loving families, a membership to a nearby zoo, aquarium or wildlife center is an obvious choice. Not only does a membership to one of these places mean you can visit as often as you like, but a membership also grants you access to special member-only events, such as animal encounters, early registration for camps, exclusive classes and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Museums
Many of the benefits described above apply to museums, too. An annual museum membership — whether to a children’s museum, art museum, historical museum, science museum or many others — allows members to go as many times as they want throughout the year. Only want to visit for an hour or two? No problem with a membership! You can visit as little or as long as you want without feeling like you have to squeeze the entire museum experience into one day. A museum membership is also a great option to have once the weather gets colder. You can visit when it’s raining or snowing, or when you just need a place to go to get out of the house for a while.
Many museum memberships also come with other advantages, such as member discounts at gift shops, and reciprocal benefits at other museums, such as free admission. The Association of Science and Technology Centers (astc.org) and the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (narmassociation.org) are two websites that will tell you if a museum has reciprocal benefits with other museums.
Kid Gyms & Trampoline Parks
Do you know kids who are constantly jumping on the sofa and bouncing off the living room walls? Give them (and their parents) the gift of a kid’s gym membership! There are many different kinds of kid’s gyms, including drop-in places like trampoline parks, to more structured experiences that teach a skill, like ninja or parkour classes.
Theaters, Concert Halls & Sporting Events
Families who are into performing arts, attending concerts or rooting for the local sports team might enjoy a membership or season tickets at their favorite venue. Memberships like these often come with lots of perks, including priority access and invitations to special members-only galas.
Swim Lessons
Get a jump on next year’s swim season by gifting a membership to a local swim school. Swim lessons are important, and swim schools aimed at kids make the experience fun. Plus, weekly lessons are a great way to ensure the kid on your gift list will be prepared for the pool next summer. Memberships at swim schools often include perks like members-only family swim hours, free swim swag, free treats and more.
Sometimes, the best gift isn’t something you can wrap — rather, it’s the gift of time spent together as a family!
