This year, I’m asking family members to consider giving my kids experiences instead of another toy for Christmas. While I appreciate anyone thinking of my kids and buying gifts, I’d love for my daughters to make memories with loved ones instead of collecting more toys.
Here are some gift ideas for experiences in Northeast Pennsylvania.
- Disney on Ice comes to the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza from Jan. 15-20. My girls will be so excited to find these tickets on Christmas morning.
- See a show, including “Pinocchio” or “Once Upon a Mattress” at the Scranton Cultural Center. The Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre also has a tremendous lineup of upcoming children’s shows, including “Llama Llama Live” and “Wild Kratts Live.”
- The Ballet Theatre of Scranton will present its annual free performances of the “Nutcracker” from Dec. 26-28 at a new location this year, the Theater at North. Tickets are free. Lunch or dinner plus seeing the show could be a great outing with family.
- Tickets to places including Bee’s Backyard, Electric City Aquarium or the Everhart Museum make a great stocking stuffer. Bowling, laser tag or movie tickets are good options too.
- Make up a gift certificate for a road trip to a family-friendly attraction. My children love Knoebel’s, attractions in Hershey, Sesame Place, Lehigh Valley Zoo, Animal Adventure Park and the Crayola Experience. You could include ticket vouchers with a little plastic toy animal for the zoo, or a chocolate bar for Hershey. How cute would it be to stick tickets for Crayola in a crayon box?
- Cheer on NEPA teams and buy tickets for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders or the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
- Give art classes for studios including Spirited Art, Wonderful or the Abington Art Studio. Check out passes for My Gym Scranton or cooking classes at Vintage Kitchen or the White Apron Academy at Lackawanna College.
- Family passes to the YMCA or the JCC make great options too.
- My kids love interactive children’s museums, so tickets or family passes to the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier or the Children’s Museum of Bloomsburg would be appreciated.
Have any ideas I can include in my list? Email me at shofius@timesshamrock.com.
Sarah balances life as a reporter for The Times-Tribune and as the mom of two little girls. A graduate of Ithaca College, Sarah started covering education in 2006. She has received awards for her reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists, Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association, Inland Press Association and Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association. She lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, their daughters and their sweet pug, Sadie. Reach her at shofius@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9133 or @HofiusHallTT.
