Outside of the Box Gifts! 50+ Non-Toy & Experience Gift Ideas

Want to give a gift this year that is guaranteed to fit and create memories this holiday season? Do you have someone on your list that already has everything and want to find the perfect gift? We’ve got so many ideas to share with you!

The best gifts don’t always fit into a gift box but allow you to support our local small business community in unique ways over the holidays and beyond. Here are some of our favorite experiences for gifting this season!

Membership Gifts

GVK TIP! Many museums offer an additional add-on option with Association of Children’s Museums Reciprocal Network (ACM)/ Association of Science-Technology Centers Travel Passport Program (ASTC) reciprocal membership. This membership includes free or reduced admission to Children’s and Science museums throughout Wisconsin and across the country makes memberships to these spots the perfect experience gift. Check out the program’s websites for more information.

• Building for Kids Membership, Appleton
  This is one of our favorites! Visit the Building for Kids any time you’d like all year long AND get steeply discounted admission or FREE to so many road trip-able museums with membership to both the ACM and ASTC! These travel programs have participating members all over the country also.
• Trout Museum Membership, Appleton
  Year-long annual membership for four adults and any children under 18, discounts for classes, workshops, and camps, and invitations to exclusive events.
• EAA Membership, Oshkosh
  Membership includes ASTC, Sport Aviation Magazine, discount to EAA AirVenture, and support for those who are pilots or wish to become pilots.
• Paine Art Center and Gardens
  Family Membership includes free admission for two adults and accompanying children to the mansion, gardens, and exhibitions, including self-guided tours of Nutcracker in the Castle for one year.
• YMCA Membership
  YMCA memberships include full use of all YMCA of the Fox Cities locations and throughout the US, reduced rates for classes, camps, lessons, and sports.
• National Railroad Museum, Green Bay
  Includes membership to the ASTC, FREE train rides along the Fox River May-October, 2 tickets to private exhibit openings and member events, birthday party discounts, and more!
• NEW Zoo Pass, Green Bay
  Includes Membership to Association of Zoos and Aquariums (note that this does not apply to Milwaukee Zoo, Racine Zoo, or Shedd Aquarium), gift shop discount, one FREE ticket to ZooBoo and EggStravaganZoo, and discount to the Adventure Park.
• Neville Public Museum, Green Bay
  Includes membership to ASTC, and Time Travelers Network, as well as a gift shop discount.
• Fond du Lac Children’s Museum, Fond du Lac
  A Multi-Museum membership includes an ACM membership and one free guest year-round at Fond du Lac Children’s Museum.
• Green Bay Children’s Museum, Green Bay
  Members only events, 2 passes for family members and friends, birthday party discount, and special rates for programs, camps, and classes.
• Bookworm Gardens Membership, Sheboygan
  Members enjoy a members-only reception, advance registration for events, camps, and classes, discount in the gift shop, reduced summer camp rates, and reciprocal admission to over 230 botanic gardens nationwide.
• The Farm Season Pass, Sturgeon Bay
• Mulberry Farm Membership, Sherwood
• Wisconsin State Parks Vehicle Sticker
• Monthly memberships to Urban Air or Altitude in Appleton.
• Membership to one of the 12 Nature Centers Within an Hour from Appleton
• Get a jump on the summer with a community pools pass!

Tickets

• Fox Cities PAC (Performing Arts Center)
  • Big shows can be the perfect way to bond with older kiddos that love a signature experience! These shows in 2023 are certain to please:
    • Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous – January 2023
    • Winnie the Pooh Musical – April 2023
    • Hamilton – May 2023
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
  • Holiday Gift Packs, Kids Crew Memberships, and Season Ticket Pacakges available.
• Harry Potter Experience in Chicago, now through May 14, 2023
• Resch Center
  • Harlem Globetrotters – December 29, 2022
  • Disney on Ice – February 16 – 19, 2023
  • Green Bay Gamblers Hockey Game
• Oshkosh Arena
  • Harlem Globetrotters – January 1, 2023
  • Wisconsin Herd Basketball Game

Winter Fun

• Skiing – Lift tickets, Season Pass or Ski Lessons
  • Nordic Mountain – located in Wild Rose (also have tubing)
  • Granite Peak – located in Wausau,
  • Ski Brule – located in Iron River, MI, about 3 hours from Appleton. (Two tubing hills)
• Tubing
  • Calumet County Park Tubing Hill, Hilbert
  • Titletown – Ariens Hill, Green Bay
  • Triangle Sports Area, Green Bay
  • Winter Park, Kewaunee
  • Nordic Mountain, Wild Rose
  • Sylvan Park Hill, Wausau
  • Sunburst Winter Sports Park, Kewaskum
  • Iverson Park Winter Sports Area, Stevens Point
• Sledding – check out lots of fun winter toys at Play it Again Sports
  • Take it next level at Iverson Park Winter Sports Area’s Toboggan Run in Stevens Point.
• Ice Skating
  • Titletown
  • The Plaza at Gateway Park in Neenah
• Scenic tours with lots of fun stops are personal favorites, and A Day of Exploring Winter in Door County really delivers.
• Stomp around on top of the snow on a Snowshoeing Adventure.
• Head off to an afternoon or evening Sleigh Ride at One of These 10 Dreamy Destinations.

Things to Do

There are so many fun things to do in the Fox Cities and Wisconsin that make perfect gifts and support our local community and small businesses!

Gift cards to enjoy later can be picked up from local businesses and tucked into cards or stockings for a fun surprise. Here are some of our favorite ideas for things to do in the Fox Cities and Wisconsin.

• Roller Skating
• Bowling
• A visit to paint pottery at The Fire in Appleton or The Fire Escape in Oshkosh
• A night at a hotel – Here are some of our favorite Road Trips!
  • Have a dinosaur lover? Kenosha has the cool and free Dinosaur Discovery Museum—home to a 40-foot-tall tyrannosaurus rex!
• Waterpark
  • A longer trip to Wisconsin Dells
  • Quick overnight at one of the Fox Cities hotels on our Indoor Swimming Pools Guide
• Badger Sports Park gift cards for a full day of fun year-round
• Luv 2 Play is a perfect spot for preschool and school-aged kids to spend an afternoon
• Funset Boulevard, arcade games, mini bowling, playground, carousel, and so much more!
• Glow in the dark mini golf at Glow in the Park in Oshkosh
• Jump and Play!
  • Urban Air
  • Xtreme Air
• Swimming Lessons
• Have dinner or s’mores in an outdoor dome or igloo at one of these 15 spots in the Fox Cities and around Wisconsin.
• Family Vacation
  • Try one of these 35+ Cozy Wisconsin Cabins for Family Getaways
• Coffee and cat snuggles at Pawfee Shop Cat Cafe in Appleton
• A day of fun with reptiles at MToxins in Oshkosh
• Manicure or Pedicure
• Ear piercing at Good Girl Piercing in Oshkosh
• Figure out a live-action puzzle at an escape room
• Adrenaline junkies will love the giant climbing wall at Odyssey Climbing and Fitness opening this winter!
• Movie tickets for a local theater

Subscription Gifts

• Subscription boxes like Kiwi Crate or Art Box
• Magazine subscriptions
• Book subscription boxes from Owl Crate or Literati
• Ad-Free Art Lessons from the popular Art Hub for Kids!
• Gaming platform live subscriptions—you can find gift cards for these at many local stores to have a physical item to give.
• Outschool, Domestika, or other online classes.

Special Interest Gifts

• Donations to a charity of their choice
• Art supplies and art lessons from our fantastic offerings from local artists
• Music lessons
• Money for savings accounts
  • Get an extra $50 from Edvest when you open a new education savings account!
• Science Tools
• Movie Gift Cards
• Sport Equipment
• Horseback Riding Lessons
• Sports Camps
• Summer Camp

What are your best unique gifts? Leave any additional ideas in the comments below!