10 Unique Experience Gifts For Kids In Cincinnati
Are you on the hunt for great experience gifts for kids in Cincinnati, Ohio? We have a list with a few unique ideas that they will love!
As a parent, when asked about gift ideas for my daughter, my initial reaction is please, no more toys! While kids love receiving toys, often, they are played with a few times before being discarded a year later. Hence, I am a massive fan of experience gifts that will build lasting memories.
In my hometown of Cincinnati, there are many popular experiences to get kids, such as passes to popular attractions such as the Cincinnati Zoo, Kings Island, EnterTrainment Junction, and the Cincinnati Museum Center. However, if you want something outside the local go-to’s, here are a few unique experiences we recommend.
Unique Experience Gifts For Kids In Cincinnati
Backyard Glamping With Pop-Up BNB
Plan a special backyard campout with a glamping experience from Pop Up BNB. The Pop-Up BNB offers private glamping rentals for your backyard! Kids of all ages will love unzipping the tent to find a darling set-up with charming decor, luxurious air mattresses, and cozy bedding.
Whether it is a celebration, a birthday, or a first-time campout, the luxury glamping experience from Pop-Up BNB is unmatched. We opted for the Pop Up BNB for our daughter’s birthday and had an absolute blast.
The Pop-Up BNB offers gift cards that you can purchase to help create a glamorous backyard campout. Please read about our backyard glamping experience and plan your next backyard campout!
Swimming Lessons
One experience gift that keeps giving is the gift of learning a life skill. Swim lessons not only teach kids essential swim skills but also teach water safety. Many swim schools start children as young as 4-6 months!
The peace of mind for parents is a priceless gift that comes with having your child learn to swim.
There are various swim schools throughout the Cincinnati area, and Goldfish Anderson is one of our favorites. Regardless of where you go, many swim schools offer holiday packages that are often the best prices you will see all year.
Sign Them Up For The ZOO TROOP
The Cincinnati Zoo is a fantastic family destination in Cincinnati and full of educational opportunities. A great experience gift for kids who love animals is to sign them up for the ZOO TROOP.
Zoo Troop fosters caring, confident young people who know and love the wild world around them. The ZOO TROOP is a four-week series of classes for toddlers through 8th graders designed to develop curiosity, create empathy, encourage healthy social skills, and grow self-esteem. The classes meet once a week and are immersed in fun, educational, wildlife-rich experiences.
Children do not have to be a member of the Cincinnati Zoo to join the Zoo Troop. However, members get a discount.
Planning Tip: This gift does require a bit of planning as classes fill up quickly!
Family Pass To Highfield Discovery Center
Step into the enchanting world of Highfield Discovery Garden in Glenwood Gardens. This whimsical Cincinnati park features a unique children’s garden geared toward sparking imagination while celebrating nature.
Family pass options are available, which offer special benefits like member-only days, discounts, and priority registration for special events. The daily educational programs offered are free with admission, whether daily or pass-holder.
Planning Tip: The Highfield Discovery Garden is located inside Glenwood Gardens off Springfield Pike. To visit the park, your gift recipient will need an annual Great Parks permit or pay for daily admission to enter Glenwood Gardens. I recommend adding in the Great Parks Permit for even more fun!
CHECK OUT OUR TOP 35 THINGS TO DO IN CINCINNATI WITH KIDS.
Overnight At Hueston Woods Lodge
A single step into the rustic Hueston Woods Lodge will leave no doubt that this is the ideal spot for a family retreat in Ohio. An impressive lobby paired with sweeping views of Acton Lake welcomes lodge visitors. Cozy leather couches in front of a roaring fireplace beckon guests to slow down, relax and enjoy their Ohio family getaway.
A quick 45-minute drive from Cincinnati can have you staying at the beautiful Hueston Woods Lodge. Great Ohio Lodges are always an ideal retreat for families as they offer indoor/outdoor pools, a game room, plenty of gathering spaces, restaurants, and all the outdoor activities associated with staying in a state park.
Planning Tip: Giftcards are available for Great Ohio Lodges, so there is no need to book a specific date for the overnight.
Play Passes For Younger Kids and Toddlers
Experience gifts for younger children can be challenging, but consider getting them a play pass for one of the nearby play places. Throughout Cincinnati, there are great play places for parents to take young kids to.
A few of our favorites with areas designed for kids under 5: are the Happy Hangout on the Westside, Lilypad Play in O’Bryonville, Dig N’Play in West Chester, Milk N Beans in Cresent Springs, KY, and Wonderland Play in Anderson.
Get Tickets For The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Give the gift of live theater with tickets to one of the Children’s Theatre’s beloved classics or enroll them in one of the many classes and camps offered. The performances typically run 60-70 minutes long and are full of engaging music and dance. The shows are aimed at kids, so it is a wonderful way to introduce children to the theatre.
Take their love of theater to the next level by getting a gift card or lessons to help them hone their skills. Kids as young as four can enjoy classes such as Musical Theatre Medly, while older kids can enroll in songwriting, drama club, Improv, and more!
Take A Train Ride
All aboard for an experience gift that is bound to be one for the photo albums. Get tickets for an incredible train ride with the Lebanon Mason Railroad or one of the neighboring railroads! Each one offers themed train rides throughout the year, including a princess train ride, Thomas the Tank, Polar Express, and more!
A few neighboring railroads we recommend are the Nickelplate Express, Whitewater Valley Railroad, The French Lick Scenic Railroad, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Create A Masterpiece at the Mad Potter
Have an artist in the family? Give a gift for them to channel their artistic ability by getting a gift card to the Mad Potter. The Mad Potter is a paint-your-own pottery studio for adults and kids! At Mad Potter, you can choose from hundreds of pottery pieces, including bowls, mugs, picture frames, banks, and so much more. My daughter loves painting ceramic figurines such as butterflies, unicorns, and dogs.
Planning Tip: After painting their pottery piece, the Mad Potter does have to glaze and fire it, and the finished project can be picked up in a week.
Get Tickets To The OMNIMAX
The Cincinnati Museum Center is home to multiple museums, but one fun activity that kids don’t get to do all the time is experiencing the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater. Throughout the year, different films will rotate through the theater, so check out their website to see what is playing.
Planning Tip: Tickets for the Theater are sold separately and are not included with membership or admission to the museum center.
Are you looking for more great experience ideas in Cincinnati? Here are a few more of our favorites!
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UNIQUE EXPERIENCE GIFTS FOR KIDS IN CINCINNATI
