While gifts are not the reason for the season, it feels good to give and receive heartfelt presents. This year, gift your family and friends local experiences!

The Holiday Experience Gift Guide is brought to you by the creative minds at Newsymom.com.

Toy catalogs and online deals are a staple when it comes to holiday gifting, but did you know you can gift experiences, too? Gifting an experience gives the receiver a present they can look forward to and use in their own time. It also cuts down on clutter and “stuff.” Not to mention it’s a great way to give a gift to someone who is difficult to shop for or “already has everything”!

Giving your loved ones an experience also gives them the opportunity to make memories, try new things, or learn something new! Check out these local and unique experiences…

For the Artsy Artsy

• Canton Museum of Art, Canton OH
• Glazed and Amused, North Canton OH
• Whole Child Community Arts & Learning Center, Massillon OH

For the Adventure Seeker

• Canoeing or Aerial Park at Mohican Adventures, Loudonville OH
• Wood’s Tall Timber Resort Zipline, New Philadelphia OH
• Top Golf, Independence OH
• All-American Axe Throwing, Canton OH
• Skiing or Snow-tubing at Boston Mills Brandywine, Peninsula OH
• Funtimes Fun Park, Alliance OH
• K1 Speed Indoor Go-Kart Racing, Canton OH
• Cedar Point, Sandusky OH
• Laser Zone (laser tag), Canton OH
• Canton Air-Sports Sky Diving, Canton OH
• Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, OH
• Sky Zone, Canton OH
• Funtimes Fun Park, Alliance OH
• Center Ice Sports Complex, Canton OH
• K1 Speed, Canton OH
• Sluggers and Putters, Canal Fulton OH
• Adkins Raceway, Port Washington OH
• Camp Tuscazoar, Dover OH
• Midvale Speedway, Midvale OH
• STEAM Indoor Play Center, North Canton OH

For the Smarty Pants

• McKinley Museum, Canton OH
• MasterClass, online subscription
• Age of Steam Roundhouse, Sugarcreek OH
• Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens, Dover OH
• MAPS Air Museum, Canton OH
• Ohio History Connection membership– access to Schoenbrunn Village, Zoar, & more!
• Canton Museum of Art, Canton OH
• The Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield OH
• Reeves Museum, Dover OH
• Auman Museum of Radio & Television, Dover OH
• Clay Capital Heritage Center, Dennison OH
• Historic Zoar Village, Zoar OH
• Newcomerstown Historical Society, Newcomerstown OH

For the Animal & Nature Lover

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland OH
• Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Cleveland OH
• Akron Zoo, Akron OH
• Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Mansfield OH
• The Wilds, Cumberland OH
• Beech Creek Botanical Garden, Alliance OH
• The Wilderness Center, Wilmot OH
• Norma Johnson Center, Dover OH

For the Family

• Akron Children’s Museum, Akron OH
• Polar Express, Dennison OH
• Quaker Cinema Gift Card, New Philadelphia OH
• Cinemark Tinseltown or a movie theater gift card, North Canton OH
• COSI, Columbus OH
• Canton Palace Theatre, Canton OH
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton OH
• Dave & Buster’s, North Canton OH
• The Troll Hole Museum, Alliance OH
• Sluggers & Putters, Canal Fulton
• SkyZone, North Canton OH
• Uhrichsville Water Park, Uhrichsville OH
• Cafe O’Play, Stow OH
• Great Wolf Lodge, Sandusky OH
• Performing Arts Center, New Philadelphia OH
• Lynn Drive In, Strasburg OH
• Trumpet in the Land, New Philadelphia OH

For the Next Date Night

• 1899 Indoor Golf, North Canton OH
• Canton Food Tour, Canton OH
• Ice Skating, North Canton OH

Experience Gift Cards & Subscriptions

• Ticketmaster or StubHub
• A golf course gift card
• Swim Lessons
• Bowling gift card
• An audio book subscription
• Kindle Unlimited
• Little Passports
• A gym membership (…or maybe not)

Audrey Mattevi, Reporting