Looking for "experience" ideas instead of buying another toy

[maslex]

My grandson's 5th birthday is in April. His parents are split, so with both sides of the family, the "step" sides of the family and friends, he wants for nothing toy or clothes wise. With his birthday coming up, we'd rather bring him somewhere as a special treat instead of buying more toys. I just have no idea where though. Any suggestions?

 

[ZZBane]

Where do you live? Are you willing to travel? If so, how far? Budget? Are you talking a mini vacation or a trip to a museum?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Are there any live kid-friendly shows coming to your area soon? Perhaps you can buy tickets and tell him he can invite a friend to come along. Or do you have any local theme parks or indoor play areas that would be fun? Perhaps a movie he'd like to see?

 

[KayaWildfire]

What types of things does he like? Some of the experience type things we have done or been given in the past include tickets to a music concert or sporting event, we have done day out with Thomas for our train lovers, disney on ice, small theme park(six flags or similar), and the Lego experience thing in the mall near us.

 

[maslex]

We're in northeast CT. I'm not looking to do a mini vacation or anything like that. I was thinking something like Monster Trucks (he's been with dad before) or maybe a kid museum type thing. We brought him to the local aquarium last year (not for birthday, just a random day). Just looking to bring him somewhere for the day for a fun experience instead of piling more toys on top of the bazillion he already has.

 

[KayaWildfire]

We're in northeast CT. I'm not looking to do a mini vacation or anything like that. I was thinking something like Monster Trucks (he's been with dad before) or maybe a kid museum type thing. We brought him to the local aquarium last year (not for birthday, just a random day). Just looking to bring him somewhere for the day for a fun experience instead of piling more toys on top of the bazillion he already has.

All of those sound like good ideas. Kid's museums are good choices, zoo, aquarium, tickets to somehting coming for a limited time like the monster trucks. Our state fairgrounds have a lot of local seasonal events a kid might like too so maybe look at their calendar as well.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Scooby Doo Live is touring now, that could be a good one for you!

 

[meajuly5]

We're in northeast CT. I'm not looking to do a mini vacation or anything like that. I was thinking something like Monster Trucks (he's been with dad before) or maybe a kid museum type thing. We brought him to the local aquarium last year (not for birthday, just a random day). Just looking to bring him somewhere for the day for a fun experience instead of piling more toys on top of the bazillion he already has.

Trampoline park, bounce house indoor place, ct has indoor ninja place in windsor, Sturbridge village,

 

[NYCgrrl]

We're in northeast CT. I'm not looking to do a mini vacation or anything like that. I was thinking something like Monster Trucks (he's been with dad before) or maybe a kid museum type thing. We brought him to the local aquarium last year (not for birthday, just a random day). Just looking to bring him somewhere for the day for a fun experience instead of piling more toys on top of the bazillion he already has.

There's a great kids' museum in CT; think it's in Hartford. The Florence Griswold Museum in one of the Lymes has interactive programs for children. Of course you have the Essex Railroad; the man and I call it the grandparents' special, LOL.

HTH.

 

[xipotec]

We have been doing this for years...

Kart racing.
Pottery
Art classes
Bike tours

 

[Heather07438]

How do you feel about something water related? Rent a rowboat on a lake, or go to an indoor a water park, etc. It's fun and I think exposing younger kids to water activities is really important too.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Any kid museum, many natural science museums are also very kid friendly, a special movie, bowling, some kind of play/arcade place, indoor pool with a friend (doesn't even have to be a big waterpark, just a regular pool can be fun for a kid in the middle of winter), a kid cooking class, even regular art museums can be fun for kids if you do a little work ahead of time ... plan a scavenger type hunt to find certain things, don't overdo it time-wise, and follow it up with some ice cream.

Also, I know you said not a mini-vacation, but even just once night in a nice-ish hotel in town can be fun and something out of the ordinary ... I'm thinking of Embassy Suites where they have a restaurant, pool to use, nice breakfast in the morning, maybe stay up late watching a movie, etc.

 

[ronandannette]

It didn't take much to please my 5 year-old, back in the day, especially if we were really enthusiastic about an activity or event being "special". Heck, some of his best memories are of camp-outs in the living room and getting to stay up late watching movies or even having birthday cake for breakfast. Why don't you try the less-is-more approach? With so many people in his life vying to "provide" things for him, just be the grandparents who are always there, always loving and always make mundane things seem fun.

 

[sailorstitch]

Chuck E Cheese ?

 

[AppleDumpling]

- The Dinosaur Place in Oakdale, CT
- Submarine base/museum in Groton
- Mystic Seaport/Aquarium
- Lake Compounce
- Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven (on Yale campus)
- UConn hockey or basketball game

 

[DisLiss]

My kids love these kind of gifts, and they really can be as little or as much as needed, based on what the individual wants to spend.

National or regional businesses like movie theaters, museums, Chuck E. Cheese or other arcade based places, bowling alleys, trampoline or inflatable places all tend to offer gift certificates of some sort.

And as others have mentioned, places specific to their area may offer them as well. Not only tourist destinations, but smaller "mom & pop" places, too. Art studios may offer parent/child classes or kid classes. Local theaters, museums, recreation or community centers often offer a wide array of classes and day camps. You might call to see if they have certificates that can be used towards any event, or even if they have some specific to one type of activity.

My kids even enjoy certificates to their favorite restaurant or ice cream/froyo/donut place.

And even though this is a thing, not an experience, it is consumable at least---they also like the boxes of snacks you can get mailed to them that feature a certain country each month. Some are subscription based, but I know at least one of them lets you send just one box if you want. Universal Yums and SnackCrate are 2 that I know of, but I am sure that googling something like "snack subscriptions from around the world" will find more for you.

 

[RamblingMad]

They're only five years old. Would they remember the experience? I would wait for them to get older before spending a lot on an experience for them. Instead, I'd take them to the zoo or a museum.

 

[starry_solo]

Scavenger hunts?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Zoo membership! That way he can use it throughout the year.

 

[HeatherC]

Mystic Aquarium or Boston Aquarium, Chuck E Cheese, Lake Compounce, Roger Williams Zoo, Mendon Zoo in Mass., Boston Children’s Museum, Museum of Science, Skyzone (trampoline place). Check your local library for passes to many of these places. Can be a great day without costing a ton.