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Kid Friendly Gift Experiences in Columbus, Ohio

By Hannah Lewis on November 15, 2022

Cover photo for the ultimate kid friendly gift experience list.

Over the past few years, I’ve been REALLY trying to focus more on experience gifting vs. physical gift giving. Our home is nowhere near minimalist but we are trying our hardest to not buy things “just because” and instead focus on fun experiences that create memories.

Experiences don’t have to cost an arm and a leg either! I’ve rounded up a variety of gift ideas that range from free to a little bit pricier. They are perfect for your own kiddos, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc.

I’d love to hear if you choose any of these experiences for gifts this year! Share with me over on our Instagram or Facebook. If you need ideas on how to have holiday experiences DURING the holidays, here is a great list from Eat Play Cbus.

Kids at the Main Library in Downtown Columbus.

How to Gift an Experience

I think the hardest part about gifting an experience is how to “wrap it” per se. You can still make it something fun to unwrap! Depending on kid friendly gift experience, you can print out the tickets or membership, get a frame to put a picture of you in it from the experience, and more fun ideas!

I’ve listed ideas below on creative ways on how to “wrap up” the present for a fun gift opening experience.

While we’ve written this blog post around the holiday season, you can easily use these ideas for birthdays, graduations, or just for a fun day around Columbus!

Note: for anyone who is reading this who doesn’t live in Columbus, you can substitute the ideas for the relevant spot in your town. Better yet, come visit us!

Kids outside of COSI.

Experiences under $20

These kid friendly experience gifts won’t break the bank but will create tons of fun memories! These are also really great gifts for siblings to gift to each other, with parental supervision, I’m sure.

  • Use your (free!) library card to pick out a few new books and then visit a pastry, coffee, or dessert spot. Head back home or even a local park to read your new books together with a sweet treat. Here are some of our favorite pairings.
  • Visit the Historic North Market with your $20 budget, wander around and then choose a snack item (or two) to share then head over to Goodale Park to enjoy it al fresco. Finish with a playground visit or stroll around the pond!
    • How to gift: Buy a gift card ahead of time and gift a frame so you can take a selfie while enjoying your meal together.
  • Do a community project together and then reward yourself with ice cream. Here are some ideas for fun community projects.
    • Volunteer at the Franklin County Animal Shelter then visit Jeni’s at Easton Town Center.
    • Register for any of Seeds of Caring events then grab a scoop from any of the many Whit’s locations.
    • Volunteer at one of the many great food pantries across Columbus (like this one!) and then enjoy a sundae from Graeter’s.
    • How to gift: Write a letter to your kiddo from Santa/Elf/etc. about the kindness of giving back during the holidays and a gift card for ice cream as a preemptive thank you.
  • Take advantage of the Columbus Museum of Art’s FREE Sunday admission! Enjoy breakfast at Fox in the Snow before your visit, I recommend a big ol’ cinnamon roll to share!
    • How to gift: Make an “invitation” for breakfast + art on Canva or draw it by hand!
  • Invite your kiddo to a movie night at home! Use your $20 budget to pick up some yummy popcorn from Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn or Al’s Delicious Popcorn and then purchase a new movie off Amazon Prime.
    • How to gift: Make a “movie ticket” with a coupon section for a “small popcorn” from their favorite spot.
Child watering plants at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, OH

Experiences under $100

All these kid friendly gift experiences fall between $20-$100. There is a variety of options for little ones up to pre-teens.

  • I love a good book and dessert theme. Elevate this gift from the library and let your kiddo pick out a new book or two from a local bookstore and finish off with a dessert or two from a nearby shop. Here are some of my favorite pairings.
  • It’s never too young to get your kiddo excited about the theatre! We are so lucky to have many options for theatrical productions here in Columbus that are very kid-friendly. Our daughters loves to get “fancy” for the theatre especially if she gets to go to a “nice” restaurant before the show. Her favorite was Spaghetti Warehouse (RIP) but here are some fun ideas to put together that include dinner and a show.
  • If you have a budding foodie then Columbus is a good spot for you! Our daughter is really interested in Asian cuisine so we recently spent the day over on Bethel Road where there is an abundance of Japanese restaurants and shops to explore. Here are a few ideas of kid friendly foodie tours in Columbus!
Destination donuts in Columbus Ohio.

Experiences over $100

These kid friendly gift experiences are a little bit on the pricer side of things but are worth the money in my opinion! They also would make a great group gift for multiple kiddos, especially the membership ideas!

  • Purchase a membership to one of our MANY amazing and kid friendly places! Since memberships can be pretty pricey, this makes a great family gift and then pair it with something tangible for them to open or enjoy on the day of the gift giving.
    • COSI
    • Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
    • Columbus Museum of Art
    • Franklin Park Conservatory
    • Ohio History Connection
    • How to gift: Print off the membership and then gift everyone in the family something from that center like an animal from the zoo or something from the gift shop at COSI!
  • If your kids are anything like my daughter, they LOVE staying in hotels. She will jump at any chance to stay in one which is why I think this would be such a fun gift idea! Book a night at a local hotel and pick out matching pajamas, snacks, and a new stuffie. If you stay at a Marriott hotel, you can connect your Netflix account!
    • I recently did this with my sister at Easton Aloft then enjoyed Pins, Trader Joes snacks, and sleeping in. 10/10 recommend this idea.
    • How to gift: Package the pajamas, snacks, and stuffie in an overnight bag and print off a little itinerary of where you’re staying and what you’ll be doing!
  • We haven’t quite gotten to this age but if you have a child who loves sports than you definitely are in the right city! We have an amazing amount of athletic options from high school to college to professional. Tickets to a sporting event would make for an amazing gift, especially if it’s their first game. Here are some ideas!
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Columbus Crew
    • Ohio State Football, Volleyball, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey
    • Columbus Clippers
    • How to gift: Print off the tickets and pair it with a jersey or t-shirt of that sporting team!
  • It’s never too young to get your kiddo excited about the theatre! We are so lucky to have many options for theatrical productions here in Columbus that are very kid-friendly. Our daughters loves to get “fancy” for the theatre especially if she gets to go to a “nice” restaurant before the show. Her favorite was Spaghetti Warehouse (RIP) but here are some fun ideas to put together that include dinner and a show.
Mom and daughter at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio
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