Unwrapping the Fun: 10 Creative Ways to Wrap Experience Gifts That Spark Joy on Christmas Morning 🎁✨
The holiday season is here, and with it comes the age-old tradition of giving gifts that, let’s be honest, often end up collecting dust under the couch by mid-January. At Macaroni KID, we’re all about ditching the clutter and going for gifts that create lasting memories instead. Experience gifts—like museum memberships, zoo passes, and classes—are the champions of meaningful giving. But let’s face it: they don’t always pack the same “Wow!” factor on Christmas morning as a pile of brightly wrapped boxes.
So how do you combine the magic of unwrapping with the thoughtfulness of an experience gift? Enter our list of 10 creative ways to wrap experience gifts that will have your kids just as excited as if they unwrapped the latest toy (or, let’s be real, the box it came in).
Thank you to our article sponsor, Junk Tank, for helping us tackle the chaos of stuff this holiday season! Between giving experience gifts and Junk Tank’s legendary decluttering services, we’re not just limiting the clutter—we’re actively waging war on it. 🎁✨
This year, skip the endless piles of plastic toys and gift wrap carnage. With Junk Tank in your corner, you can enjoy the holidays with less mess and more memories. Ready to declutter your space and your mind? Junk Tank’s got your back! 💪
1. Wearables
Make the gift tangible by including something they can wear that ties into the experience.
Example: When we gifted Get Air memberships, we added branded T-shirts and their signature grippy socks to the package. The socks alone sparked instant trampoline dreams, and the kids were ready to jump before we’d even finished our morning coffee.
2. Print It Out
Turn the intangible into something visual with a printed keepsake.
Example: When we surprised our kids with LEGO Discovery memberships, we printed out a colorful map from their website and added a bonus activity pack. One year, I even channeled my inner marketing exec and made a brochure for the Franklin Institute. Pro tip: Check out educator resources on the experience’s website for printable scavenger hunts or fun activities.
3. Themed Mini Experience
Pair your gift with a little something they can enjoy immediately.
Example: Wrapping art classes? Add a mini art kit to unleash their creativity right away. Science museum tickets? Toss in a small science experiment kit (just maybe skip the glitter-slime combos unless you want your tree sparkling till June).
4. Hint Gifts
Build anticipation with a series of smaller presents leading up to the big reveal.
Example: For a beach vacation, start with wrapped hints like sunglasses, flip-flops, and sunscreen. Let the final box hold a note saying, “Pack your bags!” Bonus: it gives the kids more to open without blowing your budget.
5. Accessories with a Purpose
Include something they’ll need or use during the experience.
Example: Planning a hiking adventure? Wrap up a cool water bottle or a personalized backpack with the tickets tucked inside. Gifting ninja classes? A ninja headband will make them feel like they’re already halfway to mastering the dojo.
6. Edible Excitement
Who doesn’t love a gift you can eat?
Example: Pair movie tickets with popcorn and candy in a themed movie bucket. For zoo passes, throw in some animal crackers (bonus points if you present them in a cardboard safari Jeep). It’s like a snack and a sneak peek all in one!
7. DIY Countdown or Reveal Box
Extend the fun by creating a multi-day build-up to the big experience.
Example: For a theme park membership, craft a countdown chain with links that reveal fun facts or mini surprises about the park. Or make a reveal box filled with small items like glow sticks, stickers, or coupons that hint at what’s coming.
8. Stuffed Animals with a Story
Tie in a cuddly companion that connects to the experience.
Example: Gifting aquarium tickets? Wrap them with a plush shark and a note that says, “We can’t wait for you to meet my friends!” Zoo passes? A stuffed giraffe makes the gift feel extra special (and might become your new travel buddy).
9. Make Opening the Gift an Experience in Itself
Why wait for the adventure to start? Let the unwrapping be part of the fun!
Example 1: Hide clues around the house for a treasure hunt. For zoo passes, leave paw-print trails or riddles like, “Where would a tiger take a nap?”
Example 2: Wrap your gift in a series of smaller and smaller boxes. Add funny notes along the way like “Almost there!” or “Are you tired yet?”
Example 3: Go wild with duct tape, zip ties, or even a puzzle box. Watching them wrestle with it will be almost as fun as the gift itself (and bonus: you get extra coffee time).
10. Go Big or Go Home with Props
Turn the gift into a show-stopping centerpiece.
Example: Gifting waterpark passes? Blow up a pool float, wrap it in a giant box, and toss the tickets inside. For rock climbing lessons, present them with a toy carabiner or harness and a note that says, “Time to climb to new heights!”
Final Thoughts
While toys may lose their shine (and their batteries), experience gifts bring joy that lasts long after the holiday season. By adding a little creativity to your wrapping, you can make unwrapping these gifts as memorable as the experiences themselves.
So, this year, skip the piles of plastic and give your family the ultimate gift: the magic of memories. And maybe a roll of duct tape. 🎁✨
🎄 Love family-friendly events and sanity-saving parenting hacks? Don’t miss out on the holiday cheer and more—subscribe to our newsletter for the best local happenings in Harrisburg & West Shore, Hershey to Elizabethtown, or Carlisle through Shippensburg! 🎉
We’ve got everything from holiday festivals to parenting tips (because let's face it, we could all use a few tips for surviving the season). And don’t forget to follow us on social media for daily updates, laughs, and maybe a meme or two to make you feel better about sneaking those stocking-stuffers early. 🍫🎅🙈
Harrisburg & West Shore,
Hershey to Elizabethtown, or
Lancaster Area
Speaking of survival tips, join our Facebook Group, Macaroni Village of South Central PA, a collaboration across all three regions where we swap stories, share holiday hacks, and collectively try to figure out how to make bedtime happen before Santa’s sleigh rolls in. It’s a Christmas miracle waiting to happen! 🎄💬
Disclaimer: While the ideas and the bulk of the brilliance are all mine, I confess that I enlisted the help of ChatGPT for minor edits and revisions. Why? Because AI is the friendliest grammarian I know—no red pen, no judgment, just pure, unadulterated love for a well-placed comma. So if you find any rogue semicolons or unnaturally perfect phrasing, you can thank my digital editor for that.
