15 Bay Area Experience-based Gifts for Kids

The holidays are around the corner. Instead of giving kids more stuff, consider giving an experience to not only create lasting memories but also reduce the waste that comes with many traditional gifts. You’ll find categories by age group (toddler/preschool), elementary, tween/teen as well as general ideas that work across age groups.

Another fun idea for parents or grandparents is to do a monthly experience gift. Locations or destinations can either be revealed all at once or month-by-month for additional suspense.

Toddler/Preschool

Some people might say toddlers and preschoolers won’t appreciate an experience. And, you might be right. But, you are showing the child how an experience can be just as meaningful (if not more) than a physical item. At this age, I recommend having a small runway between giving the gift and the experience since little ones usually cannot comprehend time very well.

1. Railroad tickets

Places like Roaring Camp (Santa Cruz Mountains) and Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (Fish Camp near Yosemite) both offer kid-friendly train rides in beautiful settings. While the winter schedules are light, this is a fun experience that could be pre-planned. For local fun, the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad (Los Gatos) in Vasona County Park is open year-round with limited winter hours.

2. Theater tickets

Did you know that many children’s favorites like Disney Junior and Bluey go on tour? Broadway San Jose will host Bluey’s Big Play from February 3-5, 2023 at the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose. This 45 minute show is recommended for ages 3+ and single tickets (for non-season ticket holders) are now on sale.

3. Tea Party

If your child loves to play tea party, going out for a proper tea at a spot like Lisa’s Tea Treasures (Campbell) is a fun outing.

Elementary School Age

Quite possible the easiest age group in today’s post as they are usually easy to please and can understand delayed gratification. For this age group, I like printing something out to show them what they will be doing so they still get the feeling of opening a gift.

4. Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough

Children ages 5+ can sit in a double kayak with an adult and explore this gem along the California coast with Monterey Bay Kayaks. Unlike most other spots along the Pacific, Elkhorn Slough is tucked inland and offers relatively calm paddling conditions and an abundance of wildlife to spot. You can do a self-guided tour or go with a guide (if you are with a guide, children ages 3+ are welcome to join). Prefer not to paddle? Checkout Monterey Bay Eco Tours with offers a 1.5 hour catamaran journey to see this majestic place.

5. Ziplining in San Luis Obispo

Margarita Adventures offers an unforgettable ziplining experience for the whole family (riders just must be at least 30 pounds). You will enjoy six ziplines that soar above vineyards. Additionally, they also offer nature and wildlife tours including an eagle tour.

6. Broadway San Jose’s Annie

Another theater option is Broadway San Jose’s production of Annie running from January 10-15, 2023 at the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose. There is a family night on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 6:30pm with included pre-show activities beginning at 5pm.

Ellie Pulsifer and Christopher Swan in the 2022 production of Annie.

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

7. Penguins+Pajamas Sleepover at California Academy of Sciences

Have an incredible evening sleeping inside this San Francisco museum! Children 5+ and their adult chaperones (ages 25+) are invited to roll-out their sleeping bags, enjoy milk and cookies and enjoy the museum after hours. In the morning, breakfast and complimentary admission for the day are provided.

8. Tour a farm

Have a child who loves time on the farm? Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero offers guided tours of the farm including the infamous baby goat tour (usually in late winter/spring).

9. Have tea at the American Girl doll store

For any child with a beloved doll or soft toy, treat them to a full teatime experience in this Palo Alto kid-friendly spot complete with seating for your child’s doll! Kids will enjoy tea sandwiches, sweet treats and even a craft activity at the table during their visit. Bookable online.

10. Arcade Day at the Boardwalk

This Santa Cruz landmark stays open all year with its arcade, mini golf and laser tag. Treat kids to a pre-loaded game card to enjoy this spot. They are also selling 2023 season passes at a discount as another idea.

11. Tickets to see the Savannah Bananas at Excite Park

Have you heard about the Savannah Bananas? They are an exhibition baseball team that has become famous for their choreographed routines while playing baseball! They put on quite a show and it is coming to San Jose (Excite Park) on July 25, 2023.

Tweens/Teens

Both easy and hard, the tween/teen group can be delighted with a few larger items instead of lots of small stuff but they still need some magic in the gift giving process. 

12. Rush Creek Spa at Yosemite

Have a tween or teen who loves spa time? Rush Creek Spa is one of the few spas I have seen that allows children to use the amenities during designated hours. Kids 6-15 can use the Yosemite-inspired spa amenities like cool mist show, warm waterfall coves, warm river rock beds and an aromatherapy steam room from 8-11am daily (with purchase of a day pass). While guests under 16 cannot get treatments, they can take a moment to enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful place.

13. Mount Hermon Adventures

For kids ages 10+, they can join Mount Hermon Adventures in Felton for Sequoia Aerial Adventures (ropes course) or a Redwood Canopy Tour (zipline).

14. Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour in Tomales Bay

Join Blue Water Kayaking for an evening paddle of Tomales Bay to discover bioluminescence which is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Public and private tours are available.

15. Paragliding in San Francisco

See San Francisco and the Pacific Coast from a different vantage point by doing a tandem paragliding. Each rider is paired with a professional instructor.

16. Spend the night in a treehouse and zipline in Sonoma

Sonoma Zipline Adventures three zipline tours, including one night flight, for guests ages 10+. For those looking to make the experience extra special, consider adding a night in a one-of-a-kind treehouse perched up in the trees. The overnight stay includes a zipline on arrival day, guided nature hike, dinner plus hot breakfast and another zipline tour the next day.

And there’s more…

A membership to a favorite museum, zoo or aquarium is always a great gift idea. A few recommendations:

South Bay: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, Tech Museum of Innovation

Peninsula: CuriOdyssey, Palo Alto Jr Museum & Zoo

East Bay: Oakland Zoo 

San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, Exploratorium

North Bay: Bay Area Discovery Museum

Monterey: MY Museum, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Wine Country: Children’s Museum of Sonoma County

Lastly, tickets for the movies, mini golf, indoor play parks, trampoline parks, bowling, etc are always great options!