When we exchange gifts with other families, I like to buy something the entire family can enjoy rather than a bunch of individual presents.  But it’s not always easy to find that one-size-fits-all gift.  A gift card, however, is something everybody can enjoy.  Here are some family gifts of entertainment, adventure, and good old-fashioned fun.

Treat a family to a trip around the rink!

• Ice Skating. We took our kids ice skating last week for the first time. We had so much fun, I had to add this to the list of things you could gift card a family with. Get a gift card to the ice rink, a pair of inexpensive gloves or socks for each member of the family, a travel size hand sanitizer and a hot chocolate mix. We took our maiden voyage on the ice over the holidays, but I’m planning to return in the summer to escape the heat.
• Movie Night. With the rising cost of movie tickets, families will appreciate a free trip to the theater. Combine a gift card to the movies with a variety of traditional cinema candies—Red Vines, Sour Patch Kids, Good & Plenty (ick!), Milk Duds (Yum!), and so forth.


Family trip to the movies, complete with popcorn and movie snacks.

• At-home Movies. Swap out the theater gift card for one to the local video store instead.  Pack the gift card and candy up with a box of movie style microwave popcorn.  For fun, have each member of your family make a list of recommended flicks.  My pix would include “The Greatest Game Ever Played” for the whole family and “The Notebook” for a good ol’ ten-tissue tear fest.
• Happiest Place on Earth. When we finally took the family to Disneyland this year, my step-daughter sent each of the kids some Disney Dollars to buy souvenirs.  What a treat to say “yes” to the bauble requests without feeling guilty or needing to take out a second mortgage.  Give your friends that same sense of relief with a gift card to a local amusement park.  Package the card up with a roll of antacids or a set of seasick bands and add a note that says, “Enjoy the Tower of Terror!” (Or whatever lunch-repeating ride tops the list of attractions.)
• Zoo Review. Oh my little ones love the zoo.  And I can’t stop looking at the bats.  It’s the only exhibit I linger at longer than the kids.  Can’t explain it.  To give the gift of animals, I’d present a zoo gift card in a variety of fun ways:  Prop a card up in the paw of an inexpensive stuffed animal, attach it to a box of animal crackers, gather up pictures or postcards of animals and make a bingo card or scavenger hunt for the kids, put a card inside a book about animals, or attach it to a toy set of binoculars so the kids can act like they’re on safari when they get inside the gates.


Gift card for a family bike ride

• Green Day. Give an eco-friendly family a green day adventure–like a gift card for tandem bike riding through the city, electric car rental, or a guided walking tour. If you prefer to skip the adventure, get a gift card to an eco-friendly store and give a shopping excursion instead. Be sure to make a green card out of recycled materials and maybe even add a copy of Green Eggs and Ham.
• Public Transit. Don’t laugh.  We have buses and a light rail system in our area.  My kids don’t care WHERE we go, as long as they get to ride public transit to get there.  We once rode the bus to a donut shop that is only about five minutes from our house.  (It took us 25 minutes to get there plus a little hike from the stop to the shop.)  If you have a safe and clean public transit system in your area, this is a creative gift the kids are sure to enjoy.  Attach a gift card (or set of pre-paid tickets) to a map of the area, a bus route, a list of free, kid-friendly destinations (museum, parks, etc.), or a bottle of hand sanitizer to make sure everybody comes home germ-free.
• Safe Travel. I love the idea of combining something practical with something whimsical.  I saw a gift card for an oil and lube shop the other day and thought it would make the perfect gift for a family—whether they have eminent travel plans or are more of a day-tripping crew.  I’d combine that gift card with one of those road trip bingo games, a new movie for the in-car DVD player, a book on CD, spill proof travel mugs, magnetic travel games, or a mess of car snacks.  The gift itself is practical.  But the presentation doesn’t have to be.
• Bowling. My kids love to bowl, but this too can be a pricey family outing. What a treat it would be to get a gift card to the bowling alley, a pair of clean socks for everyone, and a bottle of hand sanitizer to disinfect before and after play.

If you have an idea of your own, please share it with me.