Holidays are a time for creating memories. One way to create memories is to do something special as family. Maybe as part of the gifts you (or suggest to grandpa and grandma) give your child you will want to consider giving the gift of a family experience.
Family Memberships – Memberships to museums are surprisingly inexpensive. Check them out.
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Stumped on what to get the nature lovers in your family? How about your friends that have everything? Well, the Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center have the perfect answer, a gift membership! An annual membership allows members to visit the Nature Center all year long as often as they want for a full 365 days. It also includes discounts on many onsite and off-site special events and educational activities, birthday parties and summer camps, plus a subscription to the Wild News, the Friends quarterly newsletter and an invitation to the annual meeting.
The benefits don't stop at our doors either! Members also receive free or discounted admission to over 475 science & technology centers and zoos & aquariums throughout the USA! What could be better than access to visiting native wildlife close to home or exotic wildlife far away!
The best part is that for a family of 6, two adults and four children, the membership is only $69 for the entire year! For more information visit, http://www.wildwnc.org/become-a-member/become-a-member or call 828.259.8092.
Asheville Museum of Science
The Asheville Museum of Science Curiosity Memberships are a great gift for any science enthusiast, explorer, tinkerer, and rock hound in your family! For a limited time only Curiosity Memberships are $20. Each membership allows 1 person free admission to AMOS for a year, as well as hundreds of other museums across the country (ask about the ASTC Passport Program for more detail). With special programming like Saturday Morning Science and Little Explorers Club free to all members, there is no better time to join the AMOS community! Visit our website, give us a call (828-254-7162), or come say hi to find out more information and purchase a gift that keeps on giving!
The YWCA Empowerment Child Care Program has $100 cards that can be used for child care. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, can purchase a card to give the gift of child care/a date night. Our rate is $10.00 per hour. So, a $100 card would provide access to 10 hours of child care. We are open:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Beginning in January, the YWCA be open the first Friday of each month until 8:45 pm for parent's night out.
Asheville Parks and Recreation
Asheville Parks and Recreation offers programs for all ages, from toddler on up. Classes for the toddler for this Winter/Spring include Mixed up and Messy, Sporties for Shorties, Little Monkeys, Tiny Tykes and Bilingual Baby. Give the gift of fun and learning. Visit www.ashevillenc.gov/parks or call for details! 828-259-5800.
Movies/Plays - It’ always fun to take the kids to the movies but it may be something you don’t do very often because of the cost. Theaters often offer gift cards. Wouldn’t your family love to receive a gift card and even one for the concession stand? (Hmmm…grandma? Here’s an idea)
Regal Gift Card – Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15, 1-26 and Long Shoals Rd. (amounts as little as $10); personalized message available; – Concessions Gift Card
Cinemark – Gift Cards that can even be personalized (order by 12/15 to receive by 12/23)
Active Fun – Always fun to play together.
Launch Trampoline Park – Gift cards from $10 to $100.
Fun Depot – Boxcar Bucks-Gift Cards from $10 to $100
Tropical Gardens – (252-2207)
Classes - There may be some classes that your child would love to be part of. Why not make it a gift?
Roots + Wings – Programming for Elementary and Middle School that engage students in academics, critical thinking and innovation through art and design. Gift cards available.
The Little Gym – Offers a positive learning environment for your child to try new things and build self-confidence. Great for children four months through 12 years.
Zaniac – Kids K-8 discover math and technology, and see how much fun learning can be.
