The Best Gifts Aren’t Things: Why Experience Gifts Last Longer Than Christmas Morning

Gift ideas that last longer than Christmas morning

Tis the season for gift giving… and also the season for stepping on tiny Legos, hiding Amazon boxes from your kids, and wondering where on earth one more toy is supposed to fit in your house.

Every year my kids hand me Christmas lists filled with fun, creative, ambitious ideas. And yet, if I’m being honest, I cannot imagine another random gadget entering the house. If you have kids, nieces, nephews, or grandkids who seem to already have everything… this post is for you.

Instead of buying more “stuff,” here are some gifts that create excitement, spark creativity, and last way longer than Christmas morning.

Tickets to an Experience

Why I’m All About Experiences

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like life can get a little too wrapped up in “stuff.” We see shelves full of toys, gadgets, and clothes, and yet what sticks with us isn’t a toy or a new shirt… it’s the laughs, the sunsets, the weird moments at 3 a.m. that become the stories we tell for years. I read somewhere that experiences can be more emotionally meaningful than material gifts — and y’all, I’ve felt that in every trip we’ve taken.

That’s why I’d choose a spontaneous plane ticket or a road-trip plan over a wrapped box any day. Because at the end of the day, those memories are what really last.

Our Adventures (and the Magic Behind Them)

Arizona.. our last adventure, a few years back. It was nice because it was more of a give at Christmas time and pay later type of deal. Even if you aren’t planning to go for months, it gives you time to save and purchase the final tickets. The kids still talk about this trip and we basically got them things that they needed for the actual trip.
Past Magic at Disney & Universal. These can get expensive and this is when you add others to the gift. When they ask, what do the kids want, you can reply with Disney gift cards! We’ve done those epic park days together, from spinning on rides, to sharing giant churros, to laughing over ridiculous hat selfies. Whether it was meeting favorite characters or screaming our lungs out on roller-coasters, those trips weren’t just vacations, they were moments of pure joy.
Dreaming About the Beach (and future sunshine). We keep talking about that beach trip we want to take soon: toes in the sand, salty air, maybe some late-night bonfires or sunrise walks. I can already feel the breeze, see the waves and I can’t wait for us to add those memories to our collection. Now is the time to even get beach items on sale or clearance.
It doesn’t have to be something big like the trip above but even an overnight trip somewhere within driving distance or a staycation in the winter to a hotel to swim inside or a local Great Wolf Lodge (check groupon for deals).

Why These Memories Stay with Us

Experiences like vacations, road-trips, and beach days give us stories — not things. Things get lost, broken, or old — but stories stick around (and get better with time).
Traveling together builds connection: those inside jokes from a Disney ride, or the quiet comfort of a hotel room after a long day of exploring. That kind of togetherness doesn’t come with price tags.
Planning future trips gives us hope and something to look forward to — sometimes more than Christmas morning ever could.

A Little Gift Idea — For Us, And For Others

If someone asked me “What do you want for Christmas/birthday?” I’d say: “Give me…. a trip.” Or “Let’s plan a getaway.” Why gift another sweater when you can gift memories that’ll stay with you forever? Whether it’s a weekend road-trip, a theme-park adventure, or a future beach escape — those are the gifts that keep on giving.

Let’s keep doing that — keep collecting sunsets, inside jokes, and sunburns. Because when we’re old and gray, I want to look back and remember us — all the crazy, messy, beautiful moments together.

Kids remember experiences, not stuff. And guess what. There are times that you can even use Rakuten to earn cash back from buying tickets. In the past, we have given tickets to NBA Games, local theater, the zoo.. really, anything that you even plan on doing, make it into a gift (haha).

A few local NEPA favorites this year:

Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure — coming to Mohegan Sun Arena in January
CINDERELLA at the Scranton Cultural Center (April)
Annie at FM Kirby Center (February)

You can browse everything happening locally at calendar570.com.

Bonus idea: Build the gift around the experience, wrap the tickets with a themed book, treat, or small trinket.

There are so many smart ways to do vacation gifts without blowing the budget.

You can set aside a little each month for an “experience trip” — something that gives your family memories and perspective. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes the best trips are the ones where you’re together, helping others, seeing someplace new, or just stepping outside your everyday routine.

Pitch a tent for a camping weekend and teach your kids a few real-life skills. Or head to the beach this summer and build the biggest sandcastle anyone’s ever seen.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful.
The simple stuff? That’s usually what they remember most.

Jenna Urban

Jenna Urban once immersed in suits, now thrives in sweatpants. As the owner of Urban Mac Media, she spent 17 years teaching before transitioning to higher education—which didn’t unfold as expected. This ultimately led Urban to pivot towards her family’s businesses – Lawn and Order Landscaping and LMJ Sheds. Whether seeking direction, contemplating a career change, or aiming for self-fulfillment, Urban strives to instill clarity, confidence, and courage, enabling clients to recognize their unique and impactful purposes. She writes about her transformative shift from traditional work to entrepreneurial success.