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Unwrap Memories This Season
Trade the typical holiday toy clutter for family experiences instead
By Kari Hanson
We live in a culture of instant gratification — where it’s easy (and tempting) to accumulate more and more stuff. With a few clicks, we can fill the holidays with boxes of things we don’t really need. Sure, a mountain of presents might spark excitement in the moment, but chances are our kids will truly enjoy only a handful of what they unwrap.
This year, why not try something new? Give your family a gift they’ll remember forever: a unique experience, whether they love the arts, animals or adventures.
Encourage art and expression
Free-flowing creativity is one of the most magical things about being a kid. Help your child unlock and nurture their creative side, whether they like to cook, express themselves with fashion or experiment with different art mediums.
Gift a class
My son is a total foodie; he has been since he was a toddler. Unique foods, different textures and new restaurants? As far as he’s concerned — bring it on! A gift I know will always be a hit with him is one related to something he can (eventually) eat.
If your kids are like mine, a cooking class is a perfect gift for budding chefs (or kids who like to eat). FrogLegs Cooking School has classes for kids, teens and adults at
four locations in Seattle and on the Eastside. Who knows? Maybe your kids will even take charge of cooking a few dinners with their newfound passion!
Your kids may have gone to an art camp or class before, but have they ever come home with hand-forged armor or blown glass? Teens can take cool classes at Pratt Fine Arts Center, such as woodworking, using the college’s specially equipped studios. Classes range from individual afternoons to ongoing series that meet for several weeks. These classes and camps can be spendy, but tuition assistance is available for those who qualify.
Wrap up a kid-friendly spa experience
I’ve told my husband that a gift certificate to a spa is something I will always be thrilled to receive. Let your kids in on the joy of relaxing while engaging in a little self-care with their very own glam session. Head to woman-owned Urban Nail Box in Seattle’s Ballard or Fremont neighborhoods where you and your little ones can relax together. Urban Nail Box uses natural, organic products, and they are dedicated to offering a welcoming environment focused on wellness and creativity.
FEATURE FAMILY EXPERIENCES
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If you are looking for a more kid-centric experience, check out Brat Pack Salon in Redmond or Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, with locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Maple Valley, Shoreline and Woodinville. Both offer kids manicures and cool hair style options (including sparkles, of course) for tweens and teens.
Plant a gift
For an experience that involves just a little waiting and a fun reward, consider a mushroom growing kit from Cascadia Mushrooms. With a little water, mushrooms will start to pop up in just a few weeks. Kits come with instructions and recipes for preparing your bounty. Some kits, such as the blue oyster mushroom kit, can be transplanted into your garden after a few months of growing them indoors. It’s a gift that will truly keep giving.
Foster a love of animals
Whether your kids like to sit back and observe animals, or let little critters climb all over them, these animalfocused experiences are sure to delight.
Send them on a wild adventure
Want to get up close with some of the Pacific Northwest’s coolest residents? Check out Northwest Trek Wildlife Park’s Keeper Adventure Tours where you might find yourself closer than you’ve ever been to a mountain goat or bison. Participants climb into a Jeep with one of the park’s keepers before setting off for an off-road, 90-minute adventure they’ll never forget. Kids must be 5 years old to participate and tours can be booked online.
Blue Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit from Cascadia Mushrooms
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If the back of a Jeep still feels too far from the action, head to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium where your kids can get up close and personal during an exclusive animal experience. There are a few to choose from, so you can cater to your kids comfort level and interests. Pose for a photo and feed your new friends from your hand at the Groovy Goats experience. Help feed some of the animals in the Tidal Touch Zone on the Pacific Seas Aquarium Behindthe-Scenes Tour, or experience having the zoo to yourself in a morning Wild Zoo Tour.
Feeling really brave? Then an Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive is for you. You’ll get 20 minutes of in-water time with sharks and tropical fish in the Outer Reef habitat. Staff will take a souvenir video of your dive, so your kids can prove their bravery to friends and family. Remember to review the requirements for this unforgettable experience before booking.
Hatch a love of science
holds 50–200 eggs!) and everything else you need for a safe, indoor praying mantis hatching experience.
Our family purchased a kit a few years ago, and I have to say it is one of the coolest things we have ever done. Just put the lidded container in an area that is protected from direct light and other heat, and wait. That’s it!
Discover more family fun! @parentmap
If you want your animal encounter to happen in your living room, get yourself on the email list for an ooth this spring. What’s an ooth? It’s a praying mantis egg case, and locally owned Tiny Science’s Praying Mantis Hatching kit includes one ooth (it
Pro tip: Leave the lid on the cup! You never know when the eggs will hatch, and if you happen to take the lid off and the eggs happen to hatch, you may be scooping up and releasing hundreds of baby insects off your walls for a while (which, honestly, was also kind of fun).
Follow ParentMap on social for insider tips and the best kid-friendly adventures across Greater Seattle.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
Photo by Katie G. Cotterill
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park’s Keeper Adventure Tours. Photo by Katie G. Cotterill
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Seek out adventure
If you’ve got an adrenaline junkie on your hands, give them an experience that will get their blood pumping. Soar through the air, use your wits to escape or experience an exciting local icon with these adventurefocused gifts.
Skydive inside
If jumping out of an actual plane is not on the agenda, an experience at iFly is the next best thing. Get suited up and climb into a wind tunnel that simulates skydiving! Kids ages 3 and older can fly, and they are in for a fun ride. You’ll jump into a wind tunnel and, with the help of an instructor, float around weightlessly. Consider adding a “high flight” onto your experience if you want to go zipping (again, with the help of an instructor) up, up, up!
Saddle up for the season
Hit the trails with your family at Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm in Mount Vernon. Pick a private ride for two or a group ride for up to 10 people and head out into the farm’s 300-acre forest with a knowledgeable guide. Kids ages 3–10 can enjoy a pony ride; trail rides are for adults and kids 8 and older. Rides are between 30 minutes and two hours, and while no experience is necessary, reservations are required.
Plan an escape
For kids (or adults) who love solving complex puzzles, following clues and competing against a timer, an escape room experience will make a great gift. The Escape Game at Westfield Southcenter has five rooms to choose from, with varying degrees of difficulty. Some rooms can take up to 12 players at once, and each room gives you one hour to solve all the puzzles and escape. This activity is great for families; it requires players to work together and put down their phones.
The storefront is also home to the Great Big Game Show, another fun family adventure.
Take to the skies
Did you know that moving through the air
slowly and silently can be exciting? Climb inside a basket under a huge hot air balloon and get ready for an experience of a lifetime. When you book a hot air balloon ride in Snohomish, you’ll glide into the sky and enjoy an amazing view, weather permitting of course. Pick a sunrise or sunset ride, each of which can hold 2–10 passengers. Kids must be at least 5 years old to ride in a hot air balloon, and keep in mind that the basket you’ll be standing in is 45 inches tall, so kids must be taller than that to see over the edge.
Experience Seattle icons of the sky
Be a tourist for a day and hit one — or all three, if you are feeling ambitious — of Seattle’s icons. I hope you don’t have a fear of heights, because all three of these options are going to take you above the skyline!
The Space Needle is practically shorthand for Seattle, and a trip to the observation deck is a treat. The glass floor and slanting sides bring a new level of excitement to the experience. After the elevator ride down and your feet are firmly on the Earth again, head toward the waterfront and get ready for a spin on the Great Wheel. You can enjoy the new beautiful waterfront park and playground before or after your ride. And finally, head into the heart of downtown for a trip to the Columbia Tower’s Sky View Observatory, which is almost 300 feet taller than the Space Needle! ■
Kari Hanson is ParentMap’s associate editor.
Photo courtesy iflyworld.com
Great Big Game Show. Photo by Brooke Collins
Photo by Kari Hanson
Photo by Nicole Pocklington.
Locally Made Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Our editor’s curated picks for the holiday season, featuring parent-made products and parent-owned companies
By Allison Sutcliffe
The holiday shopping season is almost here, and as seductive as a last-minute Amazon purchase may be (don’t even get me started on the convenience of a Target drive-up), Seattle’s local shopping scene is worth the extra effort. I love wandering through the shops atop Queen Anne, or ducking into stores along Rainier Avenue South, while I’m waiting for a table at Geraldine’s Counter. And when I know that shop is parent-owned, it makes the experience that much better. So as you head out in search of the perfect gift for someone special on your list, support another parent with your purchase or by shopping one of these small businesses.
Just for kids
“Let’s Go To Seattle,” by Ayoko Bowles, illustrated by Jane Kusuma
While kids growing up around Seattle certainly don’t have a dearth of books detailing our fair city, Nosh and Nap’s adorable board book is one of my favorites (right up there with the Wheedle). Babies will be drawn to the playful, colorful images, while
toddlers can practice counting, and learn shapes and numbers as they flip through each page. You’ll have to head to your favorite Seattle-area book or gift store to find this gem. Cost: $11.99
Kids Adventure Suit
Parent-owned Zippy Zips’ colorful Kids Adventure Suits are the perfect dry-day companion to the ubiquitous Muddy Buddy beloved by Pacific Northwest parents. This cotton onesie keeps kids warm and cozy, whether they’re wandering the trails in Discovery Park or climbing to the top of the lookout tower at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. And like all good kids clothing, this one comes with pockets for all the treasures they collect along the trails. Cost: $49
“Good Night, Ninjas,” by Sinae Ishida Since reading “Little Kunoichi” to my first daughter many years ago, I’ve been a fan of local mom
Sinae Ishida’s kids books. Her latest dropped this summer, and it features Little Kunoichi in the fight of her life — against bedtime. Like all kids, she’s not quite ready to go to sleep. Will her ninja skills prevail? You’ll have to pick up the book at a local bookstore to find out. Cost: $14.99
Photo courtesy sasquatchbooks.com
Photo courtesy zippyzips.com
Photo courtesy noshandnap.com
Bug Crafts
The newest game from parent-run, Bellevue-based SimplyFun is an award-winning game reminiscent of Settlers of Catan. Recommended for kids ages 8 and older, it’s set in a bug market. Players collect and trade leaves, flowers, rocks and other raw materials to make crafts for bugs. It takes a lot of strategy to outmaneuver the other players and build the best crafts. But with mindful moves and lucky rolls, you can worm your way to the top. Cost: $38
Looking for a game for younger kids? Try Dance Like a Lemur ($36), a game designed to get preschoolers up and mooo--ving.
Priya dress
The muted vintage feel of this cotton twill dress from Beet World will leave your little one giggling with delight. It’s comfortable
enough to play in, but can just as easily be worn to the next birthday party or family brunch if you need to level up your kid’s typical everyday outfit. Cost: $56
Everything Sippy Cup
Morepeas’ popular sippies, plates, bowls and snack cups are a perfect example of what happens when parents come together to solve a problem. Moms Alli and Jess were tired of spills, messes and lugging a
slew of kid containers along to every outing. So they designed an interchangeable, stackable, sustainable system to simplify feeding and snacking. Start your collection this season with the Everything Sippy or choose another one of the colorful, BPAand plastic-free products. Cost: $24.99
Medium toy storage bag
Ok, so maybe this one is more for parents than it is for kids. But everyone appreciates
a clean room, right? Mom-owned Swoop has been a Seattle original since Sarah Kirk started the company in 2011. The bags come in a variety
of colors and in two different sizes. I’ve got three in my closet and they hold all the Legos we’ve collected over my 17 years of parenting.
Mushroom knit beanie
Keep your little one’s head warm with this snug neutralcolored beanie from Little Bipsy, whether you’re heading out to see WildLanterns at the zoo or just throwing rocks along Alki Beach on a sunny afternoon. It comes in two sizes: baby and toddler. Additional colors available. Cost: $22
Just for parents
Noir Luxe + Sip Solo bundles
Mother to two and Noir Luxe Candle Co. owner, Colina Bruce, has been teaching others to pour candles and making her own creative scents since the Belltown shop opened in early 2023. I’m loving this Noir Luxe Sip Solo collab that includes a candle and five single serve coffee flavoring packs — a surefire cure for the Big Dark. Comes in rose vanilla, pistachio coconut or lavender honey flavors. Cost: $45
Photo courtesy noirluxcandleco.com
Photo courtesy beet-world.com
Photos courtesy swoopbags.com
Photos courtesy littlebipsy.com
Photo courtesy morepeas.com
Photos courtesy simplyfun.com
FEATURE FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST
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Virtue Cellars Réserve blends
Whether you’re bringing a hostess gift or need something to serve with a holiday dinner, grab a bottle of Virtue Cellars’ newest réserve and you’ll be the hit of the party. Owned by the Mueller and Edens families, the Shoreline-based compay is focused on producing single vineyard, single varietal wines, which makes them very unique. The new réserve wines just released last month. Cost: starting at $45
Cheese and charcuterie kit
I love this gift set that includes spreads, honey, olives and olive oil to complete a savory, seasonal charcuterie board. It’s one of many ways to package up the flavorful Moroccan spices that are the
heart of Villa Jerada. Cost: $54.99
Cross-body/sling bag
Pochette’s cute hand-sewn bags are made here in Seattle. And although there are a few different designs to choose from, the size of the cross body sling bag is ideal for moms who need a little extra room to pack kid treasures at a moment’s notice. Find the bag you’re looking for at Pike Place Market Tuesdays through Thursdays. Cost: $72
Starry Night coffee
Wrap up a pound of this fair-trade, organic coffee from Campfire Coffee for the season and you’ll keep coming back for more. Three different varieties available to purchase. Cost: $15.99
Photo courtesy villajerada.com
Photo courtesy
Photo courtesy welovecampfire.com
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Beard oil
Owned by South Sound parents the Sullivans, Shipwreck Honey has more than a few items that parents could use. But for dads who need a little TLC, this Fading Frontier Trading Co. beard oil blends argon, jojoba, vitamin E and almond oils with other essential oils to really get the job done for you and your beard. Cost: $18
Happy hands lotion bar gift set
Parent-owned Seattle Sundries has been handmaking soaps, lotions and other potions for more than 20 years, and they’re still going strong. Whether you’re shopping for a neighbor or want to send a little of Seattle’s creative energy to an out-of-town friend or relative, this sampler set will keep their hands soft and smooth through the winter. Scents include sweet almond, summer flower, citrus mint and herbal lemon. Cost: $34
Locally brewed beer and ciders
Sit back and relax amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays with a glass of something tasty from one of two parent-owned companies specializing in adult beverages. Both Reuben’s Brews and Locust Cider can be found in stores or at tasting rooms and taprooms around the Sound. ■
Allison Sutcliffe is ParentMap’s managing editor.
Still have shopping to do?
These parent-owned stores carry every kind of delightful gift imaginable. Head in to find your holiday inspiration.
• Kurfunkle Kids Market: Hit up this kids store in Ballard that mixes nostalgia with modern play.
• My Three Little Birds: Head over the bridge to get to this West Seattle favorite that features new and gently used kids clothes, shoes, toys and gear.
• Thistle and Poppy: Capitol Hill is where you’ll find this parent-owned store stocked with everything families need to live a curated life.
• Bootyland Kids: Located inside Chophouse Row in Capitol Hill, this local favorite strives to bring sustainable goods to Seattle families. Plus, they’ve got great gift suggestions.
• Bella Vita: This new Ballard neighborhood shop should be your first stop for kids clothes, books and art.
• Paperboat Booksellers: Shop for books for everyone on your list after family reading time on Saturdays or toddler reading time on Wednesdays.
• Madrona Supply Company: This parent-owned shop on Whidbey Island has an array of Pacific Northwest-inspired gear that would look great on any parent.
• Eighth Generation: Owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe and run by mom Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee, Athabascan), gifters can find their pick of blankets, accessories and art made by Pacific Northwest Native artists.
• Paper Delights: Duck into this adorable Burien shop owned by a mother-daughter duo to find true originals, plus the paper to wrap them in.
Photo courtesy shipwreckhoney.com
Photo courtesy seattlesundries.com Photo
Dance Into December
By Allison Sutcliffe
I’m not sure why, but there’s something about December that invites all kinds of dancing. Not only can families find a myriad of Nutcracker ballet productions around the Sound, but dance recitals of all kinds are taking place on stages across Washington. Whether your kid enjoys a performance as an audience member or is showing off their dance moves when the curtain rises, these books will inspire kids of all ages to enjoy the art of dance.
“Ballet Brown” by Bellen Woodard, illustrated by Fanny Liem
A picture book about the “many colors of dance,” this heartfelt tale illustrates the way simple changes can ensure everyone is included in the dance community — whether they wear ballet pink or ballet brown.
Ages: 5–7
“This Is Dance” series, by Rekha S. Rajan, illustrated by Chris Park
Grab the first two books of this three part series that chronicles dance for the littlest kids. Each board book covers a different dance genre — ballet, hip-hop and jazz — with colorful illustrations and easy-to-read explanations. The first two in the series (ballet and hip-hop) released this year, and the third is scheduled to be out in June 2026.
Ages: 1–3
“Boys Dance!” by John Robert Allman, illustrated by Luciano Lozano
Boys who love to dance will see themselves in this picture book that was written in partnership with the American Ballet Theatre (one of four books in the collaboration). Cute rhymes keep the story moving and will inspire young kids to move and groove while they listen.
Ages: 3–7
“Ready, Set, Dance: Getting Ready for Your First Dance Class” by Once Upon a Dance, illustrated by Stella Maris Mongodi
One of the newer books from local mother-daughter dance duo and writing team, Once Upon a Dance, this is a story many kids can relate to: the anticipation of their very first dance class. Adorable animals illustrate practical tips that will help kids feel ready to take the leap.
Ages: 3–6
“This Is Tap: Savion Glover Finds His Funk” by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by Laura Freeman
From the first words of this book that tells the origin story of tap legend Savion Glover, the rhythm leaps off the page, pulling readers into the story with linguistic dance vibes that pulsate throughout. A bio of the dancer’s many accomplishments appears in the afterword.
Ages: 4–8
“The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music” by Tim Lihoreau and Philip Noyce, illustrated by Sally Agar
If you plan to take your kids to the ballet this season, grab this beautifully illustrated companion book that introduces kids to some of the most famous productions around (“The Nutcracker” is one of them). Read it before you go so kids can know what to expect, making it easier to follow along. Musical clips are also part of the book.
Ages: 4–7 ■
Allison Sutcliffe is ParentMap’s managing editor.
