If your’re anything like me you have TOO MANY toys in your house as it is. We had so many toys (that my kids hardly ever played with) that I started a toy drive a few years ago to collect gently used toys to give to needy families (donate your old toys!)  As Christmas approaches, I’m ever-more aware that my children are growing out of toys and look for alternative gifts to give them instead. Gifts of experiences, education and family memories.  Here are some ideas for non-toy gift ideas for your Pittsburgh families this holiday season

Season Passes

• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium – $95 for a family membership
• Carnegie Museums (Science Center, Museums of Art & Natural History, Warhol) – $150 for a family membership
• Phipps Conservatory – $90 for a family membership
•  Children’s Museum of PIttsburgh -$115 for a family membership or $180 for a combo with the National Aviary
• National Aviary – $85 for a family membership or $180 for a combo with the Children’s Museum
• Kennywood – $75 for a season pass or $120 for Kennywood/Sandcastle combo
• Sandcastle– $60 for a season pass or $120 for Kennywood/Sandcastle combo
• Idlewild & Soak Zone – $86 for a season pass

Shows & Experiences

• Movies at Cinemark,AMC (Loews)
• Bowling at Fun Fest
• Roller Skating at Romp n Roll
• Theatre Performance at the Benedum, the Byham, Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh Ballet, Pittsburgh Symphony, etc.  with a gift card to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
• Children’s Theatre Performance with Fiddlesticks, Chatham Baroque’s Peanut Butter and Jam sessions or the Gemini Children’s Theater
•  Go see a sporting event at Heinz Field, PNC Park, Consol Energy Center orHighmark Stadium
•  See another event at Consol like Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros Circus or the Harlem Globetrotters
• Ice Skating at PPG Ice Rink, the RMU Island Sports Complex or Bladerunners
• Mini Golf at Monster Mini Golf or an outdoor course next summer
• Zip Lining at Seven Springs
• Ropes Courses at Seven Springs, Nemacolin or North Park’s Go Ape
• Climb a Wall at Climb North or the Climbing Wall or REI Pittsburgh 
• Train Ride at Kiski Junction Railroad or the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
• Ice Cream Vouchers for a good old-fashioned ice cream parlor likeKlavons or Sarris
• A Trip to Chuck E Cheese (buy the tokens ahead of time so you have something to wrap!)
• Trip to the Spa (Mani/Pedi, etc.)
• Trip to an Arcade or Play Place like Fun Fore All, Wildwood Highlands or Games ‘n At
• Trip to Fun Slides Park
• Trip to a trampoline park like Flight or Sky Zone
• Play with Legos!  Snapology now offers season passes, summer camp passes and monthly passes
• Season pass or a day at The Wheel Mill bicycle park. Great for kids of all ages – $140 for a winter season pass, daily rates starting at $12

A Class or Season of Lessons

• Swimming
• Sports
• Gymnastics
• Dance
• Karate
• Musical Instrument
• Pottery Class- or paint your own pottery
• Art Class
• Craft class (ie. knitting)
• Horseback riding lessons

Family Experiences

• A night(s) away at a local hotel (with a pool)
• A trip to an indoor waterpark like Splash Lagoon, Kalahari orGreat Wolf Lodge
• Camping at one of areacampgrounds
• Coupon book with “Spending Time Together” gifts (ie. an afternoon making cookies or doing a craft)
• Special dinner at their favorite restaurant
• A family bike ride on one of our beautiful trails like the North Shore Riverfront Trail, Montour Trail or the Three Rivers Heritage Trail
• Family Road Trip – Our favorite destinations are Hershey,Columbus and Erie

Actual Gifts that aren’t Toys

• A monthly subscription. Here are 10 great ideas for monthly subscriptions that are kid-friendly
• Books
• Games
• Movies
• CDs of music
• Craft kits
• New backpack
• Puzzles
• 
• Science kits
• Computer Programming kits fromArduino or Raspberry Pi
• New art supplies
• Magazine Subscriptions (we love National Geographic Kids)
• Fun new clothes (based on their favorite game or tv show)
• Sporting equipment
• Fun Bath Supplies (color-changing water tablets, crayons that write on walls, etc.)
• Wrist watch
• Piggy bank. This is a great one for kids
• Journal
• Jewelry Box
• Magic Kit
• Cookbook & Apron/Chef Hat
• Easel
• Chalkboard
• Telescope
• Magnifying glass
• Compass
• Fishing Pole
• Flashlight
• Gardening tools
• Bug-catching tools
• Binoculars
• Globe
• Online subscription to an educational game like SumDog
• New decorations for their room
• A new bedding set
• iTunes gift cards
• A pet!

PittsburghMom is our original, featured blog by Heather Starr Fiedler.  Heather created PittsburghMom in March 2008 and began this journey.  Heather is the mom to two young boys, Matthew (9) and Benjamin (7), a college professor and General Manager of PittsburghMom. She’s busy, but not too busy to blog about her sometimes serious, sometimes painful and often humorous thoughts on life and share her favorite Pittsburgh spots for families.