Pottery classes, sleigh rides, waterpark passes, and more—here are all the best unique Michigan experiences to give as gifts this year!
A few years ago for Christmas, my husband and I gifted our five children our first family vacation. Taking five kids anywhere is a big expense for our family, and while the vacation wasn’t anything extravagant, we had a blast and made unforgettable memories.
That year, there was less under the tree, but we all felt the gift of enjoying an experience together meant more than anything we could wrap. There is no wrong or right way to do presents for the holidays, of course, but this year, if you’re craving a gift that means something more—and comes with less packaging and no need to wrap—we have some fun ideas for Michigan experiences to give.
1. Sleigh ride at Fantail Farm
When: Through February, weather permitting (sometimes into March)
Where: Benzonia
Cost: $90 for a two-person sleigh; $105 for a group of one to six
What says “Christmas” more than a snowy sleigh ride, am I right? Fantail Farm offers private sleigh rides that last about 45 to 55 minutes, with time slots at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. The rides are private, so you won’t be paired with anyone not in your reservation, and each sleigh can hold up to 10-12 adults (the website notes that 12 will be a squeeze!). You can also book a cozy or romantic two-person sleigh ride.
Kids ages 3 and under ride free, which makes this one a good pick for families, too. Sleigh season bookings are by phone only, and you can call the farm to buy a gift certificate.
2. Dog sledding with Husky Haven Sled Dogs
When: Winter, weather permitting
Where: Shingleton
Cost: $200 per person
For the adventurer on your list, a winter tour at Husky Haven Sled Dogs in the Upper Peninsula offers a full, immersive experience. Booking a dog sled tour will get you a kennel tour, information about the team and history, and for the main event: an eight- to 10-mile run with the sled dogs.
The entire tour takes about 3-4 hours, and the company stresses that participants are never rushed, with the aim of making the experience enjoyable and educational. There is one caveat: they don’t sell gift certificates, and a 50% deposit is required and non-refundable, so this is a gift you’ll want to be sure about before giving. You can call (906) 452-6014 to book.
3. Elk viewing sleigh ride and gourmet dinner at Thunder Bay Resort
When: Ongoing dates in November and December
Where: Hillman
Cost: Call for current pricing
Ever since I heard about the elk viewing experience at Thunder Bay Resort, I have been dreaming about taking my teenage son on a trip. It just sounds like so much fun. Thunder Bay Resort runs elk viewing rides year-round, but in winter the experience is extra magical as guests trek through the snowy woods in a sleigh to take in the elk.
You can request seats on an upcoming sleigh ride, then enjoy the included post-ride five-course gourmet dinner expertly prepared on 125-year-old wood stoves, plus a tasting of up to six Michigan wines (for the adults, of course). The sleighs all need a minimum number of guests to run, but the seats rarely have trouble getting booked! You can visit the resort for just the sleigh ride and dinner, or book a night’s stay while you’re there to make a full trip of it.
4. A ride at Michigan International Speedway
When: May-October, 2027
Where: Brooklyn
Cost: $158-$299
Know someone who has everything and secretly loves speed? Give them the gift of real-life speed on the track at the Michigan International Speedway. There are two gift experiences to choose from:
- Get a professional lesson from a real driver, then take the wheel solo for your own drive around the track with the help of a spotter over the radio.
- Hop in the passenger’s seat for a drive-along with a professional racecar driver.
You can book an experience for next year for May-October dates. Solo drivers cannot exceed a height of 6’7″ or 300 lbs. and have a minimum height of 5′ and 100 lbs. Minors under 18 can participate in the ride-along, but will need parental consent.
5. Winter fun pass at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
When: Snow season
Where: North Muskegon
Cost: $205 per family for a winter season pass
A winter pass to the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park gives the whole crew unlimited skiing, skating, and snowshoeing all winter, with a two-acre outdoor ice rink and 15 kilometers of groomed ski trails lit every night.
The park also has a natural-ice luge track, one of only four in the entire country. You can learn to luge and stay warm at one of the park’s many bonfires, which they keep blazing all season long (especially after the sun goes down). Family season passes are good for up to six people, and the pass gives early 8 a.m. access to the trails and the option to bring a friend for a day, at no extra charge.
6. Chateau Chantal experience
A trip to Chateau Chantal should be on every Michigander’s bucket list, in my humble opinion. There are many ways to give an experience at the breathtaking Traverse City winery—you can purchase a gift certificate good for shopping at the winery, a stay at the bed and breakfast, or towards one of their ongoing experiences.
For instance, they have seasonal dinners that pair the chateau’s wine with exquisitely prepared meals and desserts with locally-grown food.
7. A zoo gift membership
When: Recipient can start whenever they’re ready
Where: Detroit, Saginaw, or John Ball zoos
Cost: $85 to $300, depending on the level
Any family, especially those with young kids, will appreciate a zoo membership. Not only is a zoo visit a perfect way to spend time together, but most zoos have seasonal events to enjoy all year-round too, like holiday light shows, Halloween events, and more.
Michigan has many wonderful zoos to choose from, like the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, the Detroit Zoo, Saginaw Zoo, and the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. Our family has been to all of them, and they would all make for a great gift experience.
8. Frederik Meijer Gardens gift membership
When: Valid for one year
Where: Grand Rapids
Cost: $80 for an individual membership; $135 for dual; $175 for a family
Wander through a conservatory and a sculpture park on a gray winter day, then do it all over again in spring. A Frederik Meijer Gardens membership includes unlimited admission, a subscription to Seasons magazine, discounts to things like the ice cream shop and tram rides, and reciprocal admission at nearly 400 gardens and conservatories.
Buy it online as a gift and the membership card goes directly to the recipient within two to three weeks. If you’d like to wrap it yourself, ask the membership team to send the card to you instead.
9. Community center membership
When: 3-month, 6-month, or full-year memberships
Where: Search local rec centers
Cost: Varies
If you are my mother reading this, this is what I am hoping for as my Christmas present. (Hint-not-so-subtle-hint.) Local community centers can offer a great value for all of their amenities. For instance, a full family membership in our small town costs only $50 and would give all seven of us full access to an indoor pool, seasonal splash pad, waterslide, diving board, indoor track, basketball and pickleball courts, exercise room, and discounts on group classes and programs.
Search for local rec or community centers to gift this experience and ask if they have monthly, short-term (many offer 3- or 6-month memberships, for instance), or even pre-paid punch classes if your loved one would prefer to try some drop-in classes.
10. A candy box subscription
When: Monthly
Where: Nationwide shipping
Cost: $25/mo
What better way to celebrate the season than a monthly box of sweetness? Randy Haas is a local Michigan blacksmith-turned-candymaker who offers a monthly subscription box full of homemade sweet treats. For only $25, you can gift someone the experience (and excitement!) of receiving a box of fresh, handmade candy every month.
Each monthly box contains a variety of four different candies: hard candy pillows, hand-cut marshmallows with seasonal flavors, brittle, and a special surprise treat.
11. The gift of never missing the game
When: Ongoing
Where: Nationwide
Cost: $7-$9/month (through the annual plan)
Have a loved one who enjoys watching your kid play sports but can’t make it to the games? Give the gift of a National Federation of State High School Associations subscription. Through the NFHS Network, you can watch any high school sport streamed, all across the country. I am considering this gift for my own parents, who love watching my kids but can’t always travel. The subscription also covers many travel and club sports, too.
12. Make a splash at Bavarian Blast
When: Ongoing
Where: Frankenmuth
Cost: $140-$400/night
One of the best holiday gifts our family ever received was when my in-laws booked a stay for all of us at Frankenmuth’s Splash Village. The package included a night’s stay at the hotel, waterpark passes, dinner, and even a breakfast buffet. It was such a treat to have everything planned out and ready, and when you have young kids, that feels like a sigh of relief.
Splash Village is always a fun choice, or you could try Frankenmuth’s newest waterpark hotel, Bavarian Blast, that features 16 new waterslides, a lazy river, Michigan’s first swim-up bar, and even more indoor fun, like a ropes course, miniature rock climbing, and bowling.
13. A unique cooking class
When: Ongoing
Where: Auburn Hills
Cost: $80+
I love the idea of a cooking class as a kid’s gift, a couple’s gift, or an individual gift because it’s so versatile. You can look locally, or book a sourdough, pie-making, or even kids’ cooking classes at Kim’s Cooking Creation in Auburn Hills. She is a Macomb County-trained chef who is passionate about sharing her love of cooking and baking, so she created her own space to do just that, right here in Michigan.
We also love the parent-child pizza-making class they offer, which would make a great two-in-one gift.
14. Head spa bliss
When: Ongoing
Where: Lapeer
Cost: $80+
I once gifted myself a head spa treatment for my birthday, and it remains, to this day, a top-10 life experience. It was so delightful that I’m pleased to report the hype is totally worth it. I found it even more relaxing than a traditional massage, and I left with a squeaky-clean scalp, a fresh blowout, and a new lease on life.
There are head spas all throughout Michigan, of course, but if you’re in the Thumb area, be sure to check out the charming downtown Lapeer studio, Willow and Water, which offers convenient gift cards you can purchase online to give someone you love the gift of relaxation.
15. Putter around with pottery
When: Ongoing
Where: Port Huron
Cost: $50
Over the summer, my kids and I checked something off our bucket lists: we took a pottery wheel class! I admit that I fully thought there would be a more rigorous test before they let us loose on the wheel, but it turns out art has fewer rules than I thought.
We booked a class at The Foundry in Port Huron and after a brief lesson (and with the instructor close by the entire time), we tried our hand at the wheel. Incidentally, my teenage son was a natural, and I was legitimately terrible, but we all had a blast. I actually just picked up our finished pieces this week, and the pride I felt sipping from my misshapen coffee mug this morning is truly priceless. Ask your local pottery center if they sell gift cards, book an eldest daughter in your life a class so she’s set to go, or join a class together for extra fun.
16. Live theater tickets
When: Ongoing
Where: Check your local theater
Cost: Varies
If I could give one piece of advice this holiday season, it would be to not overlook your local live theater. Every year, my in-laws try to take the entire family—and there’s a lot of us—to a local show, and it’s always so much fun. Not only are the shows wildly more impressive than you may think, but the tickets are affordable, as are the concessions.
Our local Pix Theater has been in operation for over 85 years, and they still sell 50-cent popcorn. You cannot beat that, especially when carting around 15+ grandkids! Check local theaters or peruse schools for community events you can support, all while having fun being together.
17. Indoor play cafe membership
When: Ongoing
Where: Clinton Township
Cost: $49+
As a young mom with four kids six and under, if someone had gifted me an indoor play cafe membership, I probably would have cried with joy. Especially living in Michigan, the winters with young kids at home can get very long and challenging.
Indoor play cafes, in my humble opinion, are gifts to parents of young kids, and they are more prevalent now than ever. They allow for safe, clean places for kids to play, and parents can kick back with a hot (or iced) drink, and maybe even sneak in the laptop for some work and WiFi. For a starting price of $50/month, you can give the gift of a little peace and hands-free coffee drinking to an exhausted parent in your life.
