This holiday season, expand your idea of gift giving by checking into tickets or passes to some great local organizations. Surprise your family or friends with a chance to experience something new together. It’s likely the activity will create a special memory for years to come. Here are just a few places to consider this year:
 

PINZ Bowling Center
The newest addition to Wahooz Family Fun Zone, the PINZ Bowling Center just opened to the public in November. It boasts smoke-free bowling fun for the whole family, including an arcade with old-school pinball machines, cosmic bowling, HD projection screens, and a full menu, served right at your lane. Gift cards are available. Check their website for prices and times, www.pinzbowlingidaho.com. 

Boise Museum Pass
This pass is quite a deal! Visit seven of Boise’s museums for a fraction of the combined regular price. Each pass provides one free admission to each of the seven participating museums: Discovery Center of Idaho, Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Historical Museum, Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Idaho Botanical Garden, World Center for Birds of Prey, and the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site. The Museum Pass also provides discounts in participating museums’ gift shops. The trick is, the Pass is only valid for seven days after its first use, but it would make for a perfect “staycation” activity for your family over winter or spring breaks, or a great gift for family visiting from out of town. The pass is $19 for adults over the age of 13 and passes for children ages 3–12 are only $9. Passes can be purchased at the Discovery Center of Idaho or on their website at scidaho.org.

Zoo Boise
Located in Julia Davis Park near downtown Boise, Zoo Boise is home to over 201 animals and 83 different species. The Zoo is open seven days a week and offers several fun special events throughout the year, like Claus ‘N Paws, the Easter EGGstravaganza, and Boo at the Zoo. There are also weekly events, like feeding the giraffes, doing a “walkabout” with the wallabies, and animal storytime. Daily passes start at $4.25 and year-long family memberships start at $64. For details, go to zooboise.org.
 

Ceramica
Ceramica occupies a plain storefront in Vista Village in Boise, but inside you’ll find a pottery wonderland. Perfect for artists of all ages and abilities, you can pick from over 300 unfinished items to paint just as you like. From teapots to garden gnomes and measuring spoons to platters, Ceramica has unique items of all sorts. For a $6 studio fee, you can paint as long as you like, leave your piece to be fired and glazed by their professional staff, and pick it up a week later. Pottery pieces range from $4–$55. Gift certificates are available. Visit ceramica boise.com for more information.

Amy Pence-Brown loves giving (and receiving) the gift of time together with those she loves for Christmas.