Gift giving is such a special process as you search high and low for that one perfect gift for your child. It’s also hard when they have every toy known to man, and you just can’t even fathom another toy in your house. We totally get it! Take a look at these experience gifts from local businesses that your children will sure to love, and you will too!

Bowling a few games at 4th Street Bowl
4th Street Bowl

Choo! Choo! Take a ride on the children’s train track, and eat in the historic mail train – Don’t forget to ring the bell before you leave! At All Aboard you will also find the tradition Anderson’s Ice Cream as well as Whisler’s burgers that started in Carthage – Yum!
All Aboard Ice Cream
Whisler’s

Buy a few dance or gymnastics classes to try out:
Amplify Gymnastics and Cheer
Briley Performing Arts
Karen’s Dance Studio
Ovation Studios
The Flip Shop

Grab some passes to these rollin’ places:
Roller City of Joplin
Skateland Fun Center of Neosho MO
Skateland of Webb City
Spinning Wheels Sk8 Center

Friday Night Out, Sports, and Camp all in one spot at
Victory Ministries and Sports Complex

Art, pottery, and painting can be found here:
Rsvpaint
Spiva Center for the Arts
Firehouse Pottery
The Clay Cup

Where can you explore nature up close and personal? Check out these classes and story times:
Wildcat Glades and Audubon Center
Southeast Kansas Nature Center

Get the wiggles out by bouncing and sliding at these locations:
House of Bounce
Ocean Adventures Indoor Playground

Paintballs, rides, lazers – Oh my!
Lazer Force Lazer Tag Zone
Paintball Ridge
Tilt Studio – Joplin

Take your hand at the batting cages, golf, and mini golf at Rangeline Golf – they also have golf balls for sale to go along with your mini golf gift!

The movies are always a great option for those tweens and teens. We have two great options:
Route 66 Movie Theater
Route 66 Drive-In Theatre

Swim lessons, swim teams, and pool passes are perfect for those summer birthdays! {Webb City has an indoor pool, so enrollment is more often}
Joplin Pool Memberships and lessons
Webb City swim lessons and swim teams

Check out the new Escape Joplin attraction! If you know someone that likes puzzles and clues, this unique interactive venue is a perfect gift option:
Escape Joplin

If you have someone that loves sports, the YMCA would be a great option:
Joplin Family Y
Neosho Freeman Family YMCA
Fair Acres YMCA Carthage

Do you have a rock star in the house? Music lessons are a fun and unique gift:
Ernie Williamson Music
Palen Music
Glory Days Rock Shop

“Ready. Set. Action!” Joplin Little Theatre holds great acting and stage crew classes for all ages. Classes are typically held in the summer, but don’t let that stop you. They have great plays all year long! A few places that also hold children plays: MSSU Theatre, Ozark Christian College, Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, and Stained Glass Theatre

Reach for the sky or try your best on the ninja course:
Soar Trampoline Park

These venues are getting prepared to open in the area:
Sky Zone Joplin

We hope this guide has given you a few ideas to use for birthdays, holidays, or just for fun! Please feel free to contact us with additional gift giving ideas!