10 Not-a-Toy Gifts

We don't want to sound all Ebenezer Scrooge about it, but sometimes that massive pile of toys that Santa brings turns our seasonal spirit more to the humbug side of things. Lucky for us, Ottawa is chock full of amazing experiences and alternative gifts that can bring joy without the clutter.

Our kids consider a wintertime swim to be the ultimate in fun—and passes to any of the city's pools for a family swim is a perfect stocking stuffer to use over the holiday. For a special treat, spend your passes at the brand new Minto Recreation Centre in Barrhaven. The shiny clean, state-of-the-art facilities feature a gorgeous six-lane pool with a Tarzan rope and diving boards for extra fun.

We love game night around here, and there's always a new game or two under the tree. Check out the great selection at local toy shop Tag Along Toys, also the city's best source for science and craft kits, now open in a cool section location at Blue Heron Mall on Bank Street.

Christmas is all about the treats, and the best thing about giving sweets is that they don't add to your kids' overcrowded toy bins. Stuff their stockings with cake pops from Bake Mob, chocolate-covered bacon or Doritos chocolate bars from Laviolette, or snowman apples from Vanessa's Dessert Apples. They'll vanish in no time.

The best value in town is the multiple museum pass for the Museum of Aviation and the Museum of Agriculture. Even though their sister—the Science and Tech museum—is closed for repairs until 2017, your pass will help fund the renovation. In the meantime, the other two museums offer an almost endless source of fun and adventure. Kids who love the Children's Museum will enjoy a pass to the Canadian Museum of History (where the Children's Museum is housed). Or give them a pass to the Museum of Nature, which is packed with amazing interactive exhibits. Tip: you can get 15 percent off if you're a member at any other museum in town.

There's any number of indoor play spaces in town that would make for a great day trip over the holidays, but you can turn it into an extra special under-the-tree gift by booking a no-reason party. It's not a birthday—just a chance to invite a bunch of their friends along for a big blowout. Why not get a dodgeball game going at XTreme Trampoline Park, take to the skies at Altitude Gym's Clip and Climb, make your own laser tag team at Funhaven, or try glow-in-the-dark mini golf at The Putting Edge?

The perfect solution to the clutter problem is Just Play Toy Rental, where durable, unique and engaging toys visit your home for four weeks a time—complete with drop off and pick up. Toys range from ride-on cars to giant building blocks, and from puzzles to (our fave) spooner boards. We highly recommend the gift of year's subscription, which will bring fresh fun right to your door for 12 full months.

There are tons of great sports in Ottawa, but for a holiday gift, it's best to pick something with a winter theme. Pair a hockey jersey with a set of tickets to an Ottawa Senators game (tip: their Pizza power pack tickets come with snacks included). A more economical (and still super fun) choice is a family pass to an Ottawa 67s game, which includes four tickets and a parking pass for the new rink at TD Place in Lansdowne Park. Hockey not your thing? Try tickets to Disney on Ice, coming in February, featuring Lightning McQueen and Mater—on skates.

Got a drama queen or king at home? Try tickets to the theatre for a delightful shared experience and lasting memory. Between Christmas and the new year, the Kanata Theatre always puts on a fun family show, and this year it's Fairy Tale Ending: The Big Bad Family Musical—the story of a young girl who decides to find out the ‘real' ending to various iconic stories. Rag and Bone Puppet Theatre puts on a series of really lovely shows for kids aged 4 and up throughout the year. We're looking forward to The Last Polar Bears in January and the reprise of their fantastic The Wind And The Willows in March.

Getting out together as a family is a gift to everyone, and there's no shortage of great choices here in Ottawa. Spend a morning skating on the Rink of Dreams at City Hall, then warm up with dinner out at Spud's or The Works. Spend an afternoon sharing a family swim or skate at the brand new Minto Recreation Centre in Barrhaven. Or, if you just couldn't make the commitment to a new pet, satisfy their animal interests with a family trip to Ray's Reptiles or the Zoo Crew.

Books are the best gifts—and there's no better place in town to pick up some gift titles than Kaleidascope Kids. The three mompreneurs who run the shop are a wealth of information and it's safe to say they will, for sure, find the perfect book to delight your little one. Why not make it a new Christmas Eve tradition—new books and new jammies for bedtime?

Clothes count as gifts when they're something special—and we always find unique apparel at local boutique Elm Hill Kids—think Kate Mack dresses and trendy Toms shoes. But this year, we'll be stuffing their stockings with cute (and practical!) mitts and hats from the Boomerang Kids. Our fave picks: Kombi mittens in cheeky pink or blue/lime, Pickles the Pig mitten clips in Pink Cheetah or Cars and funky Calikids pompom hats.