Community Corner
Unplug and Recharge During the Holiday Season
Here are a few gift ideas to help friends and family unplug and recharge during the holiday season.
In this increasingly digitalized world, we can’t go anywhere without packing the chargers, the battery packs, the DVDs and the game systems.
But what happens when the power goes out? How do we escape from it all?
Yes, there truly is life and entertainment outside of the electrically-charged world. Here are a few gift ideas to help friends and family unplug and recharge.
Books
Check out Barnes and Noble or Maple Grove LifeWay Christian Store for the newest bestsellers or tried-and-true classics. Bookstores’ shelves are stocked with adventures waiting beyond the front cover. Have a traveler in your posse? Check out the travelogues. So your mother-in-law is hooked on reality TV shows? You’ll find plenty of drama in the fiction section.
Board games
Classics like Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble and Uno are always great choices, and the perfect way to spend quality family time. Creative Kidstuff, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart and Once Upon A Child usually have games for all ages. Got a card shark in the family? Find or print out a list of new card games to try, tuck them in with a new deck of playing cards, and watch what happens.
Concert tickets
For the music lover in your life, it might be hard to part with the MP3 player or iPod, but they’d easily hand them over for the chance to hear their favorite musicians live. Whether their music listening tends towards rock ‘n’ roll or opera, the options are limitless. Check out upcoming live entertainment at local favorites such as The Lookout or Maple Tavern or peruse Ticketmaster.com.
Dinner out
Mom and dad might be a great cooks, but even great cooks want a night away from the kitchen. A gift certificate to his/her favorite restaurant might be a perfect addition to the menu. Try local favorites or appeal to her adventurous side with a new restaurant.
Education
Maybe you’ve got someone in your family who loves the History or Discovery channels. What better way from them to unplug and recharge than through fun educational classes? Local community colleges, such as North Hennepin in Brooklyn Park and Osseo Area Schools Community Education often offer adult continuing education classes, everything from guitar lessons to photography classes.
Exercise pass
For some, the perfect way to recharge is through exercise. If you’ve got a fitness buff in the family, a pass to try the latest exercise class might be just what they would love to recharge. Check the local Lifetime Fitness or many of the other Maple Grove fitness centers for class passes and other deals.
Maid to Order
There’s never time to unwind and recharge when the house is a mess. Help unplug that vacuum by giving the gift of a house cleaner for the day. Many local companies, such as offer one-time house-cleaning services based on hourly fees. Check with friends or neighbors for suggestions.
Spa Gift Certificates
The ultimate in an unplugged excursion. No cell phone, no computer, just relaxation. Visit spas to find out what kind of packages they offer. Manicure and pedicures are another great idea. Check out the Patch directory for services in the Maple Grove area.
Weekend getaway
Give your loved ones a chance to get away from it all. With tickets in hand or a hotel room booked, it’s a lot harder to give excuses as to why they can’t unplug. You might not be able to confiscate the cell phone, but you can give them the chance to find relaxation away from the daily routine while having a stayaction. Check out the rates at Maple Grove establishments like Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn, Cambria Suites Maple Grove, Staybridge Suites - Arbor Lakes or Courtyard by Marriott - Arbor Lakes.
