Gift Ideas to Help Unplug, Recharge

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.

Magazines
Check out Dierbergs or Schnucks for the newest popular mags or tried-and-true trade publications. Have a traveler in your posse? Check out the travelogues. Nothing beats cozying up in front of the fireplace with a magazine or book.

Board Games
Classics, such as Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble and Uno always are great choices, and the perfect way to spend quality family time. Local gift shops, such as Hallmark Cards & Gifts in Wildwood, usually have some new games, too. Hasbro has licensed many versions of its Monopoly games for university and other regions; check Amazon.com to find them. 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 often hand them over for the chance to hear their favorite musicians live. Whether their music listening tends towards rock ‘n’ roll or opera, peruse Ticketmaster.com for options.

Dinner Out
Even great cooks want a night away from the kitchen. A gift certificate to restaurants listed in the Eureka-Wildwood Patch directory within the Food & Dining section would be a perfect addition to the menu.

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? St. Louis Community College-Wildwood and Rockwood School District staffs offer adult continuing education classes, everything from guitar lessons to photography classes. Got a Dancing with the Stars fan? Dance lessons Dance Art Dance Studios in Eureka or Dance Art Dance Studios might work well.

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 Wildwood Family YMCA 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 Merry Maids or Faithful Servant, offer one-time house-cleaning services based on hourly fees.

Spa Gift Certificates
The ultimate in an unplugged excursion. No cell phone, no computer, just relaxation. Visit Elle Salon and Spa or Sundance Salon and Spa in Eureka, for example, to find out what kind of packages they offer. Manicure and pedicures at Wildwood Nail Spa, Soho Nails & Spa or Mystique Nail Spa are another great idea.

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. Check out the rates at The Wildwood Hotel.