Gift-giving can be stressful around the holidays. You might not get someone the right size in a Christmas sweater, or your friends and family may be in the middle of a Marie Kondo-induced purge to rid their homes of all things save those that spark joy.
So why not give the gift of an unforgettable experience this year? Whether it's a food tour or signing up a youngster for the Mr. Met's Kids Club, there's plenty of cool things to do in Queens.
More: See DNAinfo Partners' Neighborhood Picks in the 2016 Holiday Guide
Sign Your Littlest Baseball Fan Up for Mr. Met’s Kids Club
The Mr. Met’s Kids Club is a great way to encourage a love of baseball for kids 12 years and younger. There are three levels of membership — including a free membership — and all have an opportunity to check out a game at Citi Field.
The MVP membership includes four field-level tickets used for select games, for $51. The All-Star Membership includes four promenade tickets for $31. Both come with Brooklyn Cyclones tickets, a drawstring bag, thunder sticks, a “fast pass” to run the Mr. Met Dash at Sunday games and more.
A Rookie membership is free and includes two promenade outfield tickets and other access to the club.
For more information, visit their website.
"Adopt" Your House or Apartment on Queens Museum's Panorama of New York City
You can show your support of the Queens Museum's legendary Panorama, the scale model of the five boroughs, by purchasing a building on the historic model.
For $50, you can buy an apartment; for big spenders, $1,000 will get you a small commercial building, low-rise apartment building or warehouse, according to the museum. You’ll get a “title deed” for your purchase. All of the money goes to the care and maintenance of the Panorama, built as a celebration of the city for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Watch Whales and Dolphins off Queens Coasts
Once the weather warms up, the Whale and Dolphin Watching cruises on the American Princess boats resume. The four-hour tours cost $45 for adults, $40 for seniors and $30 for kids between 5 and 12 years old in 2016. The tour sets off from Riis Landing near Fort Tilden and travels off of Rockaway, where there’s been a recent uptick in whale and dolphin sightings. For more information, visit their website.
Tour the Borough’s Best Food Neighborhoods
Joe DiStefano, an expert on the varied cuisines of Queens, offers three distinct tours that can be booked for groups or for individuals. He offers a guide through Flushing’s Chinatown, a walk through the Himalayan restaurants in Jackson Heights, and a tour of the Southeast Asian specialties found in Elmhurst. Tours are between $75 and $85 per person, from two to three hours, and includes all food and drinks. Visit his website for more information.