Every birthday my parents take my daughter out to lunch and then go shopping for a fancy dress for her. All year long, when she wears that dress, she remembers that day and who gave it to her and feels their love wrapped around her. It's had such a lasting impact that they are starting "experience" presents for all their grandchildren.

I've been thinking about that a lot as Christmas approaches. My husband and I believe that presents of experiences are things we will give and suggest to relatives, rather than loads of toys that are forgotten before the next Christmas comes.

One of the holiday traditions we give ourselves as a family annually are tickets to the Big Chicken Chorus' Christmas show. It is something our children look forward to and talk about non-stop, as soon as the first nip hits the air. So it works. With such a goofy name, they really do have a huge following.

We also attend the classic Georgia Ballet's "The Nutcracker." This Sunday, for their 50th anniversary, one of their shows will include celebrity guest performers such as Commissioner Tim Lee as well as a CNN anchor, a university president and a local celebrity chef. I've been assured the celebrities are leaving the real ballet to the professionals and just waltzing. I'm glad. I think I'd rather see the commissioner vote on zoning than do pirouettes onstage. The ticket also allows you entree to the after-performance party with VIPs and professional ballet stars. This is also a fundraiser in partnership with the local Center for Family Resources, which took a major role in helping the victims of the Cobb flood.

Then there's Theatre on the Square and its traditional "Sanders Family Christmas" show, which returns every year. Or the Cobb Symphony Orchestra Saturday events that are focused specifically on introducing children to the symphony, such as "The Night Before Christmas" with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And the Atlanta Lyric Theater is performing the Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" musical at the Strand, a break from the "Disney-ized" versions.

Teenagers are tougher, I know. For those who play golf, you can do a rain check for a golf game or putting green when the weather is warmer. Or perhaps golf or tennis lessons if neither is a seasoned player. Chess? Cooking class? I even know someone who started taking ballet classes again just to have a bond and shared vocabulary with her teen daughter.

More modestly, family events can include a trip on the Marietta Trolley and a visit to the Marietta History Museum. The admission here is dirt cheap, but don't let the name fool you. The history is pure Americana, not just Marietta. They cover many eras and have an entire room of armaments. My favorite room is the replica of the WWII-era kitchen, complete with rationing posters. I went once with an elementary school class and laughed so hard at the fact that not one student knew what a 45 rpm record was. We've gone back a few times on our own, it's so interesting.

And although it is not in Cobb, I can't leave out one place I could camp out in for a week, it's so large and captivating. A day-long visit to the Tellus Museum as a family would be a great Christmas present and cost not much more than a movie.

Now I know some of these sound like modest events for a holiday present, but these are modest times. Even if they weren't, how many feel like me that children should start lowering their expectations when it comes to Christmas presents, anyway? And that family experiences reinforce the family bond? Especially if you have children who are going in multiple directions all year due to sports or activities, it is sometimes nice to make the extra effort to find an excuse to do something together. And the added benefit is it pumps a little bit of money back into our local economy.

Here are some good sites to start: www.cobbcvb.com or www.unitedartsofcobb.org or www.georgiaballet.org

JoEllen Smith is an education activist and freelance writer in east Cobb