5 Fun Local Gift Ideas for Boys

1. Take him to Mel's. Ok, well maybe not right now, but why not get a gift card for a fun afternoon at the batting cages, behind the wheel of the go-karts or shooting for a hole-in-one on one of two mini-golf courses? Mel's Funway has all that and more. Check out the arcade, driving range and laser tag while you're there. And hey, Litchfield is quite a bit easier to get to now thanks to the airport access road.

2. Catch a flick. Give him a few movie passes to take in a movie of his choice at Cinemagic. If he's old enough, splurge for two or three so he can invite a couple friends, or buy two and make it a special father/son or mother/son trip to the movies.

3. Let the hockey enthusiast in him shine. But no need to break the bank. Bruins tickets are great, but expensive! Go the less expensive and local route and surprise him with tickets to go see the Manchester Monarchs. There are several ticket packages offered if you want to make it a family outing. Visit the Monarchs website for more.

4. Take it to new heights. Vertical Dreams, an indoor rock climbing facility in Manchester is sure to satisfy his craving for adventure. Take him for a beginners lesson where he can pretend as though he's Spider-man, scaling the walls as he races toward the ceiling. Pricing and packages are available online

5. Feed his love of sports.  New England Sportscards sells sports cards and signed sports memorabilia that will light up the holidays for the young sports fan. Their stock includes all sports and even has a large collection of Magic the Gathering cards for those who also like fantasy games.

About this column: Your guide to all things pertaining to the holiday season in New Hampshire.