I received a product in exchange for my post. Opinions expressed belong to me.

Last week I visited Verizon’s newest Smart Store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Oh.My. It was so awesome! Such a tech lover’s dream store. I had a blast playing with all the devices and coming up with some wish list ideas.

The Ann Arbor location is Michigan’s 13th Smart Store to open. This concept is a major facelift from what I recall from my last visit to Verizon, and is much more aesthetically pleasing. There are several lifestyle “zones,” organized based on what you’re interested in, and even a workshop area for those who may need help learning their new devices. Verizon is working on transferring all stores over to this model, and I think they will create some happy customers in the process.

I mean, look how pretty it’s organized now:

While buying gifts online is much easier at times, there are some things you just need to see in-person, and more importantly, learn about from the pros. I appreciated store manager Steve walking me around to each zone and explaining what each device did and how it could make my life better. Every employee I encountered had the same tech passion.

After my tour, I was inspired to come up with this list of 5 tech gift ideas families will love from Verizon. We all know phones and tablets are sure to be on the top of most Christmas lists, but I wanted to cover some alternative ideas, too! Be on the lookout for Verizon’s Black Friday ad for the best deals.

GizmoPal {$79.99 + $5/month with a 2-year contract}

This is perfect for school-aged kids who like to explore solo in the back yard or play with neighbor friends after school, but aren’t quite ready for the responsibility of a cell phone. The gadget can program two people to receive/send calls to {mom and dad for example}, and parents can also use its tracking to locate their child via GPS. Plus, it’s worn like a watch, so kiddos can’t easily lose it. Available in kid-friendly designs.

UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker {$89.99}

Don’t let the small size fool you — these bluetooth speakers pack the sound! These are perfect for jamming to some Disney Pandora while making dinner or bringing some classic rock to the beach in the summer. I have loved using the bungee cord to hang ours on our kitchen cabinet hardware to keep out of reach of little hands. The UE ROLL has up to 9-hour battery life on a single charge and have a 65-ft wireless range. Think a mini boom box but without taking up precious counter space.

KidzSafe Headphones {$29.99}

My kids love watching videos on the YouTube Kids app. Unfortunately though, I do not always enjoy hearing the music they like. I love that these headphones can be personalized with stickers to make them unique, but they are also recommended by audiologists due to the volume limitations that keep sound below 85 dB so little ears are protected. Perfect for long car rides or for places where you don’t want to annoy everyone around you with the 80th rendition of “Wheels on the Bus.”

mophie powerstation {$59.99-$149.99}

If your kids tend to drain your cell phone battery playing games like mine do, the mophie powerstation charges your phone at super-fast speeds when an outlet isn’t around to help . Another great solution for travel and camping in a remote areas {or if you’re a blogging mom like me and often need a full charge for events}! Just charge your mophie powerstation with the included USB cable and you’re ready to go. It easily fits in a purse, too.

Kwikset Kevo {$219.99}

After locking my toddler in the house by accident while she was napping once, I have hated house keys. I love that this product can turn your compatible device into an electronic key for your home. Just keep your phone nearby and unlock the door by touching it with your hand. Use the Kevo app to make electronic keys for kids, friends, relatives or the babysitter. Kevo uses multiple levels of encryption to help safeguard your home. You can use a traditional key with the lock too. Pretty sweet, right?

Make sure to visit the new Ann Arbor Smart Store, located at 3143 Ann Arbor Saline Rd. for the latest and greatest gadgets! Follow Verizon on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

GIVEAWAY

I have the chance for one lucky reader to win a UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker from Verizon. I can’t stress how much I love this little device for streaming my music. It rocks!

Just follow the prompts below. Must be a U.S. resident age 18 or up to win. Giveaway ends on 11/23/15 at midnight.

UE Roll Speaker from Verizon

