Whole family gift ideas?

Depending upon the couple...how about tickets to a show/game and gift cert for dinner at a nice restaurant?  (Give them a night out in other words.)

I would go with Xerxes idea...also if you live close to them you could offer to "babysit" the kids for the night while they go out.  Do they have any hobbies or other things they enjoy doing together??  You never know what kind of gift certificates you can get.  I was shocked to find out that our county parks dept sells gift certificates for camping reservations. DH and I like to go once a month and take the pups and the RV to the local mountains.  I put these gift certificates on my list for my dad who lives in Maui becasue he can order them online and not have to SHIP us a mutual gift.     

Those are great ideas.
 
Actually, though, last christmas I gave them a gift certificate and babysat for the night. 
 
I like the idea of a camping gift certificate...
 
 

I had thought about a few months of Netflix for a family gift...

Since we live hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of miles from our family members, I've had this dilemma for years.  It got to be way too expensive and time-consuming to buy gifts for each person in a family, adults, kids, etc.  The last couple years I've decided one family gift was sufficient per household (especially since all the kids are now 18+ years old). 
 
I tend to go with consumable items so it's "one size fits all" and no one has to find a permanent place for it in their house.   For example, wine from our region, gourmet flavored oils & vinegars, some other kind of food that is unique to our area or a favorite of the family, etc..  If food or drink isn't an option (like for family with restricted diets), I go for something like a windchime or mobile for their porch/deck, a fun family game, a really unusual Christmas ornament for their tree.
 
I'll be watching this thread for other ideas -- I'll be needing some!

I have been doing as Tacran does...it is so hard to know what someone already has, when you don't live close by.  I have done Omaha steaks, munchies from Harry and David, table top trees or wreaths from LL Bean, gift baskets from a local peach farm.  They always seem to be more appreciated than some little trinket.

These are great ideas!  Thanks. )

I usually do what Tracy and Marty do, and Harry & David is always an easy one for those a long ways away.  I love to do gift baskets, like fancy pancake mixes, syrups, maybe a fancy pancake flipper, etc.  Or the fixins for chili, or pasta and a jar of special sauce.  Trader Joe's out here is great for stuff like that, or Cost Plus.   It's so fun to do, but I have to admit that sometimes I get carried away both in terms of cost or what will fit in a basket.

I am very close with my dog mentor.  Last year, they had a grass fire.  Fortunately, it didn't get any of our Russells, but it came close, but, it did get their Borzoi who ran into the barn.  All of their Christmas stuff was stored in the barn so it was all lost.  Their daughter was the most upset about all of the Christmas stuff.  At the same time, they were remodeling/redecorating their house.  So, I went out and bought a few nice ornaments that went with their new decor.  They really loved them and their daughter was so happy to have them.  So, something that fits the situation of the family.  Do they like playing family games?  Do they have any hobbies that they enjoy together?

Movie passes for however many people there are. Then THEY can decide to take the kids once, or go out and enjoy them on their own a couple of times []

Our family does goodies boxes filled with things that you use every day or little stuff they collect. It's always a big hit around christmas and people just love it since it's things that they will use.
 
Example.  Dish shop, wash clothes, ravors and shaving cream, coffee, tea, candles, and etc.

i would love it if someone would give me and my wife a large plasma tv. i promise i would share it with her, and it would make my enjoyment of the holiday football games even better! []

What about a gift card to Target or Walmart?
 
 

Lots of good ideas so far. How about magazine subscriptions?  Cheese and sausage gift packs? Cookies or candy? Money is always nice too!