Sometimes you just need a break from crowded subways and sidewalks. New Yorkers in search of outdoor adventure and wide-open spaces can find plenty of both in the Bronx at Van Cortlandt Park. At 1,146 acres, the sprawling green space is about as outside of the city as you can get without crossing the border to Westchester, and it offers tons of all-season fun.

An infusion of recent improvements provides plenty of reasons to visit this marquee green space, which belongs in the conversation with Central Park, Prospect Park, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park as one of the city's top outdoor destinations.

Here are 14 of our favorite things to do with kids in Van Cortlandt Park.

Your holiday table may not be full of family and friends this year, but it can still be packed with delicious food made with love by a professional chef. These Connecticut restaurants will prepare a meal for Christmas or Hanukkah takeout (or in some cases, delivery) so you can kick back, relax, and tuck into prime rib, an Italian fish dinner, peppermint cheesecake or other treats while staying safe at home.

Might we suggest pairing holiday takeout with one our all-time favorite family Christmas movies? If you are in the mood to spread even more holiday cheer, check out out our Holiday and Christmas Fun Guide for Connecticut Kids.

If you’d rather kick back and relax than spend hours preparing a holiday spread, consider ordering your Christmas dinner in from one of these Long Island restaurants open and serving takeout dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Several are even accepting reservations to dine indoors or out over the holidays.

Once you've placed your Christmas dinner order or booked your reservations, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy a must-do holiday event, check out Long Island's most spectacularly decorated houses, enjoy a drive-thru light show, or explore one of the other options in our jam-packed Holiday Fun Guide.

Boston is home to some beloved zoos as well as some spectacular holiday light displays, but a local tradition combines the two: ZooLights! This 26-acre winter wonderland at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham features tens of thousands of sparkling lights and lantern-lit sculptures, but what makes it unique from some other Christmas light experiences are the (real) animals roaming among the sparkling exhibits: black bears, Canada lynx, arctic foxes, reindeer, and more. My nine-year-old son and I explored ZooLights on an early December Wednesday evening, and were totally enchanted by the glowing colors and exotic animals.

Take a detour to check out these home Christmas light displays before or after your visit, and as always, keep tabs on our Boston Holiday Fun Guide for more ideas for socially distant festivites all season long.

While 2020 is shaping up to be a simpler holiday season, there's no reason to skimp on your favorite holiday foods. Forgo the heavy cooking and treat the family to a delicious takeout Christmas dinner or Christmas Eve meal to-go from a New Jersey restaurant or market. We've rounded up a handful of options for your Christmas meal, whether you want to have the whole meal catered or just need a few a la carte entrees, sides, and desserts to round out your holiday spread.

Check out these no-fuss Christmas dinner takeout options throughout New Jersey. While making your holiday preparations, consider visiting one of these Garden State Christmas tree farms, and catch up with St. Nick himself at one of these awesome Santa encounters.

The first storm of the season creates quite a stir for those of us who excitedly await a winter wonderland, and it's hard to match the thrill of holding tight to a sled while careening down one of these awesome sledding hills in the Hartford area. Winter lasts only about 12 weeks, so pack a thermos with hot chocolate, maybe grab an extra pair of mittens and socks, and embrace the snowy (and socially distant) adventures.

If you are looking to explore more winter activities, check out these Fairfield-Area sledding hills and our Connecticut Ski and Snow Sports Guide.

Few things are more quintessential than picking out the perfect Christmas tree. The smell of a fresh-cut pine is even sweeter when you've trekked to the farm, found the perfect Christmas tree for your family, chopped it down, loaded it on your car, and brought it home as a labor of love. The experience offers a chance for family bonding, fun seasonal photo opportunities, lots of laughs, and a diversion from the everyday.

We've rounded up eight cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. If you're not quite sure you're up to the challenge of chopping down your tree, many also offer fresh-cut trees to choose from.

So, load up the family station wagon and start a new holiday tradition this season. For more seasonal fun, visit our Holiday Fun Guide.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Industry City has welcomed a brand new tenant: Powerhouse at IC is the newest outpost of the local indie bookstore chain. It brings a curated selection of literary titles and an impressive, diverse selection of children's books to the Sunset Park development.

Centrally located in the Food Hall of Building 2, Powerhouse at IC is open and airy, with sunlight pouring through large, industrial windows. With yellow accents, the space feels warm and inviting, ideal for perusing the shelves for your next great read or gift.