This Week: Spectacular Holiday Lights, What's Open on Christmas & Christmas Eve, Holiday Break Day Trip Ideas

12/18/14 - By Raven Snook

Regardless of what you celebrate, everyone seems to be in holiday overdrive this week. My family is busy gearing up for our favorite Christmas Eve traditions: last-minute gift shopping (probably at a seasonal market) followed by Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park. And since we still don't have our tree, I bet we'll buy one that night, too.

If you're thinking of taking a day trip over holiday break, you'll find lots of inspiration on our regional sites. Check out over-the-top Christmas displays in Westchester, Connecticut and Philly; explore the waterside haven of Port Jefferson, Long Island; or head across the Hudson to the nearby Liberty Science Center to conquer the brand-new Infinity Climber, which is suspended 35 feet in the air!

Even though our kids will be out of school, we'll still be right here bringing you the best things to do in NYC and beyond throughout the season. So don't worry: There's more fun yet to come!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Wondering what to do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? (Besides the obvious, of course). We've got the scoop on ways to celebrate the holiday beyond wrapping and opening gifts.

Grab your coat and camera, and hop in the car: We've got the scoop on (and pics of!) the most spectacular Christmas houses in NYC and Westchester.

Speaking of things that dazzle, we rounded up five spots where kids can check out gems, crystals, minerals and meteorites up close.

We finished up our series of posts on Gowanus with posts about our favorite places to play and eat with kids in artsy the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Is Disney's upcoming Christmas movie release Into the Woods good for kids? It's complicated.

This week's seasonal WeeWork crafts included adorable cookie cutter and salt dough handprint ornaments.

Best bets for the weekend include The Science of Santa in Greenwich Village, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer onstage on the Upper East Side and a dozen interactive Make Music Winter parades.