We all know that raising kids can get expensive —between summer camps, birthday parties, childcare, and more, it all adds up quickly! Many families may not have the funds available for extracurricular activities. To help ease the financial burden and ramp up the fun, we’ve rounded up a list of FREE classes for kids in the Orlando area.

Be sure to bookmark our activity calendar and filter for FREE events and activities happening all around town. To get more free fun at home and in your town delivered to your inbox sign up for our newsletters and discover all the free events and activities near you in our Orlando Free Things To Do With Kids Guide.

Ok, we admit it—the terrain in the Chicago area is mostly flat. But that doesn’t mean local kids are destined to grow up not knowing how to ski or shred until that family getaway to Vail or Jackson Hole materializes. There are several slopes, hills, and even mountains within a two hour drive, where families can spend the day skiing or snowboarding together. All of them have a family-friendly atmosphere and ski (and snowboard) lessons for kids of all ages.

If you’re dying to get out of the house this winter and the kids are ready for a winter sport beyond ice skating in the city, check out this list of slopes within an easy drive from Chicago. Most of these winter sports havens make their own snow, so Chicagoans don’t have to wait for Mother Nature to cooperate to hit the slopes.

Waterparks and Houston heat go hand-in-hand during the hot summer months, but what about when off-season rolls around or the weather is predictably unpredictable? You throw on your swimsuit anyway and head to an indoor waterpark! These indoor waterparks in Texas have all the fun you know and love, from tube slides to lazy rivers, wave pools, and interactive water play structures, so you can indulge in water play year-round. Whether you're taking a quick day trip or planning a weekend getaway, these awesome indoor waterparks allow for adventure without the elements.

Meatloaf is a savory and comforting dinner classic. On a busy weeknight with picky kids, it might not be possible (or necessary) to spend an hour in the kitchen making a full meatloaf when everyone is hungry and tired. This is where the kid-sized mini meatloaf comes to the rescue. Kids eat anything when it’s mini, right?

Here’s our roundup of five kid-sized and kid-approved mini meatloaf recipes. All of these recipes can be prepared ahead of time for a quick dinner you can pull out of the freezer. For even more recipes kids will love, check out our favorite kid-friendly recipes of 2021.

Raise your hand if you’re a fan of doughnuts, ice cream, coffee, or cookie dough. Well, have we got a place for you. A dessert shop has opened in Huntington Village that allows customers to combine these sweet treats into mouth-watering creations. Sundae Donuts has something for everyone and is not to be missed. 

For more sweet treats, see our rundown of LI's best ice cream parlors and candy stores.

Governors Island has become one of our favorite places to take our tween and teenage boys when we need a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life. With 172 acres of things to do, we've enjoyed unwinding with family and friends across the water. From the summer art and performance festivals to the relatively new Pumpkin Point experience in October, it's a hotspot destination for tourists and locals alike, so we were beyond excited when we heard Governors Island would be open all year round and welcoming the holiday season with a new Winter Village—complete with an ice skating rink.

The Winter Village experience makes perfect sense, especially as the temperature drops and families are looking for safe, outdoor fun and affordable ways to keep kids busy this season. Read on for our review and find more seasonal fun in our Guide to Winter Activities.

Youth sports are a fun and formative part of countless kids’ lives, and that should be true for children at every ability level. Several adaptive sports programs for kids near Philadelphia provide opportunities for young people with disabilities, making sure that those with special needs have the same access as everyone else.

The benefits of adaptive sports programs can be especially empowering, offering a community of other children with similar interests, and facing similar challenges. Many programs meet year-round, admitting athletes regardless of the season. Read on for a list of area programs that eliminate limitations, and truly level the playing field.

On the 12th day of Christmas, my city gave to me—a chance to recycle my Christmas tree!

Whether from a lot at the corner or a cut-your-own farm in LA's outer regions, we lug those lovely-smelling, triangular chunks of evergreen wonder home on top of our cars each December amid singing, warm drinks, and family bonding. Thoughts of what will become of them a few weeks later are pushed to the outer regions of our To Do Lists. Well, the 12th day of Christmas is quickly approaching, and our To Do Lists have come home to roost. Luckily, recycling a Christmas tree does not have to be difficult to arrange; all you need is a little information, which we've assembled here!