When the weather turns colder, it gets harder to entertain the kids without spending money. Free outdoor events such as festivals and concerts in the park aren't happening. Splash pads and spraygrounds are closed. Playground equipment freezes up. Fortunately, there are still plenty of free activities near DC for kids and families to enjoy this winter.

Some of these free activities for kids are located indoors. Others require the family to bundle up and brave the cold. But all of these free events and activities will brighten up even the dreariest winter day.

Here are 15 free activities near DC to do with kids this winter. For more ideas for cold-weather fun, check out our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids.

Even as we enjoy fairly mild winters in Atlanta, most of us Southerners tend to hibernate rather than brave the not-quite-freezing temperatures. But for those of us who get cabin fever, there are some outdoor activities this winter that are sure to keep kids active and engaged. 

From snow tubing at Snow Island in Margaritaville to MLK Day events, outdoor entertainment, and light shows, even in these COVID times there is something for everyone this winter in Atlanta. We've handpicked our favorite Atlanta winter activities, so bundle up, gather your crew, and prepare for some wintertime fun. 

Start 2022 by creating special memories with your family with the help of our guide of fun things to do this winter in Orlando. From manatee sightings and strawberry picking, to a theme park festival and Scottish Highland Games, no matter where you are around Central Florida there is no shortage of fun things to do in the winter. 

Don't forget to ​subscribe to our FREE newsletter as well for the best events, ideas, and happenings in the area delivered right to your inbox!

Yes, we are in the midst of (another) pandemic winter, but the great news is there are still plenty of fun, socially distanced activities to do around Houston as well as at home this season. Plus, the mild winters in Houston allow for plenty of outdoor fun. From the best winter break events to our favorite rainy day activities to our Winter Activities Guide, we have a long list of fun things to do in Houston this winter.

We are continuing to update our guides and reviews with latest updates or changes to operations due to COVID-19. For options that don't require leaving the house, check out our Stay-at-Home Guide with hundreds of ideas for kids of all ages. 

After the pandemic canceled way too many of our travel plans in 2020, our Mommy Poppins team and their families were eager to get back out there in 2021. And travel we did! We explored some amazing cities that are perfect for family vacations, from Charlotte to Seattle and all the way to Sitka, Alaska. There were also epic zoos to visit, lots of hands-on children's museums to explore, sunny resorts, and Christmas towns that made us light up inside.

Here is our list of the best family vacation spots of 2021, including warm and sunny family vacation ideas for winter or spring break, the Poconos Mountains if you want to get back to nature, and more.

What's better than a free day at a museum? How about a museum that's free every day? A place where you can expose your children to some of the best artwork, science, and history that Los Angeles has to offer without paying admission, ever. Several of this city's most iconic museums offer free admission every day (if you don't count parking, that is). And then of course there are the ones that just offer free admission to kids. So what are you waiting for? Take your whole crew out for some culture and creativity at one of these FREE museums.

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 Los Angeles Free Things To Do with Kids Guide.

Believe it or not, 2021 wasn’t all pandemic and social distancing. As a testament to the human spirit, there was a ton to celebrate and embrace. From simple pleasures like enjoying nature and a movie night on the couch, to larger adventures such as taking in a Broadway show or heading to an amusement park, 2021 was a bit of an emotional roller coaster (and that might be the understatement of the century). We polled our readers, our staff, and our kids to come up with the things that kept us going this past year.

We've rounded up the best of 2021 for kids and families, including the best movies of 2021, the best books of 2021, and more. Our Best Recipes of 2021 list was too long to include here; be sure to check it out if you haven't yet. Enjoy working your way through this list of favorites, and here's to more "bests" in 2022!