The winter months can feel long, especially post-holidays when little ones are bound to get a touch of cabin fever. Having an easy go-to spot where the kids can blow off some steam is a must, and it's even better if that standby is FREE!

You don't need to dig into your 401K to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC. This winter, there are a slew of family-friendly shows for all ages that cost a sliver of what you'd pay to see a Broadway production.

There are wonderful options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (Taste the Clouds, Gustafer Yellowgold, Sesame Street Live!); stage adaptations of popular picture books (Dog Man, Pete the Cat, She Persisted); a production specifically created for children on the autism spectrum (SUDS); and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (Thunderbird American Indian Dancers in Concert, Drumfolk).

Best of all, most of these 27 shows are priced at $25 and under, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway ticket.

Xplore Family Fun Center has leveled up its playtime with the addition of an elevated ropes course. Xplore, which was has been rebranded by the folks behind Safari Adventure in Riverhead in 2018, has been transformed into one of the top indoor play destinations in Suffolk's North Shore.