Social Play Haus Opens Family Space and Cafe

At picnic tables drawing on the furniture is encouraged.

Social Play Haus, a large, open concept, play space and cafe opened in Plainview this November. No matter the ages in your squad, there's plenty to keep everyone in the family happy and entertained at this unique whole-family focused play space, so head over for some quality family time and socializing.

Christmas Tree Farms in Fairfield County, CT

Picking your own tree straight from the field is even more fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of Maple Row Farm

As a child, I went every year with my family to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree.  It was inevitably freezing cold, someone had forgotten their mittens, and epic arguments over tree size and shape would ensue. In short, it was magical!  It’s time to introduce my own kids to that wonderful holiday tradition, and there are plenty of places in Fairfield County where you can cut your own tree or find a freshly cut fir, pine, or balsam beauty straight from the farm.

If you live to the northwest or central part of Connecticut, see our posts on Christmas tree farms in the Litchfield area and Christmas tree farms around Hartford. There are more yuletide celebrations at these Connecticut's tree lighting and holiday light ceremonies

Where To Take Pictures with Santa in New Jersey

Bring your camera for a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Abma's Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he's ready for his close-up. From simple setups to elaborate events, there's no shortage of opportunities for your little elves to pose for pictures with Santa this Christmas season throughout New Jersey. We've rounded up our favorites, and there's something for every budget.

Want more QT with jolly St. Nick? Book a breakfast with Santa. And for even more seasonal activities, check out our Holiday Fun Guide.

Stockholm in 48 Hours: Best Things to Do in Stockholm with Kids

Stroll along the canal in Stockholm's Norrmalm neighborhood.

The beautiful Nordic city of Stockholm makes a wonderful family travel destination even if you can't spend the week. For those traveling through Europe with the kids, and taking advantage of high-speed train travel and plentiful flights for a multi-city tour, a stop in the capital city of Sweden is a must-do in our opinion.

Stockholm offers an amazing blend of historic and modern things to do for all ages. Surrounded by water and made up of more than a dozen islands, Stockholm's buildings sit in a row, symmetrically together, offering up stunning views. The streets are impeccably clean, and many (especially in the neighborhood of Norrmalm) are blocked off to cars and restricted to foot traffic only. You're also likely to meet local families at the many playgrounds that dot this kid-friendly and outdoors-loving city.

Read on for our favorite things to do in Stockholm. Find more nearby cities in our Family Travel Guide to Europe.

25+ Awesome Santa Activities for Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Santa greets visitors at Holiday on Huguenot Street in New Paltz. Courtesy of the event

For those who celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is hardly complete without a trip to visit Santa—so we've rounded up more than 25 Santa activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. From traditional mall photo ops to meals with Santa, train rides with Santa, painting with Santa—even skydiving Santa—we've got the goods on where to see the man with the bag. Incredibly, most of these events are FREE.

As a reminder, any event that requires or recommends advance reservations (especially if it's FREE!) should be pounced on, as these often sell out weeks in advance. Some might be gone by the time you finish reading this sentence.

But there's more! Also refer to our list of Santa breakfaststree lightings, and other holiday activities for even more opportunities for Santa encounters. And to optimize the season, check out our Must-Do Holiday Experiences for Westchester Kids and where to see performances of The Nutcracker and other holiday shows. Our Event Calendar is also loaded with events—many of which are FREE—and more are being added daily!

Best Holiday Shows for Kids and Families in NYC 2019

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Photo courtesy of Character Arts

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows. While there are plenty of extravaganzas to splurge on, like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all those beautiful Nutcrackers, if you've got young children you may not want to blow all of your bucks on theater tickets.

That's why our roundup of Christmas-season family theater includes a range of productions, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.

From live stage adaptations of classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Christmas Carol, to seasonal musicals based on popular picture books, to amazing circus feats and offbeat experiences, here are our top 18 holiday shows for NYC families for the 2019 holiday season.

Kidmoto Brings Safe, Reliable Airport Car Service with Car Seats to More Areas

If you haven't obsessed over whether or not to lug your kid's car seat to the airport, are you even a parent?? Getting everyone to and from a flight safely can be a total headache—as if flying with kids isn't already overwhelming enough—but the folks at Kidmoto have made it their mission to make the trip simple. With a fleet of professional drivers and safety-inspected livery vehicles equipped with pre-installed convertible car seats, the family-friendly service provides transportation to and from a number of major airports, and cruise piers, too. Plus, now the stress-saving airport car service has expanded to serve Philadelphia, Orlando, Tampa, and Charlotte, in addition to New York City. Read on to find out how Kidmoto works and why it's one of the safest and most reliable options out there for your whole crew.

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