Winter

The flurry of city snow flakes might make you feel like popsicled parents and even your French bulldog might be in a snit about the salt on her tender tootsies, but it's "the more the merrier" when it comes to kids and those billowy drifts of white. Snow days are sure to be some of the lasting memories for your child, get out there as much as you can (as long as it is safe). But if the snowballs lose their luster, the snowman falls down and or maybe your child is really too young to do those things anyway, we have some ideas for colorful ways to enjoy the snow with kids.

Sledding down my parent’s front lawn is one of my best childhood memories. All the kids would come, sled in hand, since we had the steepest hill on the block. The skies were blue, the snow was plentiful and we never got cold.  The worst part of the day was dragging my sled back up the hill and nightfall when it would end. Snow days were magical. 

I have tried to recreate those magical days for my son in New York City, but the logistics of sledding in NYC can be hard. And just where am I supposed to keep a sled in my apartment, anyway? Snow tubing is the perfect way to relive the magic of a day sledding down your parent’s hill and a perfect day trip.

Friday, February 26, 2010 has been declared a snow day. NYC DOE say all public Schools will be closed. For private schols, check with your own school to see if they are closing.

Here are our ideas for how you can take advantage of this day:

Last Saturday, surprisingly, my family put on our winter clothes and headed to Coney Island. The Cyclone may have been closed for the season and the stores in and around the boardwalk may have been even more boarded up than normal (which is saying something), but Nathan’s was still open with plenty of warm indoor seats. The boardwalk was freezing but had a certain serene beauty to it not always present at Coney Island.  But the main attraction of Coney Island in winter was the Aquarium, a destination we generally think of as a summer spot. 

Coney Island and the Aquarium aren’t the only summer destinations that can be a great winter destination as well, here are some fun options:

At the end of every winter, just as you're getting really sick of the damn cold weather, the children's film festivals come along to give you some good indoor diversions. I just updated you about the New York Children's International Film Festival (starting Friday, February 26th) and Big Movies for Little Kids has just announced its line up for the season. And now it is time for the Bam Kids Film Festival.  This fun festival is for just one weekend only, and they cram a lot in, 6 feature films, shorts and lots more.

The snow keeps coming to NYC this winter and it's nothing compared to the what they are getting in the outlying areas.  Ski resorts are boasting twelve inches of the white stuff! This holiday break is simply made for a day of skiing. 

Don’t let a lack of car keep you from skiing with your family this Winter break.  Many of the New York City area's biggest (and smallest for you first timers) ski mountains offer plenty of easy bus or train ski package deals. Even if you do have a car, ski packages that include transportation can be convenient and budget friendly, since they often include discounted lift tickets and rentals in the price. So head to the slopes without the hassle of searching for the car in the massive parking lot, lugging your kids and their skis after a long hard day skiing – not to mention battling the traffic back into town.

Snow boarding not your shtick?  Thoughts of a family ski trip leave you cold?  Never fear, New Jersey offers a world of alternative outdoor winter sports sure to keep you actively enjoying this snowy season.  From old-fashioned ice skating on a real frozen pond; to ice fishing or snow shoeing; to the new fangled way to sled—snow tubing; bring your family outdoors to enjoy the fun. Followed by hot cocoa with marshmallows for the kids, and, perhaps, a tube of Ben Gay for you.

If you can get past the skyscrapers and sidewalks of New York City you may start to see the diverse natural environment we live in. Our city is made up of beaches, forests, marshlands and glacier formations. There are animals everywhere, too, seals in the harbor, red-tailed hawks on Fifth Avenue, raccoons in Central Park and coyotes have recently been spotted lurking around in northern Manhattan and The Bronx. And since we are located on the eastern flyway, our skies are filled with hundreds of different species of birds.  My family is passionate about the natural world around us and so are many other New Yorkers as evidenced by the myriad of nature centers available to us – even in the winter.

Nature centers are a great way to while away a winter’s day and maybe even learn something you didn’t already know about the city. Drop in during their open hours and check out the exhibits that cover animals, plants, history and geography. Or hit one of the many special events or organized group activities going on all winter. The best part is there is no entrance fee to visit (but some centers will accept a donation.) 

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. Luckly, we've lined up 13 of the best places to grab hot chocolate in Brooklyn, just in time for the cold, dark February weather. And if Phil is to be believed, you'll be enjoying a hot cup well into March.

See our posts on where to get a great cup of hot cocoa in Manhattan and Queens also.
 

It's February and that means it's time for the Annual City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival. For every day in February, City Bakery will be spicing up their delicious cocoa with a different flavor. That's 28 days of hot chocolates that need to be sampled. And since City Bakery is such a kid friendly spot AND right across the street from the wonderful Books of Wonder and many other places you need to go to anyway, it sounds like a good outing to me.