This December, Westchester Ballet Company returns to Lehman Center for the Performing Arts with its enchanting presentation of the beloved holiday classic, The Nutcracker. The full-length ballet features exquisite choreography, opulent costumes, incredible special effects, and a cast that includes renowned adult guest performers and nearly 100 young dancers from 30 towns across the Westchester area and beyond.

This annual performance is a regional favorite, welcoming thousands of kids and families each and every holiday season. Read on to learn more about The Nutcracker and purchasing tickets.

Elf on the Shelf is back! It's almost the holidays, so it's almost time for Elf on the Shelf. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 easy ideas that are also impressive elf antics that delight kids— including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Did we mention they don't take a lot of time to set up and require very few props?

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Hermann Park in Houston is one of the city's top family-friendly destinations, but also one of Houston's top parking conundrums. This 445-acre urban oasis, located in the heart of the Museum District, is home to the Houston Zoo and The Commons, which is one of the city’s best playgrounds. Plus, the Zoo hosts popular annual events like Zoo Lights.

All these visitors means that parking can be a challenge. For normal zoo days, our best tip is to arrive early, ideally before the Houston Zoo opens, to secure a good spot. If arriving early isn’t possible, read on for more parking options near the Houston Zoo and Hermann Park.

For families with little ones who cannot get enough of Peppa Pig, Legoland New York Resort in Goshen, New York, is bringing a brand-new adventure to town in 2025. The new attraction combines the fun-filled experiences of the beloved animated series Peppa Pig with the creativity of Lego Duplo to create a unique, immersive playground at the Hudson Valley theme park.

Want to fill your home with the smell of fresh pine, balsam, fir, or spruce this holiday season? Head to one of several festive Christmas tree farms near DC, where you can cut your own Christmas tree for a truly authentic holiday experience and photo opportunity.

If you're not up to the challenge of chopping down a tree, no worries—many of the Christmas tree farms on our list also offer fresh-cut trees ready to be wrapped up and wrangled into your living room. So, you'll get the experience of visiting a Christmas tree farm without all the extra work.

Most of these Christmas tree farms in Maryland and Northern Virginia open the day after Thanksgiving and close when they run out of trees, so be sure to call or check the website before you go. And if you're looking for more holiday fun, see our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our ultimate list of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities in DC. Here's to making holiday memories with your family!

Whether you're a tourist stuck in Times Square or a local on the go, finding a clean public restroom in NYC can be a challenge. However, with a little insider knowledge, you might realize there are actually clean and safe bathrooms all around NYC. This guide to NYC public restrooms includes the best resources for finding a clean public WC in the city, from restroom finder apps, to maps that claim to have mapped every bathroom location in NYC, to the most reliable places to find bathrooms in any borough. 

If you want more insider tips on navigating NYC with kids, check out our NYC Travel Guide for Kids and Familles. 

Holiday train shows are a festive way to kick off the Christmas season with the kids. Long Island offers several interactive spots to see model train magic in action. 

Train-loving kids and adults alike will be mesmerized and delighted by the sights and sounds of these model train shows and the charming mini villages they navigate. Many holiday open houses even host the man of the season–Santa for a jolly visit with the whole family. 

If all this train watching makes your family eager to climb aboard a railroad car, read our roundup of Polar Express and other Santa trains near Long Island and NYC. For even more ways to enjoy the season check out our Guide to Holiday Fun on Long Island.

Find the neighborhoods with the best holiday lights in Greater Boston!