Stone Mountain Christmas always makes our annual list of Must-Do Christmas Events in Atlanta. It’s no wonder since the holiday extravaganza includes visits with Santa Claus, walk-through holiday light displays, entertaining performances, nightly tree lightings, a parade, and drone show. Stone Mountain Christmas pulls out all the stops for a magical family event—be prepared for fun shows and attractions, including the new Magical Flight to the North Pole. Add that to all the regular outdoor activities offered at Stone Mountain Park, and your family is in for a treat through January 5, 2025!

Christmas light displays are shining brightly in the area, and we’ve found some great ones for you to check out in the Lower Hudson Valley. The displays range from individually decorated houses—including one with more than a half million lights—to a drive-thru Christmas wonderland.

We've got plenty more holiday light displays for you to consider in our roundup of the brightest drive-thru installations in the tri-state area.

For more holiday fun, be sure to check our Holiday Fun Guide and Family Activity Calendar.

Christmas is a magical time of year in Washington, DC. During the holidays, DC and its surrounding areas absolutely sparkle with spectacular holiday light shows, dazzling neighborhood Christmas light displays, and so much more.

Whether you're a DC native, you live nearby and are planning a holiday day trip, or you're coming from afar to experience the holidays in our nation's capital, read on for some of the best things to do during Christmas in DC. We've pulled our holiday must-do's into a magic-filled three-day itinerary.

If this cheer-filled plan leaves you craving even more Christmas in DC, be sure to check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

If you've ever been to Philadelphia's Franklin Institute, you surely have seen or even climbed inside of the Giant Heart. Arguably the most popular exhibit in the entire museum, the Giant Heart has been closed for renovations since May of 2024 and it's finally back! Not only did they make improvements to the heart itself, but the entire three room 8,500 square foot exhibit around the heart has been completely redone and it's truly incredible. As someone who grew up visiting the Franklin Institute, Body Odyssey has to be my favorite exhibit.

Looking for even more museum fun? Check out our Museum Guide for everything you need to know about Philadelphia museums.

From small towns to big cities, Texas shines bright during the holidays.

Outdoor ice skating rinks in sunny Los Angeles? Oh, I happen to know about a few! One thing Angelenos love doing during the winter months is pretending that it’s winter, and the most fun way to do it is by turning parking lots and other open spaces into outdoor ice skating rinks for the holidays. 

Whether your family is trying ice skating for the first time or you've got budding figure skaters and hockey players looking for a change of scenery, nothing says Southern California quite like the sight of kids and families in tank tops and mittens figure skating in the sunshine. From Downtown Los Angeles to the beaches of Santa Monica, keep reading below for where to find the best cool-yet-sunny ice skating rinks in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

For more holiday fun, from Polar Express train rides to nutcracker performances in LA, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

A magical winter wonderland, complete with snow tubing, is a treat for Houston kids.

Santa Claus is coming to the Garden State, and we’ve found 11 New Jersey Christmas towns that prove it. We're talking about the places where sleigh bells ring, carolers sing, and thousands of Christmas lights sparkle. These local New Jersey Christmas towns are getting into the holiday spirit with decked-out trees, strolling entertainment, and visits with Santa.

So, pull out the warm clothes, cue the holiday music, and drive to one of these charming, Christmas-crazed New Jersey towns. Then, keep the holiday fun going with a ride on one of these Polar Express trains in New Jersey, or find more ways to be merry in our New Jersey Holiday Fun Guide.