When there's no snow in NYC, or your favorite neighborhood sledding hills are worn down to dirt, you still go snow tubing near NYC. So, bundle up the kids and hop in the car for a short drive because snow tubing is one of those fun winter activities that, unlike skiing, requires no skill or gear. Everything you need—a tube, a hill, and snow—is provided by the parks. Just dress warmly, and you're good to go.

Here are 10 ski resorts in upstate New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that offer snow tubing. Most are less than a 2-hour drive from Midtown Manhattan. They typically open in late December or early January, depending on the temperature, so be sure to click through to the listing to read about the day's conditions. If you're looking for more than a day trip, we've found 15 destination-worthy ski resorts for your next vacation and have plenty more spots to seek out fresh powder in our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide.

Birthday freebies for kids are a huge help: the sticker price for kids' birthday celebrations can be huge! So every little birthday freebie for kids is a gift to parents, too! Here, we've rounded up 63 places that offer up free stuff on your birthday.

Read on to discover how to score Starbucks birthday freebies, free burgers and ice cream, calls from favorite characters (like Paw Patrol or SpongeBob), discounts on clothes, surprise gifts, and even more birthday freebies for kids.

For more birthday freebies near you, check out your city's Guide to Free Things To Do with Kids; and when you're ready to plan that party, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for Unique Goody Bag and Party Favor Ideas, 100 Kids' Birthday Party Themes, and more.

If the end of the holiday season has you feeling blue, Luminosa's dazzling after-dark display recently opened at the Queens Botanical Garden proves you can squeeze out a little more seasonal cheer—and stunning lights displays—even after Three Kings Day.

A dazzling light show, Luminosa debuted in late December, and it continues illuminating our far too-dark, too-early nights at the Queens Botanical Garden through Sunday, March 23. Luminosa is a mesmerizing, immersive, outdoor, IRL experience. Without even a smidge of screentime, kids find themselves in a vivid, video game-like world (while parents perhaps flash back to pre-kid clubbing days).

Visitors follow a winding, mile-long path, taking in more than 40 larger-than-life, lamp-lit scenes featuring glowing animals, gleaming Ionic columns, knights in literal shining armor, massive mushrooms, and luminous otherworldly flowers—it is set in a botanical garden, after all. Little ones won’t be the only ones drooling at the 120 tons of steel, 150,000 feet of silk, and more than 1 million LED lights coming together to create this electric wonderland.

The recent wildfires tearing through Los Angeles have brought chaos, heartbreak, and destruction to our beloved city. Pacific Palisades and Altadena, both stunningly vibrant LA communities, have been wiped out. Families have lost their homes, children no longer have local schools to attend, and historical buildings have been reduced to rubble. This is not how we envisioned starting a new year. 

Amid the confusion and wreckage, we must look for the heroes. First Responders are working tirelessly to battle blazes and get Angelenos to safety. Firefighters are putting their lives on the line to save others and contain fires in poor air quality conditions.

Read on for the best ways to support these unsung heroes and where to contribute to organizations that are diligently helping displaced families. 

Free baby stuff can be a life saver for new moms and dads. After all, the cost of all those diapers, wipes, baby food, and other baby gear quickly adds up. But there are plenty of places that offer free baby stuff to offset the costs of newborn and infant care.

From baby registry welcome boxes to free baby samples to diaper rewards programs, there are many free items that new and expectant parents can get from companies. Plus, don't underestimate the generosity of friends, family, and neighbors.

Here are 27 places for new moms and dads to get free diapers, formula, toys, and more free baby stuff. Check out our Baby and Maternity Guide for more of the best baby gear, as well as our Guide to Free Activities, Events, Classes, and Camps for Kids for other ways to save. 

Eating out can be expensive, especially in NYC, and if you're on a budget, finding restaurants where kids eat free can be a lifesaver. Luckily, there is such a thing as a free lunch...if you know where kids eat free in NYC.

The good news is, with a little research (we've done it for you!), parents can suss out the local NYC restaurants where kids eat free. So, read on for a list of eateries—including local spots and larger chain restaurants—where you can feed those hungry mouths for the unbeatable price of $0 while you get a break from playing chef. We know what you'll be making tonight: reservations.

Find more money-saving tips for families in our Free Guide which has tons of free things to do in NYC with kids, including our top picks for birthday freebies for kids.

Skiing and snowboarding in Chicago can be a challenge because, well, the terrain in the Chicago area is mostly flat. But that doesn’t mean local kids are destined to grow up not knowing how to ski or shred. There are several slopes, hills, and even mountains within a two hour drive, where families can spend the day skiing or snowboarding together. All of them have a family-friendly atmosphere and ski (and snowboard) lessons for kids of all ages.

If you’re dying to get out of the house this winter and the kids are ready for a winter sport beyond ice skating in the city, check out this list of slopes within an easy drive from Chicago. Most of these winter sports havens make their own snow, so Chicagoans don’t have to wait for Mother Nature to cooperate to hit the slopes.