Sesame Street’s Learn and Play Experience Now Open at American Dream Mall

Play and pose with Oscar the Grouch and many other popular character at Sesame Street Play and Learn.

Young fans of the beloved show Sesame Street can now step into the iconic neighborhood thanks to Sesame Street Learn and Play, a brand new educational play space just opened at American Dream Mall.

Little ones can immerse themselves in the world of Sesame Street—and all its famed, furry and feathered characters—thanks to this first-of-its kind play space, which is destined for a spot on our list of the best Northern New Jersey play spaces.

Orlando Christmas Bucket List for Kids: 25 Things to Do in Orlando This Holiday Season

Spend time with Mrs. Claus and more Christmas characters at Gaylord Palms' amazing holiday attraction. Photo courtesy Gaylord Palms & Marriott

Fill up your Christmas bucket list in Orlando, while Santa works on his naughty or nice list! We've rounded up some of our favorite must-do Christmas activities and events in Orlando that families will definitely want to hit up this holiday season. From the twinkling magic of holiday lights to exciting Christmas events at Orlando theme parks, we've got awesome ideas to finish the year with a bang!

Stone Mountain Christmas Creates Lasting Memories for Atlanta Families

Take a stroll through the Musical Frosted Forest during a Stone Mountain Christmas.

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!

Spectacular Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Holiday Light Displays in the Hudson Valley

Peace, Love & Lights at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts features lots of groovy displays. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar

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 in DC: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids

Pull on a signature blue parka for Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort

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.

The Giant Heart is Back and Better Than Ever at the Franklin Institute

Curiosity meets discovery in Body Odyssey, where the walkthrough Giant Heart is just the beginning.

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.

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Los Angeles for Kids and Families

Ice skate and ride the Ferris wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center. Photo by Allen Ling

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

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