With the shopping done, gifts wrapped, and house ready for guests, Christmas Day is a welcome break from the last-minute rush and chaos of the season. While most stores, museums, and other attractions in Boston are closed on Christmas Day (thank the Blue Laws in part for that), families can get out and explore the city via several self-guided tours: the Freedom Trail, the Boston HarborWalk, and the Walk to the Sea. Of course, there's nothing to say families can't explore the city throughout the year using these walks as a guide!

Please read on for details, and all our best for a safe and joyful holiday.

This is a time of year when we can be feeling a strong desire to “give back” and yet be overwhelmed by the amount of needs out there. We participate in toy drives, help out at shelters, donate our time and money, hoping that what we give can make a difference. Today we’d like to highlight one way of giving back that really does make a difference, The Children’s Hospital of NJ’s “Wish List”.

Christmas weekend is finally here! While many will probably be caught up doing last-minute shopping and celebrating the holiday with family, of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, and even those who do might be looking to get the kids out of the house for a few hours. Don't worry: The Island doesn't shut down for Christmas. We've found lots of activities going on for you and your family.

We're taking a break from the holiday rush to share a few non-seasonal stories that have intrigued us over the past few weeks.

This edition of our Notable News roundup features articles about schools, changes to Governors Island and a new Laurie Berkner e-book, and ends with a video so wonderful, it could make Scrooge himself smile. (Because really, we're kind of Scrooge-like right about now...and yet we grinned.)

The countdown has begun, but hey, there’s still time for fun and frivolity, no? Unless, of course, you’re one of those people who still needs to do all your shopping (I don’t know anyone like that, certainly not me, ahem). There are lights, holiday train rides, trees, teas and menorah lightings, so get out there and have some family time. Merry Merry!

While there are plenty of things to do in New York City over holiday break, school recess is a great time for families to explore the world beyond the five boroughs.

Over the years, our readers have shared their favorite family-friendly day trips. Now we've got 10 more mini-itineraries to add to the list. These getaways are all within two hours of NYC, and many are even accessible without a car. Best of all, some of them have special activities and attractions in honor of the holiday season.

At this time of year, it's very easy to get caught up in spending a lot of money on gifts for family and friends, or high-priced holiday events. But really, you don't have to part with a penny to enjoy the holidays in NYC. We've been telling you about all kinds of free fun like going to see Christmas trees and giant menorahs, or taking a family stroll past all of the department store windows. Now we have a brand-new no-cost celebration to add to our must-experience list: Make Music Winter.

Every year, Make Music sponsors more than 1,000 complimentary outdoor concerts on the first day of summer throughout NYC. For the first time, the organization will sponsor 12 free music parades to mark the start of winter on Wednesday, December 21. Families can watch or sometimes even join these processions as they travel throughout a dozen NYC neighborhoods. It sounds like a wonderful variation on traditional Christmas caroling that combines three of our favorite things: creativity, community and no-cost entertainment.

This year will be my 5^th Annual Holiday Cookie Extravaganza. We make the treats, we package them all pretty, and then we drink wine, eat soup and chex mix, and take home a nice big bag of baked love. The kids decorate gingerbread people, and get too close to the tree. It’s a sparkly, twinkly, cheery way to welcome the holidays and I’m ever so grateful for the friends that keep coming back. Here’s a few of the greatest cookie hits. Happy baking!