Midwinter recess always seems to be the black-sheep break: It sneaks up on you, and you have no idea how to handle it once it arrives. Here are our top budget-friendly Midwinter Break camps, and good news for procrastinators: They still have openings. If you need more options, check with local museums, play spaces, and after-school centers as many offer coverage.

If you're able to take a few days off and spend quality time with the kids, be sure to check out our list of 35 Fun Things To Do Over Midwinter Break.

Hoboken families have a new, FREE play space to enjoy with toddlers, kids, and teens, courtesy of the city's public library. The "Toybrary" features Legos, puzzles, cars, and instruments for little ones to explore, while caregivers can pull up a chair and talk with neighbors. After school most weekdays, the inviting space is reserved for teens to hang out and do homework or play video games together. 

When the sun shines in balmy Los Angeles, when the temperatures in the Valley hit triple digits, when the bad weather on the news is all happening somewhere else – it makes a person want to go ice skating, doesn’t it? We may not have frozen ponds and Jack Frost nipping at our noses, but truth be told Southern California has some of the best ice rinks (including outdoor rinks!) and best skating instructors in the nation. It may sound crazy, but think about it – if you’re a famous skater who's spent your life shivering in the trail of a Zamboni, wouldn't you choose the California sunshine? Follow in the skate steps of local Olympic kids Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek and chill with some ice skating lessons at the best of LA’s figure skating classes.

My family has been visiting Longhorn Cavern State Park for as long as I can remember. Situated on top of a scenic hillside smack dab in the middle of the Texas Hill Country, the park and its namesake cavern are a must-see for families who love experiencing all that nature has to offer. The state park is about four-and-a-half hours from Houston, but just over an hour from Austin, where families can enjoy plenty of kid-friendly activities if you wanted to make a weekend trip to enjoy all that the area has to offer. Although exploring the stunning cavern is the main draw to the park, it is a great place to hike, picnic, and just enjoy being in the great outdoors with family.