Winter is officially here, and this list of winter day trips from New York City will undoubtedly come in handy. Whether you prefer spending the winter months snuggling on the couch or frolicking in the snow, sometimes you just need to get out of town for a change of pace.

We've pulled together this list of family-friendly, fun-filled winter day trips near NYC that appeal to all sorts of interests, from budding artists to full-fledged ski bunnies. Best of all, these destinations are all two hours or less from New York City by car, and we think they're all worth the trip.

Find more winter day trips from NYC in our Day Trip and Weekend Getaways Guide and our Guide to Winter Fun, which is filled with more fun ways to embrace the season, like snow tubing day trips, our favorite ski slopes, and more.

Santa Trackers are the best way to see where Santa is and what he's up to on Christmas Eve!

Open the Santa Tracker of your choice early in the evening and keep watch on the Santa Tracker map to follow his magical journey. Each of our favorite Santa trackers have different ways to watch Santa's progress, plus fun games and activities to keep kids interested! Best of all, they're all FREE.

For more ways to bring a little extra magic to your Christmas this year, check out our list of 101 Christmas crafts and activities. If you’re still looking for last-minute gifts, our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide is here for you!

Finding non-membership, drop-in play spaces for your toddler or preschooler is like gold to New York City parents—almost as good as scoring a deal on rent. When it gets too cold to explore New York City's best playgrounds, and another playdate at home seems dull (or, let's be honest, stressful), taking your kid to a cool indoor play gym or indoor playground, where everything seems new, and someone else does the cleaning up is a relief to the whole family.

Read on for our top picks for indoor play spaces in Manhattan and find more places to play on our lists of the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn and Queens' top indoor play spaces, plus our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.

Give holiday cards, wrapping paper, and calendars new life with these fun and creative ideas. 

Ice skating season has arrived in New Jersey, offering families a safe, active outdoor activity that's great for keeping busy during the colder months. There are several outdoor ice skating rinks in New Jersey where you can take a skating lesson, play hockey, or grab a hot chocolate and go for a spin during a public skating session.

Of course, if you feel like staying indoors, you can always check out our list of the Best Indoor Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey.

Slick City, which is billed as the world’s largest indoor waterless slide park, has opened a new location in the Houston area–and there's a good chance your family is going to have a blast at the Katy Mills Mall action park. 

The unique theme park is just the third Slick City location nationwide, and it's designed for all ages. The Katy location features 66,000 square feet of indoor sliding experiences, go-karts, and a sports court park.

We were invited to check it out, and my oldest child called it “the most fun we’ve ever had,” so, needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids. As a bonus, the adults had a lot of fun, too!

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new experience, and find more fun places to play indoors on our list of the Top Indoor Play Spaces in Houston.

It's not hard to find an after-dark holiday light installation in NYC this winter. From the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo to Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a ton of Christmas light drive-thrus in the suburbs, there are plenty of options, but none are quite like Astra Lumina at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Astra Lumina is QBG's first after-dark installation, and it lights up a mile-long trail in an awe-inspiring display that transports visitors to a whole new galaxy with an eye-popping display of lights, projections, and soundscapes.

There's so much for Connecticut families to do to keep busy over Christmas vacation. So, if you're searching for ways to keep kids a little busier, check out our list of 30 fun and enriching activities. These holiday break activities offer something for everyone, from ice skating to nature classes to fireworks to trains and trolleys! 

For even more ideas to keep the entire family entertained during school break, bookmark the Mommy Poppins events calendar and our Connecticut Holiday Fun Guide. Follow us on Instagram for our latest finds.