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Timber Ridge Lodge in Geneva, Wisconsin features both an indoor water park and outdoor pools.
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Belize is the perfect tropical vacation destination for families.
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Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.
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Skip the candy and the plastic that ends up in a landfill with these creative goody bag and party favor ideas. Photo courtesy of Hannah Rodrigo/Unsplash
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Kids can play these daily word games alone or with a friend. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Sea otters really don't want to get lost! Photo courtesy Joe Robertson/CC BY 2.0
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These questions to ask grandparents help kids get to know their favorite people a little better.
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It's time to plan the ultimate Bluey birthday party!
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Adorable? Yes. Useful? No way. Babies don't need shoes.
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Starface's star-shaped pimple patches make kids look and feel awesome while dealing with pimples.
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Kudos diapers use four times more plant-based materials than competing brands. Photo courtesy of Shark Tank Products
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There are so many fun ways to reuse your Imperfect Foods boxes. Photo courtesy of Imperfect Foods
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Grab your list and head out for a scavenger hunt with the kids!
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Now we can send you articles about things to do in your neighborhood that match your interests!
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One top tip is getting kids involved from the planning stage, and they'll want to help cook! Photo by Brooke Lark, via Pexels
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Just one kid composting can save 400 pounds of food waste a year. So yes, one kid can make a difference! Photo by Maureen Wilkey
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When kids are bored, bored, bored, it's handy to have a whole list of fun things to do. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Disney turns 100 and there will be celebrations from coast to coast. Photo courtesy of Disneyland
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It's easier than you'd think to turn a simple paper lunch bag into a festive piñata!
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Trader Joe's how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: for being inexpensive, gourmet and friendly.
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Snuggle up with one of these beloved bedtime stories for kids. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Screen time doesn't have to be a solo activity with these fun, free online games for kids to play with friends.
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Take a spin around the lazy river at Mandalay Bay.
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SingleCare offers major savings on more than 10,000 prescription drugs through its free app.
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The outdoors are a natural playground for curious kids.
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Are you brave enough for some of these spooky ghost stories?
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A perfectly packed lunchbox helps kick the school blues. Photo courtesy of www.YumboxLunch.com
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Revel in the dirty hands! Outdoor activities help kids sleep better and jumpstarts their imaginations.
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Rent a gorgeous backyard pool like this for your family for an hour or a day. Photo courtesy of Swimply
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Alphabet Soup. Photo courtesy of foodwithfeeling
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Gather 'round the campfire and sing some fun songs. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
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These funny jokes for kids will have them laughing in no time!
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Things like having a children's museum with a view like this make it easy to leave your heart in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the Bay Area Discovery Museum
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Kids can give parents tickets if they forget to turn off the water to soap hands or brush teeth!
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A zip line and more await at Portland's Eagle's Nest Treehouse. Photo courtesy of julian@hipcamp
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Did you know a pillow fight is a great way to get proprioceptive input? Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Find a bare patch of soil to place your seed bomb. Spread them far and wide! Photo by the author
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The Outdoor Play Plaza at Greensboro Children's Museum in North Carolina.
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Enjoy stunning views of the Thames River.
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Enjoy the clear turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos.
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Our guide to living a more earth-friendly life.
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We found plenty of things to do in Paris to fill our days and nights!
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girl making apple pie courtesy of canva
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Mexican Instant Pot Quinoa warms on a chilly night.
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Climb to the highest point in Tennessee at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
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The Skydeck at Willis Tower has spectacular views spanning four states.
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This Week: Spectacular Holiday Lights, What's Open on Christmas & Christmas Eve, Holiday Break Day Trip Ideas

12/18/14 - By Raven Snook

Regardless of what you celebrate, everyone seems to be in holiday overdrive this week. My family is busy gearing up for our favorite Christmas Eve traditions: last-minute gift shopping (probably at a seasonal market) followed by Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park. And since we still don't have our tree, I bet we'll buy one that night, too.

If you're thinking of taking a day trip over holiday break, you'll find lots of inspiration on our regional sites. Check out over-the-top Christmas displays in Westchester, Connecticut and Philly; explore the waterside haven of Port Jefferson, Long Island; or head across the Hudson to the nearby Liberty Science Center to conquer the brand-new Infinity Climber, which is suspended 35 feet in the air!

Even though our kids will be out of school, we'll still be right here bringing you the best things to do in NYC and beyond throughout the season. So don't worry: There's more fun yet to come!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Wondering what to do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? (Besides the obvious, of course). We've got the scoop on ways to celebrate the holiday beyond wrapping and opening gifts.

Grab your coat and camera, and hop in the car: We've got the scoop on (and pics of!) the most spectacular Christmas houses in NYC and Westchester.

Speaking of things that dazzle, we rounded up five spots where kids can check out gems, crystals, minerals and meteorites up close.

We finished up our series of posts on Gowanus with posts about our favorite places to play and eat with kids in artsy the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Is Disney's upcoming Christmas movie release Into the Woods good for kids? It's complicated.

This week's seasonal WeeWork crafts included adorable cookie cutter and salt dough handprint ornaments.

Best bets for the weekend include The Science of Santa in Greenwich Village, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer onstage on the Upper East Side and a dozen interactive Make Music Winter parades.