Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are among those rare times on Long Island when many family-friendly places are closed. But not everything is shut down.

As it turns out, there is quite a bit to do December 24-25. While some of your options are out of the house and may cost money, some free possibilities are listed in this roundup of activities the whole family can enjoy.

For more seasonal fun, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar and Holiday Fun Guide. Plus, we have your best bets for things to do with kids over the holiday break, too.

Kids like candy. It's a fact I deal with on a daily basis. I counteract it with lots of activity and as much good food as my 5- and 10-year-olds will tolerate. But here's something they don't know. I like candy, too. So when the assignment hit my inbox to visit and review the brand-new Hershey's store, it was an easy decision. I'd even brave Times Square for it! 

Read on to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly of our trip to the middle of the city in search of massive amounts of chocolate.

Texans may not see actual snow as much as our neighbors to the north, but we still manage to get in our fair share of wintertime fun. Whether taking a spin on one of Houston's seasonal open-air ice skating rinks or playing in man-made snow flurries, Houstonians have several festive options to choose from when it comes to activities involving snow and ice. We've not only rounded up the best places in Houston to participate in these winter ventures, but we've also found some stellar spots for winter fun around the rest of our great state as well. 

It’s not exactly the Beauty and the Beast you know, but the latest show from Lythgoe Family Productions is a captivating tale love and acceptance for audiences young and old. If you're wondering whether this holiday show is the right one for your family, read on!

Although young compared to some East Coast cities, Los Angeles has a rich, culturally diverse history worth exploring with the whole family—and a festive place to start is Downtown on Olvera Street. The city's most famous Mexican marketplace is at the heart of historical LA and hosts some of the region's oldest traditions at annual events like Las Posadas at Christmastime, Los Novenarios for Día de los Muertos, and LA's birthday celebration each summer. The colorful pedestrian zone is an ideal place to kick off an afternoon of fun, shopping, good food, and just a little learning.

While it might be too chilly to do any outdoor stargazing, solar system enthusiasts of all ages can marvel at the wonders of the universe from the indoor comfort of the newly renovated, state-of-the-art Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at Liberty Science Center. The Jersey City–based educational center celebrated the grand opening of its latest and greatest addition—which happens to be the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the entire Western Hemisphere—on Saturday, December 9.

Thinking of sending your child to sleepaway camp for the first time? Are you excited, but nervous too? Sleepaway camps are used to dealing with homesick kids, and they offer some good advice: send mail and care packages for the daily mail call; no electronics (kids will be busy and exhausted with physical activity - camp is meant to be different than home); no phone calls (it makes homesickness worse); and chose a camp that fits your child's interests (horses? water play? nature? adventure?). Some camps let campers choose their activities from a large selection, so kids can do what they enjoy most, while others provide a schedule for campers to try every activity—think about which style is best for your child. Prices vary greatly—from less expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$).

Of course, if your family is not ready for a sleepaway camp just yet, be sure to look at our Summer and Vacation Day Camp Guide!

The Nutcracker is a Christmas tradition—and like many holiday standards, it may seem to be one that can't stand up to an age of video games, iPads, and superhero movies. But the Long Beach Ballet, whose production is up until December 24 at the Long Beach Convention Center, has enough pomp, glitz, glamour, wildlife, and explosions—yes, actual explosions—to wow even the most tough-to-please kids (or jaded grown-ups).