On the 12th day of Christmas, my city gave to me—a chance to recycle my Christmas tree!

Whether from a lot at the corner or a cut-your-own farm in LA's outer regions, we lug those lovely-smelling, triangular chunks of evergreen wonder home on top of our cars each December amid singing, warm drinks, and family bonding. Thoughts of what will become of them a few weeks later are pushed to the outer regions of our To Do Lists. Well, the 12th day of Christmas is quickly approaching, and our To Do Lists have come home to roost. Luckily, recycling a Christmas tree does not have to be difficult to arrange; all you need is a little information, which we've assembled here!

After the holidays, when the decorations are all put away, the cookies have been eaten, and the new toys have lost their novelty, moms and dads start looking for fun things to do with their kids. But what if they could find something fun and FREE? Look no further, because we have done all the footwork to collect a wide-ranging list of things for you do with your little artists, astronomers, and historians this winter.

To get more free fun at home and in your town delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters—and discover all the free events and activities near you in our Connecticut Free Things To Do with Kids Guide.

As the holidays give way to the new year, take the burden off your wallet after all that gift-giving, and check out these free activities near Philadelphia for kids. Bundle up for ice sculpture festivals, or take the family exploring at one of the region's nature centers. Alternatively, stay warm indoors at free museum days and indoor play spaces, or simply cozy up at home with virtual offerings. And if the snow gods make their mark on the Philadelphia region, we've got cost-free ways to enjoy the white stuff in our Winter Activities Guide.

When the weather turns colder, it gets harder to entertain the kids without spending money. Free outdoor events such as festivals and concerts in the park aren't happening. Splash pads and spraygrounds are closed. Playground equipment freezes up. Fortunately, there are still plenty of free activities near DC for kids and families to enjoy this winter.

Some of these free activities for kids are located indoors. Others require the family to bundle up and brave the cold. But all of these free events and activities will brighten up even the dreariest winter day.

Here are 15 free activities near DC to do with kids this winter. For more ideas for cold-weather fun, check out our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids.

Even as we enjoy fairly mild winters in Atlanta, most of us Southerners tend to hibernate rather than brave the not-quite-freezing temperatures. But for those of us who get cabin fever, there are some outdoor activities this winter that are sure to keep kids active and engaged. 

From snow tubing at Snow Island in Margaritaville to MLK Day events, outdoor entertainment, and light shows, even in these COVID times there is something for everyone this winter in Atlanta. We've handpicked our favorite Atlanta winter activities, so bundle up, gather your crew, and prepare for some wintertime fun. 

Start 2022 by creating special memories with your family with the help of our guide of fun things to do this winter in Orlando. From manatee sightings and strawberry picking, to a theme park festival and Scottish Highland Games, no matter where you are around Central Florida there is no shortage of fun things to do in the winter. 

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Yes, we are in the midst of (another) pandemic winter, but the great news is there are still plenty of fun, socially distanced activities to do around Houston as well as at home this season. Plus, the mild winters in Houston allow for plenty of outdoor fun. From the best winter break events to our favorite rainy day activities to our Winter Activities Guide, we have a long list of fun things to do in Houston this winter.

We are continuing to update our guides and reviews with latest updates or changes to operations due to COVID-19. For options that don't require leaving the house, check out our Stay-at-Home Guide with hundreds of ideas for kids of all ages.