The holidays are the season of joy, but colder temps, travel, big gatherings, and seasonal bugs can make it tough to keep your family’s physical and mental health in check. That’s why the pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s reached out to us to share information on the most common winter health challenges among children, from understanding flu and RSV symptoms to tips on how seasonal blues can affect children.

Read on to see their insights on how to keep your family healthier through the holidays and cold winter months. And, for more straight-forward, age-appropriate, expert advice, you can visit Connecticut Childrens’ Growing Healthy Blog.

Editor's Note: This post is being updated for 2024. Please check back soon.
There are few places to take pictures with Santa in New York City that compare with Macy's Santaland. It's a magical experience for tourists and natives alike during the Christmas season.

Macy's opens its 13,000-square-foot winter wonderland on Friday, November 24, 2023. Overflowing with holiday cheer from its live elves to an enchanted forest, animatronic toys, and a train display, Macy's Santaland 2023 is open daily through Christmas Eve—Sunday, December 24.

As in previous years, visitors must book a FREE reservation to take pictures with Santa at Macy's Santaland, which requires some planning. Read on for everything you need to know about visiting Macy's Santaland 2023, and find more top picks for holiday fun in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC, including the season's can't-miss Christmas activities for families.

For 30 years, the Long Island Children's Museum has been educating and entertaining Long Island children. And now, the museum is ready to kick off a celebration commemorating its three decades as one of Nassau County's most beloved places for kids.

The best part? Everyone is invited to this celebration, which opened with last weekend's Three Cheers for 30 Years party, and includes throwback admission prices on the museum's actual birthday, Tuesday, November 21.

Finding the perfect Long Island Christmas tree is the next logical holiday ritual after you've finished Thanksgiving turkey and completed your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.

From Huntington to Riverhead and points farther east, Long Island has many great tree farms where enthusiastic families can cut a gorgeous tree for a modest cost. These farms range from simple roadside acreage to full-fledged holiday destinations. 

These farms are all located in Suffolk County, where farmland is more abundant, and are listed by town. If you want to get away, consider a day trip to a Christmas tree farm in New Jersey or the Hudson Valley. And, as always, find more ways to celebrate in our Holiday Fun Guide.

Holiday train shows are a festive way to kick off the Christmas season with the kids. Long Island offers several interactive spots to see model train magic in action. 

Train-loving kids and adults alike will be mesmerized and delighted by the sights and sounds of these model train shows and the charming mini Christmas villages they navigate. Many holiday open houses even host the man of the season - Santa for a jolly visit with the whole family. 

If all this train watching makes your family eager to climb aboard a railroad car, read our roundup of Polar Express and other Santa trains near Long Island and NYC. For even more ways to enjoy the season check out our Guide to Holiday Fun on Long Island.

For holidays, weekends, birthdays, Grandparents' Day, or any old day, we've created the ultimate list of fun things for grandparents to do with kids. From weekend sleepovers to afternoon visits, there's something on this list that will appeal to grandkids (and grandparents) of every age, interest, and physical ability.

This list is sure to keep kids (and grandparents) entertained and making marvelous memories. Because let’s face it, while kids never get enough time with grandma and grandpa, sometimes the generation gap can make it hard to think of things to do together.

We've got more grandparent suggestions, from 101 Questions To Ask Grandparents About Their Lives to the Ultimate List of Cute and Unique Grandparent Names, all in our Mommy Poppins Parenting (and Grandparenting) Guide.

Christmas tree farms in Connecticut help families get merry in classic New England style. Cut-your-own Christmas trees have become one of our most anticipated activities of the holiday season. After choosing a favorite Fraser fir or blue spruce, even my teenagers enjoy placing the saw blade to the base and cutting it free. The comedy which ensues in trying to get it back to the car is also a great memory, but mostly for mom and dad. Tips: Bring thick work gloves, cut your tree low to the ground, and then give your fresh-cut tree a good shake to get rid of any lingering bugs or critters. 

Explore our Connecticut holiday fun guide and list of Free Holiday and Christmas Events for more ways to make great holiday and Christmas memories in 2023.

Looking for the best Christmas tree farms near Boston? Once you cut your own Christmas tree straight from a field, it's hard to go back to purchasing one from a parking lot. From the crack of the bark to the sharp evergreen aroma, a fresh-cut tree is special. Finding the perfect one and chopping it down at one of the many cut-your-own Christmas tree farms near Boston makes for a fun family adventure. Some of our favorites, from north and south of Boston to the western suburbs, have festive music and beautiful holiday decor for sale, too. So read on for the top Christmas tree farms near Boston!

For more holiday and Christmas activities, find great events in our list of the Top 25 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in New England for Kids and explore our Boston Holiday Fun Guide.