Christmas Weekend 2025 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on

The drive-thru light experience on the site of the Woodstock Festival runs through this weekend. Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Christmas weekend.

Christmas is officially over, but the fun doesn't have to stop! Many local holiday activities continue well after Christmas, including the Polar Express Train Ride in Kingston, Westchester's Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights Drive-Thru Extravaganza, and Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular.

Alternatively, if you've had all the Christmas fun you can stand, check out a Planetarium Laser Show at the Hudson River Museum or a Reptile Show with the NJ Snake Man at the Kartrite.

Christmas Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Light Shows, Santa Visits, and More Things to Do

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Palmer Square is centerstage for a Christmas Eve Sing-A-Long. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey over Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

It's a holly jolly Christmas weekend, and we've found plenty of fun things to do in New Jersey to celebrate! Kick off the festivities on Christmas Eve with music and a visit from Santa at Christmas Eve Sing-A-Long in Palmer Square. Then, step back into prehistoric times this weekend at Jurassic Quest at the NJ Convention and Exposition Center, boasting more than 100 life-sized dinosaurs. 

Plus, the holiday weekend is the perfect time to experience seasonal spectaculars you may have missed, including PNC Bank Arts Center Magic of Lights and Historic Smithville Holiday Light Show, both of which are open Christmas Day.

Read on for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in NYC Top Things To Do: Caroling, Kwanzaa, and More

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

The eye-popping displays of the Dyker Lights are a holiday must-see in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

You may still have gifts to wrap (or—gulp—shop for) and stockings to hang, but there's festive fun to be had all weekend and beyond. Some of my annual Christmas favorites include singing carols under the Washington Square Arch, catching a holiday show, and checking out the Dyker Lights.

Plus, families can celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, have an intergalactic Space Glide at NYSCI, or catch the Nefesh Mountain Family Concert at the Jewish Museum.

No matter how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the Mommy Poppins team!

A Guide to Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary in the US with Kids (2026)

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on

America turns 250 this year and there are extra-big celebrations all across the country! Photo by Kent Miller for Macy's Inc.

The upcoming year will be a big one for America—the country is celebrating America 250, its semiquincentennial (say that five times fast!). In easier-to-pronounce words, it's the US's 250th birthday—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And there are so many ways to celebrate the America 250 anniversary 2026.

America's 250th celebration events will take place in all 50 states. Everywhere from big cities to small towns will host festivals, parades, special museum exhibits, some seriously next-level July 4th celebrations, and other amazing America 250 events. That means 2026 is the perfect year to take a family vacation packed with history, learning, and fun!

Read on for our ultimate America 250 travel guide for families, including the best places to celebrate America 250, handy travel tips, and answers to your biggest questions about this major milestone. And if you want to make America 250 part of a larger family vacay, our Family Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect patriotic trip!

23 Fun Winter Day Trips from NYC

Submitted by Fiona Taylor on

Hit the ice at the scenic Mohonk Mountan House, which offers winter day passes to enjoy its spectacular resort amenities. Photo courtesy of the venue

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 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.

The 131 Most-Loved (Best) Kids’ Books: Parent-Tested, Kid-Approved

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Find a new children's book to read today. Photo by Jody Mercier

There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in the pages of a good book, and you truly can’t start too young! This is a list of the best books for kids that are all picked to instill a lifetime long love of reading. These aren’t classics kids should read. These are books kids will beg to read. (Or have read aloud to them!) We talked to parents who see what their kids are actually devouring. These books are beloved, re-read, dog-eared, and passed to siblings. 

They are all books that we see our kids reading over and over. That we read aloud until we got so sick of the books we hid them for a while. There are classics we read as kids ourselves, and new books we discovered with our kids. 

Discover your next favorite family bedtime read aloud, your kid’s next favorite book, or a great book to get your reluctant reader reading. Find even more great books in our guide to children's books and literature, including the Best Board Books for Babies and Toddlers You’ll Love to Read Over and Over, for your pre-readers!

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