Think cool, fresh air against your cheeks, hot cocoa around the fire, and quality outdoor time with your kids: A trip to a Northeast ski mountain is the perfect cure for cabin fever and the winter doldrums in 2020 and 2021. Parents looking for a day trip or weekend escape will be excited to know that many nearby ski resorts are adopting capacity restrictions and social distancing plans to keep families safe while they hit the slopes. Here are some of our favorite ski areas where you can purchase lift tickets, make reservations, or even book ski or snowboard lessons now, including spots in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and even one gem in Virginia.

Read on for our family ski picks, as well as important information about interstate travel restrictions and other safety policies that may guide your choice. Be sure to check out our Snow Sports Guide for the scoop on more winter fun in the great (and safe) outdoors.

In the midst of the rising COVID cases, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza have announced New York City Public Schools will close temporarily beginning Thursday, November 19.

"We do need to close our schools for the coming days," Mayor de Blasio said at a late-afternoon press conference. "No one is happy about this decision because so much good work has been put into opening the schools to begin with and making them so safe. We set a very clear standard, and we need to stick to that standard. I want to emphasize to parents and educators, to staff and to kids, that we intend to come back. We intend to come back as quickly as possible."

The school closure is the latest development in a roller-coaster back-to-school season for New York City families, marred by delayed starts and changes to opt-in rules for blended learning.

Every Christmas season the Philadelphia area comes alive with stunning holiday lights and decorative displays. Festive light shows can be found everywhere, including farms, gardens, and even theme parks.

We've picked some of the best Christmas lights events in Philly and the suburbs for families, many professionally choreographed to Christmas music. While most of these events are FREE, some are so spectacular they are worth the price of admission.

Looking for more seasonal ideas? Our Philadelphia Holiday Guide includes details on cut-your-own tree farms, Christmas season day trips, and more.

We all have our hands full with family and work obligations, and the holidays certainly don't lighten the load. And yet, it's a time of year when we're extra-inspired to count our blessings—and teach our children to do the same. Volunteering with kids helps them learn to give back to their schools, churches, and communities. These charitable organizations invite families to help individuals in need over the holiday season while keeping social distance, from collecting warm clothing to packaging up wholesome meals to creating stockings for veterans.

Around turkey day, kids can crafty with these Fun Projects That Help Kids Give Thanks, too. And as we head deeper into winter, consider these 20 ways kids and teens can help others during coronavirus. Never has there been a better time to teach our youth the importance of spreading love and hope, near and far.

A ride on the Metro-North can whisk your family away to close-enough-to-see-in-a-day destinations minus the hassle of a car. Even better, the Metro-North offers discount packages and deals for many nearby attractions in Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. So, grab a ticket out of town to explore these five train-friendly destinations along popular Metro-North lines.

All are less than under an hour and a half from Midtown Manhattan, and Westchester families are likely to find these little mini family day trips are made extra special with the thrill of a ride on a train.

Holiday trains, like many of our annual traditions, have been hit hard by the restrictions of a pandemic holiday season—but the good news is that there are still a few running! Some of our favorites, most notably the two rides families love in Griffith Park, are on hiatus in 2020, but the train rides below have found ways to make their holiday experience COVID-friendly. Obviously masks are a must, and Santa Claus won't be hugging anyone, but there are seats available (so far!) on the train rides below, from Thanksgiving weekend until just before Christmas. We recommend booking ASAP, especially since fewer seats are being offered, to allow for social distancing.

If you don't manage to book the Polar Express experience, though, you could always play the Polar Express soundtrack while driving your crew through one of LA's Holiday Light Drive-thrus!

**This post is currently being updated for 2021**

If you have a little train lover in your life, taking a real Christmas train ride might just be at the top of the list for Santa this year. Help make kids' dreams come true by celebrating the holiday season with a memorable Christmas-themed train ride at a number of festive venues throughout the greater Houston area. Many of them even feature a visit from the big guy himself! 

Find more ways to celebrate the holidays in 2020 in our Holiday and Christmas Events Guide.