School Break Camps in NYC: Winter and Spring Break Camps to Keep Kids Busy on Days Off

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Chelsea Piers holiday break camps offer a variety of programs from preschool camps to elite training, where children are able to pursue their passions and fuel their athletic potential. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers

Finding a great school break camp to keep kids busy during spring break and other NYC school vacations is a breeze thanks to these local school break camps. If kids need something to do, these NYC winter and spring break camps offer activities ranging from STEM to sports, visual arts, performing arts, cooking, and more. Many offer programming during week-long breaks and single days off. We have found school break camps in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, and we're sharing them all below.

Be sure to check out our NYC Kids' Camp Guide for more options for school holidays and all summer long, and find more top NYC spring and winter break camps in our camp directory.

Hot Wheels Champion Experience Has Rolled Into the DC Area

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on

Virtually racing Hot Wheels cars is one of many fun activities at the Hot Wheels Champion Experience. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

If you've got some little—or not-so-little—Hot Wheels fans in your life, check out Hot Wheels Champion Experience at Tysons Corner Center near DC. Open since December 2023, the 16,000-square-foot interactive environment includes 10 activities that combine physical play with video games, like designing your own Hot Wheels car and watching it come to life onscreen, building custom tracks in an augmented-reality room, and virtually driving a car.

I recently had the chance to visit Hot Wheels Champion Experience with my 12-year-old twin boys during a media preview. The boys enjoyed it, and said they would have loved it even more when they were younger.

Read on for all the details on visiting this experience, which is set to roll out of town on March 31, 2024. For even more ways to have fun indoors, check out our Guide to Indoor Fun for Kids in DC.

Family-Friendly Skiing and Snowboarding Near Philadelphia

Submitted by Lindsay Li on

Happy kids take a break in the snow at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Photo courtesy of Seven Springs

When Old Man Winter comes calling, it's time to hit the slopes. Pennsylvania is home to several kid-friendly ski areas boasting endless lanes, steep trails, and snow tubing action to boot. Whether you're looking for the highest peaks or some bunny hills to teach your kids the sport, these ski resorts near Philadelphia have it all.

Looking for more wintery fun? Check out our Winter Fun and Activities Guide. We've also rounded up the Best Snow Tubing Spots and the Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks.

Palos Verdes with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Palos Verdes, CA

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Swing into all the fun for kids in Palos Verdes. Photo by Melissa Heckscher

Exploring Palos Verdes with kids means idyllic ocean views, rugged coastlines, white-picketed equestrian paths, and lush forested hiking trails. The Palos Verdes Peninsula might feel worlds away from the rest of LA's urban bubble, but the gorgeous and quieter coastal scenes are worth the traffic, especially with plenty of things to do in Palos Verdes with kids. 

From jaw-dropping hikes and whale-watching lookout points to horseback rides and garden strolls, keep reading below for the best things to do in Palos Verdes with kids. 

If you're craving more coastal scenes, discover the best tide pools for kids in Los Angeles, drive up the PCH for the best things to do in Malibu with kids, and dive into our Beach Guide to Los Angeles and Orange County. 

Southeast Houston's Lone Star Flight Museum Will Have Your Kids Flying High

Ashley Jones's picture Submitted by Ashley Jones on

The Lone Star Flight Museum has colorful planes on display. Photo by Rebecca Ortiz for Mommy Poppins

Soaring warbirds, thrilling simulator experiences, and soft spots for tots to land have parents jetting to the Lone Star Flight Museum in Southeast Houston. Located at Ellington Field, the aviation museum boasts exciting exhibits and interactive elements for visitors of all ages. 

Along with tons of fun exhibits for the kiddos, this Houston museum's two hangars are home to a large collection of planes that have served in multiple wars, many of which are still functional today and fly for the museum as well as in air shows across the country. It is also home to the Space Gallery and the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, which honors legendary pioneers in flight history. We love to visit with our 3-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Read on to find out what keeps us coming back and for tips and tricks to get the most out of your visit.

Check out our handy guide to all Houston's best kid-friendly museums, and for a day of cost-free fun, browse our list of Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Houston.

School Break Camps: Winter and Spring Break Camps to Keep New Jersey Kids Busy on Days Off

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Genius Gems offers camps centered around hands-on STEM projects, like 3D printing. Photo courtesy of Genius Gems

Spring break camps and winter break camps are the perfect time for hard-working students to enjoy a screen-free, school-free day–or even a week of fun. If you're searching for structured activities to keep the kids active and engaged over the break, look no further than these school break camps. 

We've rounded up options throughout New Jersey, ranging from action-packed camps that let the kids burn energy to those that foster creative hobbies, like sewing. Parents may opt for full- or half-days and enroll kids for individual days or all week.

Don't wait too long to book upcoming break camp spots; spaces tend to have limited enrollment and book up quickly. While camp is on the brain, start making your summer plans. We've got tons of resources in our Camp Guide and Camp Directory.

Best Sledding Spots Near Philadelphia for Kids

Submitted by Lindsay Li on

Kids enjoy sledding on a hill off Kelly Drive. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

Get ready for a snow day with our list of the best sledding hills near Philly.

When the forecast calls for snow, Philly parents ought to be prepared. Not just with the milk, bread, and toilet paper, but with the best spots to take the kiddos sledding on a snow day. Sledding is one of our favorite winter activities, so we're breaking down all the best sledding hills near Philly (not just by their cool factor, but also by age group), so you know exactly where you should head when we get a decent coating.

For more amazing ways to enjoy the snow with your family, check out the best places to go Snow Tubing near Philadelphia and Family-Friendly Skiing and Snowboarding near Philly.

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