Looking for the best holiday day trips from Long Island this year? Check out our roundup below. 

While we all have plenty to do this time of year, it's important we remember to schedule some family time to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season.

While there's no shortage of holiday happenings on Long Island, there's also a lot going on nearby that makes for a fantastic day trip or quick weekend getaway. From Manhattan to Mystic and Westchester to Pennsylvania, we've rounded up some perfect holiday trips for your family to consider this year.

For more seasonal entertainment suggestions, check out our guide to holiday fun on Long Island, our roundup of great December things to do, and our events calendar.

If you're looking for a fun midwestern family getaway, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are a great choice. There are so many fun things to do in Minneapolis and St. Paul with kids. After all, the Twin Cities are home to the Mall of America and a Great Wolf Lodge. Seasons are for real in these Midwestern towns, leading to glorious landscapes in the fall and spring, when families flock to the area's gorgeous outdoor offerings. And when the "Mini Apple'"becomes a frozen tundra (in, say, January and February), there are plenty of fun things to do in Minneapolis indoors.

Here are 30 of our favorite things to do in Minneapolis and St. Paul with kids, including kid-friendly St. Paul and Minneapolis restaurants and hotels. For more family vacation ideas in this part of the US, check out our Midwest Family Travel Guide.

We're over-the-top excited that the awe-inspiring Dyker Heights Christmas lights, aka the "Dyker Lights," are already going up. Annually, the Brooklyn neighborhood mounts block-after-block of stunning holiday lights. It's a joyful exercise in holiday excess that lands it on our list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up. The Dyker Heights Christmas lights annually draw throngs of visitors to gawk at the nightly displays.

Read on for the details on this festive neighborhood-wide installation of holiday cheer, plus tips on the best ways to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Find more can't-miss holiday fun in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC for Families.

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to make your Hanukkah a whole latke (sorry) fun. For my family, Hanukkah is more than the Jewish footprint in the holiday season. Mixed in with those dreidel spins are lessons to be learned about having pride in our Jewish identity. From the songs and stories to the gifts and gelt, here are eight awesome ways to celebrate Hanukkah and make your Jewish festival of lights lit. (Again, sorry!)

For more ways to celebrate this holiday season with your family at home, creating new traditions and memories that last a lifetime, check out our Guide to Holiday Fun for Kids.

Connecticut families have holiday volunteering opportunities, where they can brighten the holidays for others. Connecticut kids have a lot of love to give, but finding the right place for them to show it can sometimes be challenging. The holiday season is a great time to give to the community and teach kids priceless life lessons. Get them involved at every stage (from shopping to delivering) so that they can get the most out of it.

Of course, don't forget to check local activities in your town for other opportunities! Local charities are often most flexible in offering space to young volunteers.

Looking for fun and festive holiday events to attend with the family too? Take a peek at these 25 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in New England and around Connecticut.

Looking for volunteering opportunities in Westchester this holiday season? Read on for several options in the area. 

The holiday season is a great time to give your time and talents to worthy causes, and there is no shortage of ways to help out around Westchester. Whether you volunteer regularly or are just looking into it for the first time, we've got lots of ways your family can get involved in the community. All those listed here welcome kids and teens—and could absolutely turn into the start of a new family tradition.

Read on for several ideas, and be sure to check out our Holiday Guide for even more family activities.

If you’re looking for some great winter fun for your family, consider visiting Ice Castles. These amazing structures, made up of over 20 million pounds of ice, are a sparkly, magical experience for both grown-ups and kids. And with Ice Castles in New Hampshire, Minnesota, New York, and Utah—as well as the famous Lake Geneva Ice Castles in Wisconsin—there just may be one near your home or within a short drive for a quick getaway.

From what to wear to what to expect, we have all the details about visiting these magical Ice Castles with kids. For more ideas on what do this winter, check out our favorite outdoor winter activities for kids and our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide.

Read more.