23 Fun Winter Day Trips from NYC

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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.

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

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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

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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!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in Dallas-Fort Worth Top Things To Do: Cirque Musica, Beauty and the Beast, and More

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Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland returns to Frisco, Photo courtesy of TCG Entertainment

Looking for the best things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

The gifts are unwrapped, the holiday dinner is over, and the kids are starting to get a little antsy; it's time to find things to do for Christmas weekend in the metroplex. If you want to catch one last holiday light display, head to the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano or Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie. If you want to see a show, Beauty and the Beast is playing at Fair Park, or the Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland is in Frisco for just this weekend. Plus, there are Kwanzaa celebrations in Fort Worth at The Dock and the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas! 

Have an amazing Christmas holiday, ya'll! 

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