Best Museums for Kids in Northern New Jersey: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

The Science of Pixar exhibit at Liberty Science Center offers interactive fun. Photo courtesy of LSC

When bad weather hits, a trip to a museum can be a great cure for cabin fever. Northern New Jersey is home to a collection of world-class, kid-friendly museums–including world-class institutions like the Liberty Science Center and the Newark Museum of Art–where kids can study the stars at a planetarium, learn about dinosaurs that once roamed New Jersey, create their own works of art, meet animals, make music, and much more.

Read on for our favorite cultural spots in North Jersey, and be sure to check out our roundup of museums in central and southern NJ, too.

Snow Park, Snow Tubing, and More Snow Events in Central Florida

Enjoy a single, tandem, or family ride atop the snow tubing hill at Snowcat Ridge. Photo courtesy of Snowcat Ridge

Florida's first and only snow park, Snowcat Ridge, has returned with brand new features for 2023! The outdoor attraction opens Santa's Christmas Lane for the first time this year, as well as offering beloved winter staples like a snow tubing hill, snow-covered Arctic igloo, outdoor ice skating ribbon, and more. Read all about it below, plus we've included more places to enjoy Florida "snow" and related activities around Central Florida.

And for even more winter fun, visit our Orlando Winter Activities Guide. Get info about fun holiday events, great indoor and outdoor day trips, holiday lights, and more info about Orlando as the weather drops!

CTA Holiday Trains and Other Christmas Train Shows in Chicago

CTA is running its holiday trains and buses in 2023. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Loop Alliance

Are you ready for the CTA Holiday Trains and Buses 2023! Here's what you need to know.

The Chicago Loop Alliance has announced that the CTA Holiday Train will be riding the rails again for the 32nd year in 2023. Holiday buses are back, too! Look for Santa Claus as he returns to the trains and buses and for pictures with kids.

Read on for our CTA holiday train tips and more Chicago Christmas train show recommendations. And don't miss our list of Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in Chicago.

Visiting Titanic: The Exhibition at National Harbor Near DC with Kids

Kids will enjoy touching a real iceberg. Brrr!

It's been over 100 years since the Titanic sank and 25 years since James Cameron's movie Titanic premiered, and people continue to be fascinated by arguably the most famous shipwreck of all time. Now DC-area residents can learn more about the doomed ship at Titanic: The Exhibition, open in National Harbor through May 12, 2024.

At Titanic: The Exhibition, visitors can experience what it was like to be a passenger on that fateful day through an audio tour that includes historical details from one of the world's Titanic experts, Claes-Göran Wetterholm. A visit will have you remembering details from the movie, confirming indeed how accurate it was in depicting the ship and the timeline of its sinking.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Titanic: The Exhibition and enjoyed the deep dive (couldn't resist) into the facts and stories surrounding the Titanic. Read on for some interesting tidbits I learned, as well as insider tips for planning your visit. Then check out our guide to visiting National Harbor with kids to make a day of it at this waterfront entertainment destination.

20 Things To Do in Downtown Houston With Kids

John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.

Finding things to do in downtown Houston with kids can seem daunting. After all, Houston is the fourth largest city in the country. That's why we've come up with a list of our favorite things to do with kids in downtown Houston—from the fun at Discovery Green to delicious local eateries. We think you'll love these activities, too!

Houston is a sprawling city, with fun kid activities in every corner. If you're interested in exploring more great neighborhoods, check out the neighborhood guides in our Visitors Guide, and our 100 Things To Do in Houston Before Kids Grow Up article.

Best Museums for Kids on Long Island

Enjoy the engaging exhibits at the Long Island Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of LICM

Long Island is home to a host of museums that cater to a younger crowd, giving you many fun ways to introduce your kids to culture. In fact, many of the institutions we've rounded up below offer hands-on, interactive activities that can be enjoyed by children of all ages.

From air and space to science and trains, these spots offer special exhibits and programs to keep children engaged, entertained, and educated. So why not visit? In the meantime, check out our Guide to Museums and the Arts on Long Island.

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Los Angeles for Kids and Families

Ice skate and ride the Ferris wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center. Photo by Allen Ling

Outdoor ice skating rinks in sunny Los Angeles? Oh, I happen to know about a few! One thing Angelenos love doing during the winter months is pretending that it’s winter, and the most fun way to do it is by turning parking lots and other open spaces into outdoor ice skating rinks for the holidays. 

Whether your family is trying ice skating for the first time or you've got budding figure skaters and hockey players looking for a change of scenery, nothing says Southern California quite like the sight of kids and families in tank tops and mittens figure skating in the sunshine. From Downtown Los Angeles to the beaches of Santa Monica, keep reading below for where to find the best cool-yet-sunny ice skating rinks in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

For more holiday fun, from Polar Express train rides to nutcracker performances in LA, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families

50 Thanksgiving Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids and Families

Make an easy and adorable pine cone turkey. Photo courtesy of  the website Live Craft Eat

While the turkey is in the oven, you can set up a few of these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids, including some place cards that will keep squabbling siblings from sitting too close. We've also got Thanksgiving games for everyone to play together, and Thanksgiving cookies that will tide kids over until the feast is ready. Because while Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family, sometimes you need to channel that togetherness time to keep everyone happy!

From traditional Thanksgiving crafts for kids like handprint turkeys to a Great Yam Race for the whole fam, stuff a little fun into your family dinner this year with these Thanksgiving crafts and games.

For more Thanksgiving fun from Thanksgiving jokes for kids to when and how to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families.

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