Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in NYC: Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, and More

The LeFrak Rink welcomes visitors for an enchanting winter experience. Photo by Diana Kim

New York City's outdoor ice skating rinks are ready for a new season, and we've rounded up our favorite outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC. Whether you want to take a twirl on some long-running classics, like the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink and the always-free Bryant Park rink, or explore new favorites like Glide at Brooklyn Bridge Park, our list of family-friendly outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC continues to grow.

Read on for our top picks for outdoor ice skating rinks for beginners and experienced skaters alike. And, if it ever gets too cold to glide outside, know you can always hit one of NYC's indoor ice skating rinks.

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.

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Near Atlanta

Lace up for ice skating in Atlanta at Avalon! Photo courtesy of Avalon

Ice skating near Atlanta is the quintessential winter activity, whether you're ready for the Olympic trials or can barely stand upright. Though it may take a few turns around the ice skating rink to get your "ice legs," adults and children alike enjoy spending time together spinning, skating, and realistically, falling down, together. These seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks pop up from November through early 2024. Families can find lots of ice skating in Atlanta, most of which include fun music and concessions like hot chocolate. We've rounded up the best ones and even included one that requires no skates at all (sock skating at Fernbank)! 

Take a look at our favorite ice skating spots to nail that triple toe loop or cling to the ice skating rink walls below! Want more ideas this holiday season? Check out the Atlanta Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for great winter events. If you need more ideas of things to do in Atlanta, visit our Atlanta events calendar.

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 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Philly for Kids and Families

Skate and enjoy Winterfest at the Blue Cross RiverRink. Photo courtesy of the Delaware River Waterfront

Lace up those skates and enjoy the fresh air at these ice skating rinks near Philly. Of all the fun activities the holiday season brings, ice skating is at the top of the list. Bundling up in hats and scarves and warming up with cider or hot chocolate after a spin on the ice at a local ice skating rink in Philadelphia is sure to please kids young and old. There are several temporary festive outdoor ice skating rinks in Philadelphia and in the Philadelphia suburbs, providing unique settings for this winter activity. Many Pennsylvania state parks also offer ice skating when the conditions are right. 

For more ways to enjoy everything this season has to offer, check out our list of Polar Express and Christmas Train Rides and our Philadelphia Holiday Guide, filled with the best Christmas events and activities, as well as events for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and more.

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