Free Museum Days for Kids in San Francisco

Submitted by Sandra Lee on

The little ones can release their inner Picasso and create a work of art. Photo courtesy of the Museum

Free museum days will have your senses heightened when you hear that you won't even need a penny to enjoy San Francisco's best museums. Seriously though, what parent doesn't perk up to the word "free"? It's nice to give our wallets a break, especially after the holidays or a birthday party where the shopping and splurging are in full force. Having some free activities to do with the little ones in a cultural mecca brings sighs of relief. Luckily, museums (particularly kid-friendly ones in the Bay Area) get it and periodically offer free museum days where families can enjoy all the STEM, art, and play activities for the mere cost of nothing. 

We've rounded up our favorite Bay Area museums with free museum days so you can take the kids to enjoy days of learning and exploration. Our list of free museum days has it all; from interactive art to mesmerizing gardens, science, and history, kids will get to employ their creativity while taking in antiquities. 

50 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2024: Easy To Set Up Tricks for Mischievous Elves

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Uh-oh! The elf tangled up your tree lights! Photo by Mark Baylor, courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

If your family is getting ready to welcome back the Elf on the Shelf for the holidays, we have some fun and easy inspiration. Elves typically arrive sometime after Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole on Christmas Day, giving families about a month to fill with hilarious Elf on the Shelf ideas.

Like any good house guest, your elf should be able to keep mischievous acts mostly mess-free and easy to set up. We've put together a list of 50 simple but impressive elf antics, including funny Elf on the Shelf ideas, easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas for hectic mornings. Many of these activities can easily be worked into your existing or holiday schedules while requiring few extra props.

Find more Christmas activities and crafts for kids, plus other fun things to do this season, in our Christmas and Holiday Fun Guide.

Toys for Tots Donation Spots in New Jersey and More Places to Donate Toys

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on

Donate to Toys for Tots and help bring Christmas joy to children in need across New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

Toys For Tots, USPS Operation Santa, and many other organizations collect new toys every holiday season to deliver to kids in need throughout New Jersey. Read on for ways your family can donate toys in NJ and spread some holiday cheer.

And be sure to check out other feel-good holiday ideas, like our holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities for families, in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey.

Toys for Tots Donation Spots in NYC and More Places to Donate Toys

Vanessa Leigh's picture Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on

Toys for Tots brings Christmas joy to children in need. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

If you're looking for ways to give back this holiday season, consider donating to Toys for Tots or one of these other locations where you can donate toys in NYC. After all, during this jolly season, what brings more joy to children and families than celebrating Christmas morning with presents under the tree? Unfortunately, many local families need support to provide toys for their children.

If you have the means, it's a wonderful gesture to spread cheer by donating new toys to local charities. We’ve found multiple charities that allow families to donate toys in NYC. From the perennially popular Toys for Tots to other local charities, these organizations and their patrons can use your support. If you're struggling to put toys under your own tree, we've also noted how to request toys where possible.

Remember that most of these locations accept new toy donations. If you’re looking for places to donate gently used clothes and other items, we’ve got those, too. Plus find tons more picks to make your holiday season extra merry in our New York City Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Toys for Tots Donation Spots and More Places to Donate for the Holidays on Long Island

Submitted by Kristen Markel on

Donate to Toys for Tots and help bring Christmas joy to children in need across Long Island. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

Nonprofits like Toys for Tots offer donation spots throughout Long Island where you can lend a hand to families that are struggling to provide toys for their children. Read on for various opportunities to give back by making donations this holiday season. 

 Be sure to also check out our rundown of holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities on Long Island and many other seasonal ideas in our Holiday Guide. 

Best Places for Pictures With Santa in Boston for 2023

Submitted by Caitlin Dowling on

Get your traditional holiday photo with the top places for pictures with Santa in Boston . Photo by Charlotte for Mommy Poppins.

It's the time of year for pictures with Santa in Boston. Kids can find Santa ho-ho-ho-ing it up at lots of holiday events around the city. We've rounded up some of our favorite places where kids can see Santa in Boston and snap a Santa picture for the perfect Christmas card. Some events offer traditional shopping mall Santa pictures. Other spots let kids take pictures with Santa at Christmas tree farms, brunches, and on trains. The holiday season marks the return of local traditions, like the Enchanted Village and Zoo Lights. So explore our list and find your perfect spot for pictures with Santa in Boston in 2022.

Check out our Top Holiday Activities and Christmas Events for Boston Kids for fun ways to get out and enjoy Boston this holiday season. And see our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for Boston Kids for family fun and holiday festivities all season long.

Pictures with Santa Claus in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on

Take pictures with Santa and enjoy loads of other holiday activities at Gaylord National Resort. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National

The holiday season is full of festive photo ops, including the most important photos of all: pictures with Santa. There are so many places for families to meet Santa Claus and take Santa photos throughout DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. You can take pictures with Santa at the mall, visit him at fun events, and even see him on the rails at the National Capital Trolley Museum.

Many visits with Santa are free with the option to purchase photo packages, but there are even some places where you can get free pictures with Santa. Don't forget to secure a reservation ahead of time at most of these places—Santa is very busy this time of year.

Read on for our list of places to take Santa pictures near DC. Then check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our roundups of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities in DC, where to have breakfast with Santa in the DC area, and more. Happy holidays!

Best Spots to Take Pictures with Santa in Orlando

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Kids love meeting Santa at The Santa Workshop Experience, full of holiday magic. Photo by the author

It's time to take pictures with Santa, as old St. Nick is about to make his yearly appearance! Orlando kids have a plethora of options to meet with Santa. Read on to find the best places to get pictures with Santa around Central Florida. Want a more personal experience with Santa? Check out our roundup of places offering Breakfast with Santa in Orlando this season.

For more fun Christmas events in the area, look no further than our Orlando Holiday Guide, complete with an extensive list of Must-Do Orlando Christmas and Holiday Events for Kids, The Nutcracker and Other Holiday Shows around Orlando, and more!

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