Best Sledding Hills in NYC

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Central Park has some great hills for a fast ride. Photo by Jody Mercier

When the flakes fly, the sledding hills in New York City really come to life. Families flock to these local sledding spots spread across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island for wintertime fun with the kids. In compiling our list of the best sledding hills in NYC, we asked our readers, family, and Mommy Poppins writers and editors for their top recommendations for sledding hills citywide.

Looking for more snowy day activities? Read our roundup of snow day boredom busters, and bookmark our NYC Kids Guide to Winter Fun for more seasonal activities.

LA's New Year’s Eve Guide 2025 for Families: Kid-Friendly Events, Fireworks & More

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Get slimey on New Year's Eve! Photo by Elaina Bellis courtesy of the Sloomoo Institute

It’s almost New Year’s Eve—and Los Angeles has loads of celebrations for kids. Ring in 2026 with a balloon drop (at noon or midnight, depending on your household bedtime!), giggling through a family-friendly comedy show, catching some fireworks, or even roller skating your way into the new year. There are also plenty of innovative ways to party at home as a family or learn some New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world.

Find more events and activities on our Los Angeles event calendar and check out the best activities of the weekend in LA. 

That's a wrap for 2025! We're looking forward to all the fun coming our way in 2026. Happy New Year from all of us at Mommy Poppins. Thank you, reader, for making it such a great one. 

Christmas Weekend 2025 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do with Kids

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The drive-thru light experience on the site of the Woodstock Festival runs through this weekend. Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Christmas weekend.

Christmas is officially over, but the fun doesn't have to stop! Many local holiday activities continue well after Christmas, including the Polar Express Train Ride in Kingston, Westchester's Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights Drive-Thru Extravaganza, and Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular.

Alternatively, if you've had all the Christmas fun you can stand, check out a Planetarium Laser Show at the Hudson River Museum or a Reptile Show with the NJ Snake Man at the Kartrite.

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!

A Guide to Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary in the US with Kids (2026)

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America turns 250 this year and there are extra-big celebrations all across the country! Photo by Kent Miller for Macy's Inc.

The upcoming year will be a big one for America—the country is celebrating America 250, its semiquincentennial (say that five times fast!). In easier-to-pronounce words, it's the US's 250th birthday—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And there are so many ways to celebrate the America 250 anniversary 2026.

America's 250th celebration events will take place in all 50 states. Everywhere from big cities to small towns will host festivals, parades, special museum exhibits, some seriously next-level July 4th celebrations, and other amazing America 250 events. That means 2026 is the perfect year to take a family vacation packed with history, learning, and fun!

Read on for our ultimate America 250 travel guide for families, including the best places to celebrate America 250, handy travel tips, and answers to your biggest questions about this major milestone. And if you want to make America 250 part of a larger family vacay, our Family Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect patriotic trip!

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.

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