Winter break, February vacation, President's Week, or mid-winter break — no matter what you call it, your Long Island kids will be home from school for a whole week, and you need fun ideas to keep them busy!

Our list of 25 family-friendly, interactive, and exciting events happening across Long Island is a must-read. February break on Long Island runs from Monday, February 16, to Friday, February 20, 2026, this year.

My kids love so many of these incredible activities and places to visit during our stay-cation. We like to plan a day to explore at the Long Island Aquarium, and the kids always ask for ice skating! For parents who have to work, there are one-day and week-long camps to get the kids out of the house and into the action. 

For even more ideas, check out our awesome Winter Fun Guide and list of 100 FREE Things to Do with Kids on Long Island. 

Looking for things to do during winter break in New Jersey? Read on for more than two dozen terrific options. 

It feels like I just put away the holiday decorations, and yet it’s already time to plan for New Jersey’s February break. This year, Presidents' Day is on Monday, February 16, 2026, and many NJ schoolchildren have a 3 or 4-day weekend, making it the perfect time for a family outing or family-friendly winter day trip. My kids definitely want to make the most of it with at least one NJ day trip.

Read on for our picks for the best February break activities for NJ kids, and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for even more ideas.

While we all want to make our kid’s birthday special, birthday parties can be a major source of stress for budget-conscious families. Year after year, it’s hard to find increasingly fun party activities and locations (and deal with the increasingly long guest list) without spending an exorbitant amount of money. And if you can’t host a party in your home (or you just don’t feel like dealing with the clean-up), you have the added cost of renting out another space – which doesn’t always come cheap. Fortunately, we’re here to help you find affordable venue rentals in Philly that are perfect for parties. Whether you’re planning your child’s very first birthday, inviting your animal-loving eight-year-old’s entire class, or celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, here’s how to lower your party’s costs without lowering your party’s fun factor.

For many families, February's midwinter break is a great time to slow down and create some special memories. The NYC public school winter break runs from Monday, February 16-Friday, February 20, 2026. It's sandwiched between two weekends, which means you've got nine days to fill with kid-friendly fun! To help you make the most of the February midwinter break in NYC, we've rounded up 32 things to do with kids in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Lucky for us, NYC museums, outdoor ice skating rinks, and playgrounds make for fun any-day destinations. The extra days off are also a perfect opportunity to book a getaway, and we've got picks for budget-minded escapes, family-friendly Catskills resorts, and the best things to do in the Adirondack Mountains if you're looking to get out of town.

I recently took a girls' trip to Mexico City with friends, thinking it was not a place that would be great for kids. Once I got there, I quickly realized how wrong I was. This extremely walkable city has some of the best parks and playgrounds I've ever seen, loads of kid-friendly museums, spring-like temperatures year-round, fantastic food, and friendly people. It seemed like everywhere I looked, there were parents pushing strollers or kids playing. The city is also safe and very affordable.

Many areas of Mexico City have a very European vibe, with Spanish Baroque and Art Deco architecture, tons of sidewalk cafes and Paris-like bakeries, ornate churches, and trendy shops. But the city is also very green and lush, with palm tree-lined streets, bright colors, and Mexican flavor. And even though I've always equated Mexico with the beach (as many people do), I never even missed the ocean!

Here are some of the top things to do in Mexico City with kids, including what to eat and where to stay in Mexico City with kids. I've also provided tips and tricks for your visit and answered some of the most-asked questions about Mexico City. Check out our Mexico Family Travel Guide for even more great places to visit in Mexico, including the best Cancun all-inclusive resorts for families and the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta with kids.

Discover 100 free things to do in Chicago with kids! Parent-tested picks, from playgrounds and museums to quirky, weird, and new free family fun.