Easier than skiing and more thrilling than sledding, the best snow tubing is a wicked big deal here in Massachusetts! Snow tubing provide a low-stress, relatively low-cost family day set at a giggle-inducing pace. It also helps you earn major points with the kiddos. For the best snow tubing near Boston, kids (and adventurous parents) have their choice of several well-groomed trails to launch down on a soft-sided inner-tube. Go a little further and be rewarded with lengthy runs and breathtaking views. All of these tubing parks are located within 3 hours of Boston, and many are also open on winter holidays!

For other ways to hit the slopes, check out our favorite Boston-area sledding hills, a roundup of New England ski resorts that cater to families, and list of more ski resorts in the Northeast. Also, our Boston Winter Fun Guide can always be relied on to get kids off their devices and out in the fresh winter air.

When it comes to winter activities, snow tubing is one of our favorites, and New Jersey has several great slopes to choose from. 

No experience or equipment is necessary, and you can go snow tubing alone or in groups. Snow tubing is a lot like sledding, but easier. You can barrel down the snowy slopes at thrilling speeds without having to hike back up the hill.

Read on for a list of local ski resorts that offer snow tubing in New Jersey and in nearby Pennsylvania and New York. Most slopes are open from roughly mid-December through mid-March.

Find lots more active winter fun in our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide. 

When there's no snow to be found in NYC, or your favorite neighborhood sledding hills are worn down to dirt, you still can find perfect slopes for snow tubing near NYC. So bundle up the kids and hop in the car for a short drive because snow tubing is one of those fun winter activities that, unlike skiing, requires no skill or gear. Everything you need—a tube, a hill, and snow—is provided by the parks. Just dress warmly, and you're good to go.

Here are 10 ski resorts in upstate New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that offer snow tubing. Most are less than a 2-hour drive from Midtown Manhattan. They typically open in late December or early January, depending on the temperature, so be sure to click through to the listing to read about the day's conditions. If you're looking for more than a day trip, we've found 15 destination-worthy ski resorts for your next vacation and have plenty more spots to seek out fresh powder in our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide.

Snow tubing near Los Angeles? Why not! Living near the beach doesn't mean sand sledding is our only winter sport. A short drive up into the mountains allows our SoCal kids the magical mixture of snow, cold air, velocity, and hot cocoa that makes sledding and snow tubing near Los Angeles endlessly enticing. Skiing is great, but there's nothing quite like good, old-fashioned sledding and snow tubing.

Now, if you've got a kiddo like mine who gets nervous and a little motion-sick on the steep hills, you might prefer our roundup of places where you can find snow near Los Angeles for some (stationary) snowball fights and snowman-building. Plus, find skiing day trips near Los Angeles, and more winter adventures in our Winter Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids. 

Don't feel like cooking this year? Here are 15 restaurants open on Christmas Day in the DC area.

You've decked the halls, trimmed the trees, and bought the presents. Now it's time to plan your holiday dinner. If you've run out of steam, don't stress. There are several restaurants open on Christmas in DC and the surrounding areas that will give your family a memorable meal without all the cooking and cleanup.

Here are 15 family-friendly restaurants open on Christmas in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2023. Many of these restaurants are serving up special Christmas menus, and most are offering special pricing for children. Make reservations soon, as these restaurants open on Christmas are sure to fill up quickly!

For ideas on fun things to do with kids before or after your Christmas meal, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our roundup of what is open on Christmas Day near DC.

Strawberry picking in Orlando happens December through March! Spending a day at the strawberry farm is a great activity for winter fun and gives families an outlet to connect with nature while making sweet memories. We have compiled a list of u-pick farms that offer strawberry picking in Orlando, as well as some tips to make the most of your outdoor trip. 

Winter Lantern Festival Atlanta is the perfect way to spend a holiday night! Wander through Gwinnett County Fairgrounds and witness a world of illuminated beauty and magic as the grounds light up with the gorgeous colors and creative designs of more than 1,000 Chinese lanterns. I visited the Winter Lantern Festival Atlanta with my family and had such a fun time walking through each dazzling section, laughing and just plain gawking at these cool creations — take a look at this Atlanta holiday event.

We've rounded up the best places for snow tubing near Philly for the ultimate winter fun.

Winter fun hardly gets more exciting than this, and we've rounded up our favorite places to go snow tubing near Philadelphia. As a kid, my snow tubing experiences consisted of my dad pulling snow tubes behind his 4-wheeler near our house. Safety standards have changed in the Philly area since the 1980s, and now we don’t have to resort to such creative measures. So get ready to ride the slopes down carefully crafted lanes from the Lehigh Valley to the Poconos at these snowy spots packed with cold-weather family fun.

For more winter excursions, check out our favorite sledding spots near Philly and our list of family-friendly skiing and snow boarding destinations. All of our favorite wintertime highlights can be found in our Winter Activities Guide for Philly Families.