Best Places for Snow Tubing Near Chicago for Families

Enjoy a kid-friendly tube fest at Sunburst Ski Hill. Photo courtesy of Sunburst Ski Hill

When there's no snow to be found in the city or your neighborhood sledding hills are worn down to the grass, you still can find perfect slopes for snow tubing with kids just a short drive outside of Chicago.

Snow tubing is the perfect winter activity for the whole family; it gets everyone outside playing, and unlike skiing or snowboarding, it requires no gear. (Unlike ice skating, it also requires minimal balance.)

Everything you need to go snow tubing with kids—a tube, a hill, and snow—is provided by the parks. Just dress warmly, and you're ready for a day of snow tubing near Chicago.

The Holidays At Moody Gardens: Ice Skating, Festival of Lights, Arctic Slide, and More

Enjoy some winter thrills by hurtling down the arctic slide at Moody Gardens this holiday season.

Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens in Galveston is a favorite annual holiday event, and we had the opportunity to go check it out this year. It was an amazing experience that had so many fun and festive activities, including a festival of lights, ice skating, and a train ride. 

We think Holiday in the Gardens is a great place to visit and celebrate the holidays with your family. But first, read on to learn what to expect from your visit.

Don't forget to check out our list of the Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities for Kids in Houston and all the other holiday content in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Houston Families

Best Inexpensive Winter Weekend Getaways from NYC for Families

Connecticut's Mohawk Mountain Ski Area offers endless opportunities for fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of the Mohawk Mountain

Falling temperatures don’t necessarily translate to falling prices when it comes to family vacations. Luckily, we’ve rounded up 14 well-priced weekend getaways from NYC that are all within driving distance. Whether you’re in the mood for New England's seaside views, craving winter sports, small-town charm, or big-city culture, we've got a winter weekend getaway destination for you.

Read on for our top picks and bookmark our Guide to Weekend Getaways for more family travel destinations.

Cool Tech Gifts for Kids

A smartwatch is just one of the many cool tech gifts available for kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of Canva

Got a tech-savvy kid? Read on for our ultimate list of cool tech gifts for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

While finding tech gifts that match your child's level of cool can be a real challenge, it's not as hard as you think. These days, there are so many cool tech gifts on the market, from gaming accessories to awesome headphones to fun STEAM building kits.

Whether you’ve got a tiny tot who loves technology or a tween who knows way more about video games than you ever will, we’ve got you covered with cool tech gifts they’re sure to love.

Houston Botanic Garden's New Light Show Will Illuminate Your Holidays

"Radiant Nature," at the Houston Botanic Garden, features huge lantern installations that make for great photo ops.

"Radiant Nature," the new holiday light show at the Houston Botanic Garden, offers an enchanting after-dark experience. The botanic garden has been transformed into an illuminated wonderland featuring dozens of Chinese lantern installations, and the installation will remain in place through late February, following Chinese New Year.

We think it’s an amazing place for your whole family to check out. Read on to learn what to expect from your visit.

Don't forget to check out our list of Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows for more wonderous light shows to explore in Houston this holiday season. 

NYC Winter Lantern Festival Lights Up the Queens County Museum

Step into a dazzling world of light at the Queens County Farm Museum.

The Queens County Farm Museum's Winter Lantern Festival features more than 1,500 lights and 80 intricately crafted, illuminated Chinese lanterns, transforming the grounds into a magical wonderland of illumination.

This seasonal, outdoor walk-through experience spreads out over 6 acres of historic farmland and includes multiple illuminated tunnels, animatronic animals and dinosaurs, and an array of fantastical creatures.

Here's what you need to know about this magical winter experience at the always-enchanting Queens County Farm Museum.

The Gingerbread City Pops Up at The Seaport for Christmas Season

The Gingerbread City offers a magical metropolis made from cookies, candy, and frosting. Photo by Leandro Justen

We may be biased when we say Christmas in NYC is the most magical season of all. One reason: The city is bustling with activities and adventures for the entire family, including the brand new Gingerbread City pop-up at the South Street Seaport, one of our top picks for must-do activities in NYC this season. Filled with spicy aromas and candy-coated cityscapes, this holiday attraction is one you don’t want to miss.

Best Family Christmas Card Photo Ideas

Put on a holiday sweater—ugly or not!—and strike a pose!

Want to make your family Christmas photo cards stand out this year? Here's how!

We're making our list. And it's long. We don't even need to check it twice. We need to make sure everything gets checked off easily and quickly. For most families, taking a Christmas photo and sending a holiday or family Christmas card is high on that list. It's also high on the list of activities we don't like to do!

But this year, let's make it easy. We've got you covered with the best ideas for an easy, clever, and creative family Christmas photo shoot. We've got tips for getting the best picture, places to take the picture, the best shops to order the Christmas photo card—plus some really original themes and ideas from family game shows to album cover recreations.

Tell some Christmas jokes for kids to keep 'em smiling, pop a classic holiday movie on a screen to keep 'em occupied, and say cheese! For more holiday fun, check out our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids.

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