Best Places 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

Santa’s coming to town (specifically Orlando)! It’s that magical time of year again; time to snap those cherished photos with Santa in Orlando! Orlando kids (and kids at heart) have plenty of opportunities to meet jolly old St. Nick as he makes his annual visit to Central Florida. Keep reading to discover the best spots to take pictures with Santa across the region.

For more fun Christmas events in the area, look no further than our Orlando Holiday Guide!

8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History

Submitted by Liz Baill on

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to make your Hanukkah a whole latke (sorry) fun. For my family, Hanukkah is more than the Jewish footprint in the holiday season. Mixed in with those dreidel spins are lessons to be learned about having pride in our Jewish identity. From the songs and stories to the gifts and gelt, here are eight awesome ways to celebrate Hanukkah and make your Jewish festival of lights lit. (Again, sorry!)

For more ways to celebrate this holiday season with your family at home, creating new traditions and memories that last a lifetime, check out our Guide to Holiday Fun for Kids.

16 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Los Angeles for Kids

Submitted by Toby B on

Try sock skating at Kidspace Winter Frolic. Photo by Jamie Pham courtesy of the Museum

'Tis the season for Christmas events and holiday activities in Los Angeles! From the hundreds of Christmas events and holiday activities taking place this year, we've managed to trim our list to the top family favorites.

This year, Santa's bag is overflowing with festive fun for families in Los Angeles. This holiday season's stockings are full of theme parks dressed up in their holiday finest, traditional holiday parades, only-in-LA holiday shows, and other beloved holly jolly traditions. We can barely keep up with all the fun Christmas events and holiday activities in Los Angeles this year. 

 For more holiday activities, don't miss our Holiday Events and Christmas Activities Guide for Los Angeles, packed with every possible holiday and Christmas light show, Nutcracker shows, Polar Express holiday trains, outdoor ice skating rinks, and so much more.

Fun and Festive Thanksgiving Coloring Pages for Kids (Free Printables)

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on

Coloring is a great way to get ready for Thanksgiving or to spend time together while turkey is in the oven. Photo by Polina Tankilevich via canva.com

Cooking and cleaning for Thanksgiving dinner feels like a marathon of chores, and bored kids will definitely slow you down. If you’re looking for some festive, screen-free ways to occupy our children, a stack of free Thanksgiving coloring pages could be your new best friend.

We found a variety of printable Thanksgiving coloring sheets that are easy to download, print, and share, and will keep kids calm and busy for a good long while. Best of all, many sites offer great Thanksgiving Day coloring pages for FREE.

If you’re looking to build a library of free printable coloring pages, don’t miss our ultimate collection of 1,000 Coloring Pages and Printable Activity Sheets for Kids. It includes our big list of printable, free coloring pages for kids!

Midtown Manhattan Is Getting a Magical Double-Decker Carousel this Christmas Season

Jody Mercier's picture Submitted by Jody Mercier on

The double-decker Christmas Carousel is now spinning at Greeley Square through the holidays. Photo by author

A double-decker Christmas Carousel is set to start spinning in Midtown Manhattan this Christmas season, and we can't wait to give it a whirl! Located in Greeley Square, between 32nd and 33rd Streets, it's right outside Macy's Herald Square, and guaranteed to add more seasonal magic to one of NYC's most famous addresses.

Located just steps from Macy's Santaland, and surrounded by the enchanting Macy's Holiday Square Market that debuted last season, it's a magical addition to a holiday outing. Find all of our top picks for seasonal fun on our NYC Kids Guide to Christmas and the Holidays.

Best Nutcracker Ballets in New York City to See with Kids 2025

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

The Yorkville Nutcracker stars talented local dancers in an NYC-centric version of the classic tale. Photos by Eduardo Patino

The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experience for kids and parents, but there are now so many versions of The Nutcracker ballet in NYC a parent could go sugar-plum crazy trying to figure out which one is best for their family.

We've found a dozen variations of The Nutcracker ballet playing this season across all five NYC boroughs, from the New York City Ballet's classic iteration at Lincoln Center to a 92Y production complete with a fabulous, family-friendly after party. We've also found a preschool-friendly Nutcracker performance starring stunning marionettes, and three Nutcracker performances at Brookfield Place that are completely FREE.

Read on for our curated recommendations for the best Nutcracker ballets in NYC for families, and find more holiday must-do's and Christmas activities in our NYC Kids' Guide to the Holidays.

Best Polar Express Train Rides & Christmas Trains in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Say hi to the conductor before meeting Santa on the Southern California Polar Express Train Ride. Photo courtesy of the train

'Tis the season for Polar Express train rides or Christmas trains! Los Angeles has plenty of holiday magic waiting on the rails, from a staple in Griffith Park to a movie-like adventure on the SoCal Polar Express. So, put on those matching family PJs and get ready to sing some carols, hear a story, and chow down on Christmas cookies, while embracing the holiday spirit. Kiddos may even get the chance to hand over those wish lists to Santa Claus in person. 

There are seats available (so far!) on the Christmas train rides below that take place from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas. Reserve your spot ASAP because Polar Express trains are a hot ticket, and tend to book up fast.

Get in the holiday spirit with the best neighborhood holiday lights in Los Angeles, take your Christmas card to the next level with LA-only photo ops with Santa, and visit our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families for more holiday adventures. 

Catch All the Fun at The Poké Court, Chelsea’s Pokémon-Themed Store and Play Spot

Submitted by Yuliya Geikhman on

The Poké Court staff helps fans choose cards for their collections with concierge-level service. Photo by the author

Pokémon-loving New Yorkers have something new to be excited about: A brand-new store has opened to the public, where Poké fans, young and old, can get their fix. Poké Court just opened a 2,000-square-foot flagship store in the Meatpacking District, and it's stocked with goodies for fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and beyond.

As a lifelong fan of the franchise (currently working my way through Pokémon Legends: Z-A), I stopped by to check out what the new store has to offer for adults and kids, and it seems destined for a place on our list of NYC stores where you can play for free.

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