The first storm of the season creates quite a stir for those of us who excitedly await a winter wonderland, and it's hard to match the thrill of holding tight to a sled while careening down one of these awesome sledding hills in the Hartford area. Winter lasts only about 12 weeks, so pack a thermos with hot chocolate, maybe grab an extra pair of mittens and socks, and embrace the snowy (and socially distant) adventures.

If you are looking to explore more winter activities, check out these Fairfield-Area sledding hills and our Connecticut Ski and Snow Sports Guide.

When winter weather turns into a day off from school it’s time to head for the hills—sledding hills, that is. We're lucky to have more than our fair share of awesome sledding hills here in Fairfield County, from gentle dips for toddlers and preschoolers to dramatic slopes that draw brave 'tweens and 'teens. Grab a thermos of cocoa, your warmest mittens, and yes—this year, at least—your face masks, of course.

Here is a list of some local favorite spots to spend a couple hours burning off that cabin fever. If you live in central Connecticut, check out these Hartford-area sledding hills, and for a little bit more of an adventure, visit our Connecticut Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing Guide.

One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is that you can go from the beach to the snow in one day. One very looooong day. And between holiday events and Christmas activities—it's hard to find the time. That's why I was excited to take my girls to Snow N Glow; this family holiday outing lets kids experience snow without spending the day strapped in the car. We got to go snow tubing, play in the snow, and have some s'mores without digging out our tire chains. There are two locations, one at the Ventura County Fairground and another at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, so you can pick the one closest to you.

Read on for the details, and check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families for a complete rundown on where you can go snow tubing, skiing, or ice skating near Los Angeles.

Christmas songs have a way of getting everyone in the holiday spirit. You just can't be a Grinch when you're fa-la-la-ing. Your holiday playlist might feature classic Christmas songs, modern pop tunes, easy-to-sing songs, silly Christmas songs—remember Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?—or a great mix of everything. Singing Christmas songs makes decking the halls, trimming the tree, and roasting the chestnuts feel so much more fun and festive. We've listed all the greatest hits here, and linked to videos so you can memorize all the Christmas song lyrics and not just hum the chorus over and over!

Here are the 50 best Christmas songs to listen to with kids this holiday season, no matter what your musical tastes are. For even more holiday fun, including 101 Christmas activities and crafts for kids and the best kids' Christmas movies to watch this season, check out our guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids.

Gilchrist Farm is well-known for its picturesque pumpkin patch and fun-filled Halloween celebration, but many families don't know that the excitement continues well into the Christmas season! Over the first three weekends of December, an action-packed Holiday Hoedown is in full swing at the Santa Clarita destination with free general admission and free parking, no less.

On Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 3rd, families can meet Santa (he's photo-ready from 10am to 3pm), watch a pony-filled holiday parade featuring a real fire truck, antique tractors and delivering Santa to the event (the hullabaloo starts at 10am), cheer on the Jingle Pigs during regular hog races (catch 'em at noon and 3pm), and so much more. You can even reserve a seat at a private pancake breakfast with Father Christmas himself for an additional fee.

Whether you're hanging with the Big Guy or exploring the farm festivities, Gilchrist has all the nostalgia you're probably craving at this time of year, plus it makes for some darling photos for the memory book, too. Here's the scoop on what to know before you go.

Toys for Tots and Spark of Love are two great places to donate toys in Los Angeles. Here are our favorite ways to make the holidays merry and bright for a whole bunch of LA kids.

Christmas is a tough time to be in need; donating toys during the holiday season can truly change the lives of kids in need and showing our children how the community rallies to help our own is a lovely illustration of what the holidays are truly about. Volunteering with our kids is a great holiday tradition when we can manage it, but even when we can't, there is joy in passing along some of last year's unused gifts before finding out what Santa delivers this season. Or when we shop for Christmas or Hanukkah, maybe we could add just one extra item for a child in need. It's a great way to teach our kids about the true joys of the season: giving!

Below are some great places to bring both kinds of toy donations—new and even gently used—to spread around some of that holiday joy. For more ways to celebrate this holiday season, check out our Guide to Christmas Activities and Holiday Events for Los Angeles Families.

Few things signal the holiday season in NYC like the unveiling of the spectacular Christmas window displays at Midtown Manhattan’s department stores. One of our favorite annual traditions, a holiday windows walk is a rite of the Christmas season in NYC. Below we're offering a sneak peek at the glorious Christmas window displays lighting up the city from Bloomingdale's to Macy’s with Bergdorf and Saks in between. Find more stunning holiday lights displays and seasonal things to do in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC, including a profile of American Christmas, the Westchester workshop that has a hand in mounting many of the stunning holiday decorations along Fifth Avenue.