See pop culture in a whole new light at a brand new exhibition at The Met. New York City's largest art museum turns its critical eye toward an unusual subject, honoring the iconic work of Walt Disney in a first-of-its-kind installation titled Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts. The exhibit provides a stunning juxtaposition of the old and new, merging treasures from the museum's collection with a trove of works from the Disney brand as well as the Disney family collection.

Read on for more details on the exhibit and find more kid-friendly installations in our Guide to Museums in NYC.

Small business owners are at the heart of our local communities, representing the composition of the places we call home. Getting to know the owners and staff on a personal level and doing your part to shop locally truly beats ordering online. With that in mind this holiday season, we've rounded up 13 charming local businesses in the Hudson Valley who are sure to have perfect gift you’ve been looking for, whether you're a local or visiting the region on a seasonal day trip. From candies to candles and chocolate to tchotchkes, consider shopping small at these local spots this season.

Be sure to bookmark this list of local craft fairs and Christmas markets for more ways to support local businesses and makers.

The Santa Cruise is a festive experience for the entire family. This lake cruise is a fun way to see holiday lights, visit Santa, and experience a family Christmas outing on the beautiful Lake Geneva. Just a quick hour and a half from downtown Chicago, you’ll find the adorable town of Williams Bay, home to Pier 290 and Gage Marina which hosts their annual Santa Cruise from Thanksgiving weekend through December 30th. From how to buy tickets to what to wear, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the Santa Cruise Lake Geneva. 

For more holiday travel ideas check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Chicago Families.

The NYC Winter Lantern Festival at Snug Harbor Cultural Center has become a family tradition in our house, and it lights up the nights again this holiday season. Our first trip to the holiday light show was three years ago when our daughter was a newborn. A visit to the Winter Lantern Festival provided a great way to escape the stress of first-time parenting and get lost in the world of imagination and light.

Back for another run, it doesn’t disappoint, bringing displays that more elaborate and brilliant spread across Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center’s grounds, the vast 8-acre botanical gardens lights up during the night, enchanting children and kids at heart with its displays. Find more stunning lantern and light shows in NYC, plus all our top holiday picks in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.

During the holiday season, families and jammies go together like milk and cookies. Not only are matching family pajamas great for memorable photos, but there’s something about waiting for Santa in family Christmas pajamas that helps the time pass a little bit faster.

So keep your family cozy and coordinated with one of our picks from the best matching family Christmas pajamas sets of 2021. For more ways to make sure your tribe catches all the holiday vibes, check out cool (under $10) stocking stuffers, the best Christmas cookie recipes, and the funniest Elf on the Shelf antics.

Christmas in New York is nothing short of magical. From fabulous holiday windows to dozens of tree lightings, spectacular seasonal shows, and multiple iterations of The Nutcracker, New York is the place to be during the holiday season. The biggest star of all is, of course, Santa Claus himself. And as it turns out, the man of the hour is pretty busy in NYC in the days leading up to Christmas. There are plenty of spots to take a photo with Santa or even have a special meal with Mr. Claus, plus dozens more ways to share a special holiday moment with the big guy in the big city, from ice skating with Santa to gawking at the zaniest parade of Santas.

So grab a hot cocoa and read on for 25 awesome Santa-in-the-city experiences to enjoy before he takes flight from the North Pole on Christmas Eve.