Kids Ski Free at Top Pennsylvania Resorts, Plus More Ways to Save — and Win!

With Snowpass, 4th and 5th graders get 63 days of free skiing and snowboarding this season.

Did someone say affordable winter fun for the whole family? Yup, Pennsylvania's got it with 21 kid-friendly, activity-filled ski resorts offering some deep discounts this year!

Whether a quick weekend trip filled with wobbly runs down the bunny hill sounds about your speed, or you're dreaming of a week-long vacation crossing black diamonds off the list with your pro crew, there are plenty of packages and specials that'll work with your family's skill level and budget.

From Snowpass, which lets kids ski for FREE, to an awesome ski and snowboard giveaway, read on for the best ways to save and win this season in PA.

Things To Do in Connecticut this Weekend: Santa's Workshop, Christmas Village, Shark-Diving Santa

This Santa goes diving with sharks. Photo Courtesy of Norwalk Maritime Aquarium

Have you put your tree up yet? How's the shopping coming? Festive family activities abound, both indoors and out. For starters, there's the 38th Annual Santa's Workshop in Manchester, a Storybook Holiday tour in Derby, and the annual Christmas Village in Torrington. In the mood for a show? Check out Miracle on 34th Street - 80s Edition in Putnam or an evening of kid-friendly classics, Baroque to Bach, in Norwalk.

To make sure that you don't miss any of the fun, keep tabs on our Connecticut Holiday Guide, subscribe to our free weekly newsletters, and follow us on Facebook. Read on for our highlights of events happening this weekend, and check our frequently updated daily event calendar for even more ideas.

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Christmas Carol, Nutcracker, Holiday Crafting

Nestle into the historic Old Dutch Church this weekend for Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol.” Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

The holidays are closing in, and Westchester and Hudson Valley families are scrambling to soak up all the fun! This weekend, the festivities are ratcheted up, so put on your jingle bells, light those lights, and don’t miss these highlights!

The big holiday events happening throughout December are still in full gear, and with a short holiday season this year and the tendency for some to sell out, we encourage you to reserve tickets now. Adding to the various iterations this month of the Tchaikovsky classic, this weekend marks the return of The Westchester Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker. Other noteworthy holiday performances include the Christmas Handbell Concert and Canadian Brass' "Christmas Time Is Here." 

A couple of programs combine nature and crafting, including Decorate a Tree for Wildlife and Holiday Decorations from Nature, both annual traditions.

That's just the tip of the holiday iceberg—find lots more festive fun in our Event Calendar. Read on for our top picks, and also consult our Holiday Fun Guide. Enjoy it all!

Now Boarding: Ice Skating Rink Opens at JFK Airport

The new Runway Rink at JFK might make being at the airport actually...fun?

While New Yorkers usually dread going to the airport (thanks to the construction, traffic, and all-around charmlessness that characterize good old LGA and JFK), stepping inside the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is like taking a well-designed trip down memory lane. As you enter the hotel, you’re greeted by classic cars and flight crew dressed in retro uniforms. Just a few steps up is a sprawling white-and-red lounge reminiscent of the 1960s. Those in the lounge have the best view of all: A brand new ice skating rink sitting on the tarmac next to a retired TWA propeller plane.

The newest ice skating option in Queens, the Runway Rink at the TWA hotel opened at the end of November, just in time for the holiday travel rush. Read on for details about the new rink and tips on visiting with kids—it's a winter wonderland worth seeing if you have to be at JFK!

Should You Try to Visit Yayoi Kusama’s Latest Infinity Mirror Room With Kids?

Yayoi Kusama's Mirrored Infinity Room is illuminated by an LED lighting system which projects the appearance of infinite space.

Stepping into one of Yayoi Kusama’s infinity mirror rooms is both thrilling and intimidating in the same breath. Best known for her infinity rooms—Kusama has produced more than 20 of them since 1965—the Japanese contemporary artist is currently having a bit of a New York moment. She debuted a new float in the NYC Thanksgiving Parade last month and will mount a large-scale exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden in May 2020. Her “Every Day I Pray For Love” exhibition, which is on display at David Zwirne​r Gallery in Chelsea until this weekend, is FREE and open to the public on a first come, first entry basis.

After waiting close to two hours with my three children (aged 5, 9 and 13) on a winding line of excitement to see “Dancing Lights That Flew Up To the Universe,” I was ready for something transformative. Does the experience live up to the hype? The answer, like a lot of things art-related, may depend on the eye of the beholder.

Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Winter Solstice, Gingerbread Wonderland, Santa Visits

Enjoy lots of FREE fun at the Annual Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday at Cattus Island County Park. Photo courtesy of the park

Christmas is less than two weeks away! Take a break from the mad rush of holiday preparation, and take in some light and sweet holiday fun. Brilliant holiday displays continue to shine throughout New Jersey, including Jenkinson's Sea of Lights, Turtle Back Zoo Holiday Lights, and Vernon Lights Festival.

Bring the family, and a sweet tooth, to tasty festivities like the Annual Hot Chocolate Hike Weekend, Gingerbread House Workshop, Cookies with Santa, Elsa and Anna, and Grain House Cookies + Kindness Brunch. Still hungry? Load up on breakfast fare with St. Nick over the weekend at Santa brunches

Relax at warm, indoor events including Storytime with Mrs. Claus, 2nd Annual Storytime with Santa, and Chanukah Concert and Family Sing-Along. There are plenty of holiday shows and Nutcracker performances taking place over the weekend, too!

Find even more weekend options in our Holiday Guide, including 50+ Awesome Santa Activities in New Jersey. And look to our December GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Queen Mary Christmas: Chill Is in the Air and Lights Are on the Ship!

Christmas at the Queen Mary is a great place to spend a chilly evening during the holiday season. The vintage ocean liner in Long Beach harbor comes alive with Christmas lights, carolers, encounters with Santa, a seasonal ice rink, a Christmas train, and several other festive and wintery activities. The annual holiday event takes place both on board and around The Queen Mary, meaning lots of twinkly photo ops against the backdrop of the floating monument, as well as exploring the art deco decks of the beloved ship. For us, it's an annual holiday tradition!

Must-See Christmas Light Shows Worth Paying or Driving for over the Holidays

An after-dinner drive to take in one of LA's classic neighborhood holiday light displays is a treat all families should indulge in. It's an easy, cheap way to get in the Christmas spirit (or just enjoy someone else's). Of course, counting on other people to decorate their lawns is only so reliable. To be sure of a full evening of holiday lights and holiday cheer, sometimes it's worth driving to a big public light display, or even splurging on pay-to-play holiday lights. Several local destinations indulge us in our desire to see grand-scale Christmas lights, from Zoo Lights to walks in the woods. The bigger the group you can round up, the more festive; it helps to know which of LA's big public light shows are worth the ticket price this holiday season.

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