Gift Guide To the Best Gifts for Teens & Tweens

Submitted by Charley Noel on

Kids can tune out parents and listen to music with these cool Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones.

If you want to know what the best gifts are for teens and tweens, you need to go to the source. So we did!

It's really hard to come up with gift ideas for teens and tweens that they'll really like that venture beyond electronics, video games, or gift cards. Frankly, even if you go with one of the big three categories, if you're over 20, you are pretty much guaranteed to pick the wrong thing. So we went to the source, asking Charley, who has a keen eye for what the middle and high school crowd is into, to help us come up with a list of gifts teens and tweens will actually be excited to open.

What you'll find here is a mix of electronic gifts kids will be surprised and thrilled by, crafts and artsy gifts for teens who need a little Zen time after school, fashion gifts for teens that don't look like their mom picked it out, and other cool surprises. Read on to discover actually cool gift ideas for teens.

Looking for awesome gifts for other ages? Find the most beloved toddler gifts, cool gifts for elementary school-aged kids, and more in our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

Westchester and Hudson Valley Top 2025 Christmas Events to Book Before They Sell Out

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on

Legoland New York bursts with holiday cheer during its "Holiday Bricktacular" event. Photo courtesy of Legoland New York

The holiday season is a magical time in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and it is fast approaching. From spectacular illuminated walk-throughs to train rides with Santa, there are tons of events in the area for families to make lasting memories. While it may seem early, tickets are already on sale for many of the big events, and they tend to sell out.

Read on for the scoop on the top local holiday events that are already selling tickets or will start very soon, and get out your calendars to start planning. Bookmark our Events Calendar for updates and grab your tickets early!

For more holiday fun, check out our Holiday and Christmas Activity Guide.

Long Island's Most Popular Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out in 2025

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Eglevsky Ballet’s "The Nutcracker" will delight viewers both young and old. Photo courtesy of the Tilles Center

The time to book the best holiday and Christmas events on Long Island is now! These popular holiday events go on sale early and sell out quickly. 

The holiday season is magical, but for parents whose to-do list is longer than Santa's, it can be hard to track when to buy tickets to all the big holiday and Christmas events on Long Island. Set your alarms, mark your calendars (view our Long Island events calendar while you're at it), and prepare those ugly Christmas sweaters for all the festive family outings. 

From incredible light walk-throughs to holiday train rides and the dates they go on sale, keep reading for all the Long Island holiday events intel. 

Keep the holiday traditions going, or start a new one by bookmarking the must-do Christmas events on Long Island, seeing a Nutcracker ballet or other holiday show, and making more holiday memories with our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Long Island Families. 

New Jersey's Most Popular Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out for 2025

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

More than 50,000 illuminated tulips will line the fields of Holland Ridge Farms' Winter Wonderland show. Photo courtesy of the farm

As we put our finishing touches on Halloween costumes and hit up some final harvest festivals, it's definitely not too early to start thinking about the next set of holidays! The official winter holiday season is sneaking up on us, and some of New Jersey's big-ticket Christmas and holiday events have already started ticket sales.

Don't miss out on tickets to New Jersey's Polar Express Train Rides, which fill up quickly, and snag early tickets to the area's most popular holiday light spectaculars.

Load up your calendars with more upcoming holiday events, featured in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for NJ Families, as well as our New Jersey calendar, which is updated daily. 

NYC's Coolest Christmas Events to Book Now Before They Sell Out in 2025

Submitted by Yuliya Geikhman on

Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden

Whether you're a New York City resident or planning an epic Christmas in NYC itinerary, there are so many holiday and Christmas events in New York City that it's never too early to get a jump-start on planning your holiday season must-do's.

In fact, many Christmas events in NYC are already selling tickets—and fast! So act now to ensure you've secured your seats and reservations to these family-friendly holiday happenings in NYC.

The holiday season is big business in NYC, whether you're looking for a hotel with a view of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, or booking tickets to a beloved annual show like the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, read on for our top picks for Christmas events you need to book now, and find more seasonal fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC.

10 Holiday and Christmas Events in Los Angeles to Book Now!

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow makes a festive family evening. Photo by Jamie Pham

The time to book the best holiday and Christmas events in Los Angeles is now! These popular holiday events go on sale early and sell out quickly. 

The holiday season is magical, but for parents whose to-do list is longer than Santa's, it can be hard to track when to buy tickets to all the big holiday and Christmas events in LA. Set your alarms, mark your calendars (view our Los Angeles events calendar while you're at it), and prepare those ugly Christmas sweaters for all the festive family outings. 

From incredible light walk-throughs to holiday train rides and the dates they go on sale, keep reading for all the LA holiday events intel. 

Keep the holiday traditions going, or start a new one by bookmarking the must-do Christmas events in Los Angeles, seeing an LA Nutcracker ballet, and making more holiday memories with our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

14 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on

Dig into a freshly scooped cup at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream's Williamsburg shop. Photo courtesy of Van Leeuwen

Whether you're a local family or visiting NYC with little ones in tow, Williamsburg, Brooklyn bursts with family-friendly dining options that make eating out with kids a breeze. From casual taco joints with playgrounds nearby to pizza spots where picky eaters are always happy, this hip Brooklyn neighborhood has plenty of restaurants that welcome kids with open arms—and often, high chairs.

We’ve rounded up our favorite Williamsburg, Brooklyn restaurants that cater to families, offering everything from stroller-friendly spaces to kids' menus, outdoor seating, and quick service. These spots aren’t just tolerable with kids—they’re actually enjoyable for the whole crew.

Here are our 14 top picks for the best family-friendly restaurants in Williamsburg, where kids can eat (and wiggle) happily while grown-ups enjoy a great meal, too.

Pages