Winter Day Trips Near Westchester for Families

Wave Hill is a stunning sight in any season. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill
Wave Hill is a stunning sight in any season. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill
1/9/22 - By Tom Stefanchik

Are you and your family looking to escape those post-holiday, mid-winter blues? Well, you don’t need to take a trip far away from Westchester, because there's plenty of local, family-friendly day trips to enjoy in winter.

Here are just a few of the best winter activities at communities in and around Westchester that are easily accessed in a day trip.

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Be sure to check with each venue for its COVID guidelines and requirements before heading out to any event, and read more about local public safety protocols here.

RELATED: Fun Things to Do in Westchester With Kids in Winter 
Ridge Hill is a winter day trip near Westchester
Kids can climb the walls at Ridge Hill's Rockin' Jump. Photo courtesy of the venue

Fun Winter Family Day Trips in Yonkers

Ridge Hill 

You can spend a whole day exploring all this outdoor shopping center has to offer, no matter the forecast.  If the weather calls for indoor activities, take in a movie at Showcase Cinemas or play at Legoland Discovery Center.  On a sunny day stroll around the grounds and visit the assorted shops. And be sure to join RH Kids for discounts and rewards, plus invites to local events.

Hudson River Museum

Take your family on a trip to outer space with a show at the museum’s planetarium. There are shows here for children of all ages. Parents will enjoy a tour of the recently renovated Glenview Historic Home, as well as the museum’s collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, costumes, historical objects, and more.

Yonkers Public Library

There is so much more than books at the three branches of the Yonkers Public Library: Riverfront, Grinton I. Will, and Crestwood. Visitors can enjoy storytime, musical programs, fitness classes for teens, scavenger hunts, and more.  Oh, and lots and lots of books.

Fun Winter Family Day Trips in White Plains                

City Center

There’s plenty for the family to do at this downtown shopping center. If your kids didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas, head to Target’s recently renovated toy department, or to Barnes & Noble for some good reads. Take in a movie at Showcase Cinemas, which features an IMAX screen, then head to lunch or dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, just downstairs from the theater.

Ebersole Ice Rink

Located in Delfino Park, Ebersole Ice Rink offers public skating sessions and group lessons.  Or take in a game by one of the local hockey leagues that play there. You can also host an event in its private party room, which includes skate rentals.

Bowlmor Lanes

Your family can spend an entire day at this multilevel facility.  In addition to bowling, there is an arcade with new and classic video games, sports bar with high-definition, flat-screen TVs, and a full menu of favorites such as burgers, pizza and wings.

RELATED: 30 Ways to Spend a Rainy Day With Kids in Westchester

Pop In! Play Space is a good destination during the winter.
Pop into Pop In! for a coffee and play space combination. Photo by Susan Miele

Fun Winter Family Day Trips in Larchmont

Hommocks Pool

Escape the nasty winter weather and take a dive into this indoor pool complex. Open to residents and nonresidents alike, Hommocks offers open lanes for swimming, swimming lessons, and such aquatic programs as Aqua Zumba and Aqua Jog.  Daily admissions and annual memberships are available.

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Introduce your children to the world of music with classes at Shake, Rattle & Roll. This music and movement program provides fun for children of all ages, with singing, dancing, and instrument play, incorporating music from various cultures worldwide. Parental participation is strongly encouraged, so you get to have some fun as well.

Pop In! Play Space & Cafe

At this unique facility, parents with young children can socialize over coffee and snacks at the café, while their children play in a safe and fun environment. Designed specifically for children under age 6, Pop In! offers children the opportunity to explore, learn, and interact with other kids in an enriching play environment.

RELATED: Winter Hikes Near Westchester for Kids and Families 

The Bronx Zoo is a lovely winter day trip destination for Westchester families.
The Bronx Zoo is less crowded in the winter. Photo by Jody Mercier

Fun Winter Family Day Trips in the Bronx

Bronx Zoo

Winter is an excellent time to visit the Bronx Zoo, one of the best zoological parks in the world. It is much less crowded at winter than at any other time of year. The zoo covers 265 acres and features more than 6,000 species of animals from all over the world. So while a handful of attractions, such as Wild Asia Monorail and the Butterfly Garden, are closed for the season, there is still plenty for you and your family to enjoy.  

New York Botanical Garden

There is still time to catch the garden’s annual Holiday Train Show, which runs through January 23.  The show features model trains dashing through more than 175 famous New York landmarks, all in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. If weather permits, wander the many gardens and trails of this 250-acre preserve, easily accessible from the Bronx River Parkway.

Wave Hill

Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens and greenhouses at Wave Hill, which also offers a spectacular view of the Hudson River. While there, take in one of its family art projects, which are held every weekend.  Best of all, the projects are FREE with admission to the grounds.

This post was first published in 2018 and was updated in January 2022.

Places featured in this article:


The New York Botanical Garden

Legoland Discovery Center Westchester