Finding non-membership, drop-in play spaces for your toddler or preschooler is like gold to New York City parents—almost as good as scoring a deal on rent. When it gets too cold to explore New York City's best playgrounds, and another playdate at home seems dull (or, let's be honest, stressful), taking your kid to a cool indoor play gym or indoor playground, where everything seems new, and someone else does the cleaning up is a relief to the whole family.

Read on for our top picks for indoor play spaces in Manhattan and find more places to play on our lists of the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn and Queens' top indoor play spaces, plus our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.

Give holiday cards, wrapping paper, and calendars new life with these fun and creative ideas. 

Ice skating season has arrived in New Jersey, offering families a safe, active outdoor activity that's great for keeping busy during the colder months. There are several outdoor ice skating rinks in New Jersey where you can take a skating lesson, play hockey, or grab a hot chocolate and go for a spin during a public skating session.

Of course, if you feel like staying indoors, you can always check out our list of the Best Indoor Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey.

Slick City, which is billed as the world’s largest indoor waterless slide park, has opened a new location in the Houston area–and there's a good chance your family is going to have a blast at the Katy Mills Mall action park. 

The unique theme park is just the third Slick City location nationwide, and it's designed for all ages. The Katy location features 66,000 square feet of indoor sliding experiences, go-karts, and a sports court park.

We were invited to check it out, and my oldest child called it “the most fun we’ve ever had,” so, needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids. As a bonus, the adults had a lot of fun, too!

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new experience, and find more fun places to play indoors on our list of the Top Indoor Play Spaces in Houston.

It's not hard to find an after-dark holiday light installation in NYC this winter. From the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo to Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a ton of Christmas light drive-thrus in the suburbs, there are plenty of options, but none are quite like Astra Lumina at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Astra Lumina is QBG's first after-dark installation, and it lights up a mile-long trail in an awe-inspiring display that transports visitors to a whole new galaxy with an eye-popping display of lights, projections, and soundscapes.

Christmas vacation in Boston is almost here! When school takes a pause between Christmas and New Year's, it's nice to kick back and relax from the usual routines. Here are 20 enriching activities, from cooking workshops to STEM crafts and nature classes, that are sure to nip "I'm bored" in the bud.

For more things to do in Boston with kids over winter break, consult our Winter Fun Guide and our holiday guide. Plan to have a great time with your kids during the upcoming, and much-needed, school break. And have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!