I know it’s weird, but winter really is my favorite season: the cold, the snow, the woodpeckers & cardinals, the quiet. When my kids were younger, they had a book called Winter Is the Warmest Season. It pretty well describes why the snow season is my jam. It’s adorable – if you’ve got young kids and are looking for a great new bedtime read, check it out! But I digress. Growing up in Los Angeles, snow wasn’t a thing. Heck, winter wasn’t really even a thing. That never stopped our family from driving north to the mountains for some skiing & snowball fights. So, now that I’ve been transplanted in a place that occasionally boasts a winter wonderland, our family makes a point actually to get OUT and enjoy it. It sounds wild, but it really is so much more fun than finding ways to stay cooped up indoors. Yes, even when it’s 10 degrees outside. If you’re looking for ideas, here are my top 11 things to do in winter in New York.
11 Great Things To Do in Winter in New York With Your Family This Year
Snow Tubing
(Warwick) – Mt. Peter is so much fun! Not far from the city, it has an awesome snow tubing park at the mountain’s base. Seriously, this is fun for kids AND adults. We try to head up once a winter and make a day out of it, with lunch on the way home.
Bear Mountain Ice Skating
(Tomkins Cove) – This is one of the things to do in winter in New York that never gets old: classic outdoor ice rink, frosty air, upbeat music playing overhead. You can rent skates or bring your own. It can get slightly crowded at peak times, but it’s never been terrible. And it beats the old mall rink any day, hands down. Once you’re done skating, walk down the path to the historic Bear Mountain Carousel for a little nostalgic fun.
Wolf Conservation Center
(South Salem) – While the endangered wolves eligible for re-release into the wild are generally not on exhibit, you can get up close and personal with some of WCC’s ambassador wolves at their many events throughout the winter. And, since wolves are more active when it’s cold out, this really is the time to see them. Check the center’s calendar for special photographic events (where you can see some of their endangered wolves) or other kid-friendly events!
Muscoot Farm
(Katonah) – My entire family absolutely loves this place any season of the year. They have so many different events throughout the winter season, ranging from birding hikes on the trails around the farm, kids’ winter-themed crafts, to maple sugaring demonstrations and lessons beginning in February. Also, the baby goats are pretty darn cute!
Seal Watching
(Freeport, Long Island) – This one is new to me this year. I didn’t even know there was a seal-watching season here in southern NY! But what a cool way to spend a day. Dress warmly and head out on the water off Long Island to get close to the seasonal seal colonies.
Liberty Science Center
(Jersey City, NJ) – Just across the river in NY’s neighbor, The Liberty Science Center is honestly one of our family’s absolute favorite places to visit any time of year. But, on those super cold & blustery winter days when being outside just isn’t an option (and that’s saying A LOT for us), LSC is where it’s at. There are dozens of interactive exhibits for kids. For example, one year, our son duct-taped his sister to a pillar in a contest to demonstrate the power of gravity & mass. The third floor houses the Hudson River animal exhibits and interactive animal talks. The iMax theater also always plays interesting nature-centric documentaries that are very kid-friendly. And, with a series of rotating exhibitions for kids of all ages, it’s always a five-star visit for our crew!
Greenburgh Nature Center
(Scarsdale) – The Greenburgh Nature Center is a wonderful place to take kids any time of the year. Still, their Maple Sugaring Party in late winter is always a fun way to spend a day! In New York, we forget there’s fun beyond the apple orchard (though the Nature Center also hosts an Apple Cidering event in November)! Far more than just tree tapping, the Maple Sugaring Party offers kids and adults the chance to (yes) help tap the trees and then walk through the process of making the sap into the maple syrup we all know and love. There are additional maple-themed crafts and storytelling and an explanation of traditional Native American methods and traditions.
Hudson River Eagle Fest
(Croton-on-Hudson) – This annual festival takes place in early February at Croton Point Park. Come out and embrace the winter chill with the bald eagle’s return to the Hudson Valley. There are birds-of-prey shows, food trucks, kid-friendly activities, other exhibitors, viewing areas, and shuttle buses (for an additional fee) to visit designated viewing sites.
New York Botanical Garden Train Show
(Bronx) – The New York Botanical Garden hosts their Holiday Train Show each year. It’s a spectacle unlike any other, with all of NYC’s most famous landmarks on display. Miniature model trains run happily through scaled replicas of favorite landmarks, recreated with live and natural materials. Get your tickets early because times sell out fast!
Hudson Valley Rail Trail Winterfest
(Ulster County) – The annual Winterfest in Highland, NY, offers a breath of fresh air from the city (literally, it’s outdoors). But don’t be put off by the cold. With a lively chili contest, marshmallow & chestnut roasting, wagon rides, wood carving, and many other family-friendly activities, it’s a great way to spend the day outside embracing the season.
Maple Sugaring
(Westchester County) – Maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes! Grab the kids and take them to see how that sweet stuff gets from the tree to the table. Westchester County Parks offers an abundance of events each winter geared toward kids. From actual tree tapping to demonstrations wherein the sap is boiled down to make syrup, hands-on activities keep the kids and grown-ups engaged!
BONUS – Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing…Oh My!
(Ellicottville) – Although this last item on the list is a bit farther from my typical downstate suggestions, Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville really does offer something for almost everyone in your family. Ski or snowboard? Check! The ski hill is very family friendly with enough variety in runs to accommodate both beginners and experts. Lessons are also available for the total newbies! Not a skier (or snowboarder)? Hit the slopes for a few hours of tubing! Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are also available. Did I mention that there is a year-round mountain coaster! The nearby village of Ellicottville also boasts many adorable shops and restaurants for your apres ski OR just for the whole day.
I Hope You Find These Things to Do in Winter in New York With Your Family as Fun as Mine Does!
As you think about things to do in winter in New York with your family, don’t forget to capture those memories so the fun isn’t forgotten! And you’re still a part of it! By focusing on the relationships between parents and their children, I can go beyond the standard pose and capture the genuine emotions of my client’s relationships. View more of my family portfolio, and let’s chat about a session for you and your family!
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