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You already have photos of your tots and tweens grinning under the twinkling LED lights in Rockefeller Center or in front of the Macy’s window displays. This year, rally the family troops for a different day (or weekend) outing. From historic candlelight tours near NYC to cupcake tea parties at the Ritz in Boston, these eight holiday activities for families will jump-start the joyous wintry season. (Of course, all destinations are accessible without a car as you are never too young to lighten your carbon footprint!)

The Boston Cupcake Tea Party
A day trip to Boston is an ambitious but festive way to ring in the season. Book a bargain-priced seat on the spacious Wi-Fi-adapted Megabus to Boston’s Back Bay station. (Board the double-decker early to ensure an upper-level front-row seat with cool views for both you and the kids.)

Head over to Boston Common, a scenic winter wonderland that is home to the Frog Pond, a perfect place to lace up your ice skates. Best of all, kids 13 and under skate for free.

After twirling on ice, warm up cold little fingers and toes at the nearby Ritz Carlton. Here you’ll find cupcake-themed teas each Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., thru January 2nd. (Adult, $22. Child, $18.) Or, arrive at the hotel by 11:00 a.m. for the Saturday Sugar Plum Tea, where kids participate in a holiday sing-along, which means decorating cookies in the company of Nutcracker characters.

How to get there: Consult oM’s Boston Transportation Guide for alternatives to Mega Bus. Note that Boston Common is a 20- minute walk from the bus station or on brisker days, take the T one stop on the orange line to Chinatown. When you exit the T take a left on Washington Street and then the first left on Avery Street. The hotel is on the left and at the top of Avery Street you will see Boston Common.  Advance reservations are recommended for both holiday teas.

Arts & Baking in the Bronx
Riverdale’s garden gem Wave Hill is closer to home, but its tranquil winter landscape feels miles away. Weekend afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. are the best time for a family visit, when seasoned artist and naturalist Noah Baen leads holiday-themed craft projects for the whole family. Upcoming events include wrapping paper design and making your own holiday pop-up cards, and are included in the garden’s admission price. Saturday, December 19th at 1:00 p.m. features a cooking demonstration of stollen and other holiday breads, in addition to the family art project. Stroll the spacious grounds, peek inside the greenhouse, and stop in for a hot chocolate at the café before catching the free shuttle van to the #1 train.

How to get there: Read oM’s in depth article on Wave Hill for more information and specific directions from Grand Central to Riverdale.

Historic Christmas Candlelight Tours
Washington Irving’s Sunnyside mansion offers a look back at Christmas in the 1850s with a historic candlelight tour led by guides in period costumes. On late Saturday and Sunday afternoons, beginning December 12, learn about old-fashioned traditions of the winter holidays then get warm with hot cider and a Christmas carol sing-a-long by the fire. Before or after the tour, make time to explore pedestrian-friendly Tarrytown, and its sweet shops like Lollipop (53 Main Street), an old-fashioned candy store with a selection of traditional penny candy. Little ones might enjoy a ride on Quicksilver, a stationary pony in the shop window. Join the crowd as you wait for a table with what seems like all of Westchester County at Lefteris Gyro at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway. This bargain-priced Greek diner serves delicious family fare, making it worth the wait.

How to get there: From Grand Central Station, take Metro-North Hudson line to Tarrytown. Taxis wait at the station, and will get you to Sunnyside in minutes. For more info on Sunnyside, visit hudsonvalley.org.

Clydesdale Rides and Reindeer at the Zoo
Though its famous holiday light show has gone to the wayside in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, the Bronx Zoo is still a great place to rev up your family’s Christmas spirit. Holiday weekends at the zoo feature ice carving demos and a herd of reindeer. Don’t miss a ride on the horse-drawn carriage, decorated for the season and pulled by a team of Clydesdales.

How to get there: Take the #2 or #5 train to East Tremont Ave/West Farms Square. At street level, walk straight (follow train uptown) on Boston Road 2.5 blocks to the Zoo’s Asia gate entrance (Gate A). For more holiday events, visit bronxzoo.com.

Holiday Fun on the Farm
The Queens County Farm Museum is the only working historical farm in the five boroughs. It’s fun to milk the cows, ride the ponies, and feed the animals anytime of the year, but they go all out sprucing it up for the holidays. Pre-register for a wreath-making workshop on December 5th and 6th for $20 per person. On December 26th, 27th, and 28th, the farm hosts its annual holiday open house, with craft activities and farm fresh food. Christmas trees and poinsettias are available until December 24th.

How to get there: E or F Train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Station Q46 Bus (eastbound on Union Tpk.) to Little Neck Parkway Stop. Cross Union Turnpike and walk North on Little Neck Parkway three blocks to the museum entrance. More information about the farm can be found at queensfarm.org.

Meet Scrooge in Long Island
Port Jefferson, Long Island is a picturesque village with a scenic harbor. December 4-6, celebrate the annual Dickens Festival and get merry with Dickens characters like Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge. Caroling will be plentiful, and the town’s gorgeous ice-skating rink is open for the holiday event. Storytelling, concerts, and complimentary hot cider are on the menu, as the town goes all out to revitalize this beloved literary figure in a family-friendly way. The Children’s Maritime Museum will be offering do-it-yourself craft projects on Saturday and Sunday afternoon for kids of all ages.

How to get there: The MTA Long Island Rail Road’s one-day “Port Jeff Village” non-escorted package is the best way for families to get there. The package includes discounted round-trip rail tickets from Penn Station, two Lindy’s Taxi stubs, which will get you from the station right into to town, and a “LIRR Port Jeff Customer Coupon”, which gives discounts at several local establishments. The package cost is $25 for adults, $10.00 for children 5-11.

Make Time for Trolley Rides and Classic Holiday Movies
If your little ones are on a first name basis with Thomas (the Tank Engine) and Percy, James and Gordon, a visit to East Haven Connecticut’s Shore Line Trolley Museum can make holiday dreams come true. Ride in comfort on the heated trolley with Santa then explore the museum’s nearly 100 vintage vehicles. While you’re up here, don’t miss a stop in New Haven. Its historic Criterion Cinemas features classic holiday films for families each weekend, such as It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas.  Check out the schedule online at bowtiecinemas.com. When small tummies start to grumble, your family can join in the town’s famous pizza rivalry and choose between two venerable joints: Sally’s or Frank Pepe. Let budding gourmands choose between Pepe’s clam pizza (a local favorite) and Sally’s good ole cheese pie.

How to get there: Metro-North’s New Haven line takes you from Grand Central Station to Union Station in 2 hours. From Union Station, catch a waiting taxi to East Haven, and you will be there in minutes for $10.

Educational Adventures at the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is so spectacular that it has become a holiday tradition right up there with the Rockettes. Bright lights, model trains, and meticulously accurate mini-replicas of famous New York landmarks will put the rose back in those cold cherubic cheeks. Have a look at Gingerbread Adventures, featuring a giant ginger bread house festooned with sugary-treats that kids can step inside. The Little Engine That Could puppet show is performed multiple times during holiday weekends. Thomas The Tank Engine himself visits the garden throughout the holiday season.

How to get there: Take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. Walk across Kazimiroff Boulevard to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate entrance. It takes 20 minutes from Grand Central Station. By subway, take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd Station. From the station exit: Take the Bx 26 bus east to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate entrance. OR walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Blvd to the end (approximately 20 minutes). Turn left onto Kazimiroff Blvd and walk one block to the Mosholu Gate entrance. For more information on holiday events at the garden go to nybg.org.

Photo: Courtesy of Flickr

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