I have always loved the Christmas season.  I enjoy all of the hustle and bustle and excitement of the season. I enjoy the lights and trees, the songs and the parties. I know what you’re thinking: those are not the important parts of the season. All of the Christmas events and activities for kids and families should not be the focus of the season. But for me they are, because they are all spent with family and lead up to a special day, Christmas. When I was little, we’d head into New York City as a family every Christmas season. We’d get dressed up and my mom would pack us into the car and we’d pick my dad up at work at The World Trade Center. For a kid, the World Trade Center was a big, incredible site any day of the year, but decorated for Christmas, the lobby was even more amazing. We’d all go out to dinner together, somewhere way fancier than our usual and we’d visit FAO Schwartz. Those are some of my favorite childhood memories – and always memories where we were all together enjoying the Christmas season.

We did so many other cool things as a family around the holidays: tree lightings, driving around to see Christmas lights, etc. When I was in college and studying in Florence, I lived down the street from the German Christmas Market in Santa Croce. I would walk through almost every night. It was by far the most beautiful, most “Christmas feeling” holiday event I had ever seen. I can remember thinking, each and every time I walked through it though, how much I wished I could bring my family there. I just wanted them to be able to see it along with me. That’s what reminds me each holiday season, that while I love the hustle and bustle and all the exciting things to do, it’s experiencing those things with family that makes it so joyful around Christmas.

Now that I have a family of my own, I love carrying on the tradition of seeing all of the excitement of the holidays together. Then, the “grand finale” of the holiday season is actually just a day spent at our home, with a quiet, relaxing day, celebrating family and Christmas.

Today I’m sharing a list of special activities and events to see around the world during the holidays. Whether you’re looking to try something new or start an annual tradition there are plenty of festive ideas below.

New York Area for Kids at Christmas:

The Nutcracker: This year I am taking the girls to the see The Nutcracker for the first time (they are 6 and 7). We will be seeing in at The Mayo Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. Then they are a bit older, I would love to take them to The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center in New York City.

 Tea at Bemelman’s Bar at the Caryle

Rockefeller Center at the Holidays

Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Woodloch Pines Resort

Christmas in Smithville New Jersey

Hidden Pond Tree Farm, New Jersey 

Strasburg Railroad Christmas Trains

The Winter Village at Bryant Park

Visiting Central Park and Skating at Wollman Rink 

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Zoolights at Turtle Back Zoo, NJ 

Washington, DC for Kids at Christmas:

Julie put together a list of special activities to do with kids in her area: Washington, DC

The Nutcracker

National Christmas Tree

Nutcracker Tea at Ritz Carlton

Downtown Holiday Market

Christmas at Mount Vernon

Christmas on the Potomac

Ice Skating at the National Gallery Art Sculpture Garden

Zoolights

Christmas Tree Farms

Georgetown Glow

Holiday Activities and Traditions Around the Country for Kids:

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, see website for locations around the country. We saw this in New York City with a group of kids last year and it was wonderful!

Boston: The Teddy Bear Tea 

Chicago: Zoo Lights at The Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago: See the Macy’s Holiday and eat in The Walnut Room – A Chicago Tradition since 1905

Christmas in San Francisco: 10 Things to Do with Kids

Christmas By the Sea, Ogunquit Maine 

Grapevine, TX: The Christmas Capitol of Texas

 

Holiday Activities and Traditions Around the World for Kids:

Christmas in London with Kids

10 Unique Things to Do in Rome at Christmas 

Christmas Markets Around Europe 

Family Activity in Dubai at the Holidays 

Christmas in Florence, Italy 

Christmas in Paris with Kids 

Strasburg Children: Heirloom Dresses

Speaking of family traditions at the holidays, one of my favorite as a child was getting a Christmas dress. It was always the fanciest dress I got all year and one we would pass on to other girls in our family. Since having little girls of my own, I love getting them a special Christmas dress. All of the dresses throughout this post are from Strasburg Children. Their Holiday Collection is beautiful, classic and certainly something that will be passed down in the family.

Strasburg Children has been dressing kids for decades in quality heirloom special occasion clothing. Their dresses are all handmade with close attention to detail. Strasburg clothing is meant to last decades and be passed down for generations. My nieces all wore Strasburg dresses as their flower girl dress in my wedding. Since then they’re something I always look at for special occasions. The girls feel extra fancy in these Christmas dresses and can’t wait to wear them to The Nutcracker.

Follow along with Strasburg on Social Media to see so many more of their gorgeous heirloom dresses:

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What are some of your favorite Christmas activities and traditions? We would love to add to this list!

Disclosure: This was not a sponsored post. We did however receive the dresses featured for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are our own.