Kids in The Land: Winter Break

The holidays and winter break from school bring some much-needed family time for parents and kids. But we know the idyllic game nights and family bonding quickly can give way to arguments and choruses of “I’m bored” echoing throughout the house.

Seriously, is it time for the kids to go back to school yet??

If being cooped up with the kiddos is giving you cabin fever, we’ve got you covered. There are tons of kid-focused things to do in The Land this time of year — so much, in fact, that we bet you (like your kids) will start hoping winter break never ends.

Tobogganing at The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation

Enjoy the thrills and chills of the tallest, fastest toboggan chutes in Ohio. At this Cleveland Metroparks spot, your family can spend the day laughing all the way down the twin, 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes (no snow necessary!). For a post-run warm-up, pop inside The Chalet for food and a cup of holiday cheer.

Friday, Nov. 26 through the first weekend in March.

Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

See the zoo’s wild residents in a whole new light — actually, make that more than a million new lights. The zoo, transformed into a winter wonderland, will offer guests interactive zones, a dynamic light show, 5-foot-tall tree, costumed characters and more. Drive- and walk-through dates are both available.

Select dates through Jan. 2.

Ice skating at an outdoor rink

Lace up your skates (rentals, too) and glide across the ice in Public Square as part of Winterfest, or the Rink at Wade Oval in University Circle. Both rinks will be open throughout the holiday season and beyond, allowing for plenty of time to show off your figure eights, jumps and spins.

Cleveland Public Square Ice Skating is open Nov. 26-Jan. 17.

The Rink at Wade Oval is open Dec. 3-Feb. 27.

A Garden Holiday at Cleveland Botanical Garden

This annual event will transport visitors to a holiday wonderland filled with colorful plants and towering trees, bringing the most festive time of year to life for visitors.

Select dates through Dec. 31.

Play in The Garage at the Rock Hall

The Garage, the recently re-opened, hands-on exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, consists of five main areas where fans can pick up real instruments — drums, guitar, bass and keyboards — learn to play, jam with friends, brand their band with custom merch, and check out gear and instruments from the museum’s collection. From tiny tots to experienced musicians, video prompts will guide players as they learn a song or show off their freestyle skills.

Tickets available for purchase here. The Garage is included with admission.

Polar Blast Snow Tubing

Check the snow report and head to nearby Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort to experience the cushy thrill of Polar Blast snow tubing, where even the tiniest tots can glide down the hill on inflatable tubes. The resort’s two conveyor lifts ensure you’ll conserve energy for hours of downhill adventure.

Boston Mills/Brandywine's seaosn opens Dec. 18; hours vary.

The RainForest

Shake off the winter chill and step into the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s RainForest, where it’s always a balmy 80 degrees. The unique two-acre, two-level habitat is home to more than 10,000 plants and 600 animals from the jungles of Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Open daily, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 Explore the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Whether its permanent exhibits like the Kirtland Hall of Prehistoric Life and the living galleries of the Perkins Wildlife Center, or learning about the importance of protecting biodiversty in the Current Science: Extinction exhibit, there's so much for the kids to see and learn  at the Museum of Natural History.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00am - 5:00pm, closed Mondays. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.