Winter is here, and while that means shorter days, colder temperatures, and slushy sidewalks, the season also brings with it plenty of opportunities for fun both inside and out. From classic winter sports like ice skating and skiing to film festivals and flower shows, here is our guide to the 15 best things to do over the next few months.

53436424735 21c833938c o
Bathers taking part in 2024's Polar Bear Plunge (duluoz on Flickr)

  • Start 2025 on the right note by taking a dip off Coney Island in the annual Polar Bear Plunge, where thousands of intrepid New Yorkers strip down to their bathing suits and begin the new year with a swim in the icy waters to help raise money for local charities and nonprofits. Registration in advance is required if you want to participate and is free. 

  • Save your appetite for seven full days of dining out during New York City Restaurant Week, running from January 21st to February 9th, during which hundreds of the city’s best and hottest eateries will offer prix fixe menus at eminently reasonable prices. Reservations will open on January 7th, with the list of participating restaurants still TBA. 

  • That week of January 21st to February 9th is also the best time to snag discounted seats to the best musicals and shows in New York via Broadway Week, when select theaters will offer 2-for-1 ticket deals. The list of shows on sale will go live on January 7th.

  • A cultural institution since 2005, Winter Jazzfest brings a smorgasbord of jazz both classic and new to New York City every winter, including their famous all-night jazz marathon on the festival’s Friday and Saturday nights. Taking place from January 9th to the 15th, this year’s lineup features artist-in-residence Makaya McCraven along with dozens of performers who’ll be taking the stage at multiple venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

NYBG Orchid Show 2023 Natural Heritage
From the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show: Natural Heritage (New York Botanical Garden)

  • The annual New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show begins on February 15th and rolls all the way through April, giving you plenty of time to check out this massive celebration of all things Orchidaceae. This year’s theme is Mexican Modernism, highlighting traditional and contemporary Mexican artistry along with landscapes inspired by the country’s rich biodiversity. 

  • America’s national bird is on full display at Teatown’s annual EagleFest, which will be held in Croton Point Park on February 1st during the bald eagles’ winter migration along the Hudson River. There’ll be live bird shows, eagle-watching walks, and educational displays and games for kids and adults alike, as well as food and drink trucks, all just a short walk from the Croton-on-Hudson Metro-North station. 

  • For one weekend in January, the town of Port Jefferson will turn into a winter wonderland during its annual Village Ice Festival. On January 18th and 19th, visitors can check out ice sculptures along Main Street while also taking part in games like ice golf and ice bowling, watching ice carvings, enjoying live music, or taking horse and carriage rides. It’s fun for the whole family, and it’s free to boot.

3750460744 b96b42f687 o
A harbor seal in the water (Allison Richards on Flickr)

  • The New York City Aquarium isn’t the only place you can find seals. Winter brings seals from frigid waters further north to the relative warmth of the Atlantic Ocean, offering locals the chance to see these adorable pinnipeds in their natural habitat. Both the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society offer seal-watching boat tours out of the Stony Brook Marine Center near Southampton, as does Captain Lou Fleet in Freeport. For an even hardier expedition, head out east to Montauk and do the seal haulout hike, which will take you to a beach teeming with seals. 

  • Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29th in 2025, with the annual Manhattan Chinatown parade set for two weeks later in mid-February, amid what’s sure to be a busy stretch of celebrations, parties, cultural events, and much more. Be sure to check out our Chinatown food guides before you make your parade plans.

  • The next Winter Olympics won’t be until 2026, but you can get a head start on learning and practicing the Games’ premier ice sport at the Ardsley Curling Club in Westchester. Founded in 1932, they offer lessons and private events, as well as Curling and Cocktails, a combo of curling class and social time. Best of all, they’re a mere five-minute drive from the Ardsley-on-Hudson Metro-North station.

thunderridgelift
Courtesy of Thunder Ridge

  • Looking to carve some powder but don’t have a car or any interest in cramming yourself aboard a crowded bus for a trip to Hunter or Windham? Fear not: Metro-North can serve your ski and snowboard needs courtesy of Thunder Ridge, which offers free shuttle bus service on weekends and during the holidays from the Patterson train station. And you can take advantage of our special ski season deal to save money on round-trip rail tickets and all-day lift tickets; learn more about that here. 

  • Casting a line isn’t just a summer activity, and it’s entirely doable in New York (weather permitting). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has designated ice fishing spots that are close to a few Metro-North stations near the end of the Harlem line at Titicus Reservoir (Purdys), Muscoot Reservoir (Katonah), and Whaley Lake (Pawling). You can also take the Hudson line to Poughkeepsie and then hire a car to nearby Morgan Lake.

  • Your reward for braving the cold weather outdoors: trails virtually free of people. The winter months can be a great time to go on a hike and experience the solitude and tranquility of nature, especially if there’s snow in the forecast. For a special winter walk, Central Park’s Urban Rangers have organized a New Year’s Day hike through the woods in the northern part of the park. Our hiking guide has a full list of trails easily accessible off Metro-North and LIRR, as well as treks you can take within the five boroughs.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center 
The Rink at Rockefeller Center (Scott Lynch)