Staying home during winter break does not have to consist of baking everything on Martha Stewart’s website or sleeping in until the late afternoon for the sole reason of not having anything to do. Sure, it is no beach off the coast of Florida or mountain slopes in Colorado, but winter break in Houston can be quite a thrill. One of the few attractions that surrounds the holiday season is Ice at Discovery Green. Discovery Green has opened its 7,716 square foot outdoor rink in Downtown Houston. Skates are provided as well as a separate ice play for children to enjoy the chilly weather with friends and family right below the Houston skyline.

Discovery Green is also offering a new attraction featuring pieces by artist Bruce Munro. This new exhibit was chosen by the Conservacy public art program. The Conservacy is a a newly- established fine art committee that works directly with Discovery Green. Munro’s Field of Light will feature 4,550 frosted glass spheres that are connected to a bright fiber optic. The spheres begin to light up as the sun begins to set. This is the first time the lights have interacted with a city landscape and it is also the first time they have been featured in Houston and in the state of Texas. The lights will run until Feb. 8 2015.

Another event in the greater Houston area are Zoo Lights, where The Houston Zoo covers its entire facility with millions of twinkly lights until the beginning of January. Zoo lights is an event apart from the zoo and opens after hours from 6:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m. Carolers and musical groups are also present around the Reflection Pool Stage. More information can be found at www.houstonzoo.org/zoolights.

Movies

December is also projected to release a few of Hollywood’s biggest hits including sequels, adaptations and even remakes.

“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” Release date: Dec. 19, 2014 

The magical powers of The Tablet of Ankmenrah that brought the gang to life is dying out, leaving Larry Daley (Ben Stiler), the American Museum of Natural History security guard, no choice but to travel the world and save the tablet’s powers.

“Annie” Release date: Dec. 19, 2014

In the remake of the 1982 film Quvenzhane Wallis stars as Annie, who lives in modern day New York in an orphanage run by Miss Hanningan (Cameron Diaz). Annie is soon taken by New York mayor candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) as a campaign move, but soon figures out that there is more to Annie than securing his spot on the ballot.

“Into the Woods” Release date: Dec. 25, 2014 

Based on the Broadway play that intertwines many of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales by the story of a baker and his wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt) who wish for a child but their plans are put on hold when a witch (Meryl Streep) puts a curse on them. The baker and his wife must head out into the forest to find the objects necessary to break the spell whilst meeting new characters along the way. Disney’s newest blockbuster also features Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford,) Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone) among others to bring the stories to life.

“Unbroken” Release date: Dec. 25, 2014  

Produced by Angelina Jolie and based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken tells the real life story of Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) who became a World War II hero after spending 47 days on a raft and surviving 2 and half years as a prisoner of war in Japanese internment camps.