Fight the North Jersey post-holiday winter blahs with these 7 fun things to do

After all of the joy and magic of the holidays is over, the rest of the winter season can often feel bleak. But, don't let the cold weather get you down − there are more than enough activities in North Jersey to keep you booked and busy.

From spending time outdoors with winter classics like ice skating and snow tubing, or staying warm indoors with a festive drink, all ages can make the most of this time of year before it's too late.

Here are seven activities in North Jersey to make winter fun:

Visit a light display

There's nothing like a holiday light display to brighten up a cold, dark winter night. Take a stroll through Let It Glow! A Holiday Lantern Spectacular at the Bergen County Zoo, where you'll experience more than 30 twinkling scenes of bright, handmade animal-themed lanterns. The event includes a magical train ride around the zoo's border, fire pits with s'mores kits and craft nights on select days.

The event is open on Thursdays and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 9 p.m., until Jan. 14. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children, and can be purchased online or at the door.

Go: Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave, Paramus; 201-634-3100, friendsofbergencountyzoo.org/events.

Enjoy a winter-themed beer from a local brewery

Five Dimes Brewery, Westwood: This season, Five Dimes Brewery is offering the Cold Shoulder IPA − a craft beer with citrusy hops and a touch of pine at 7% ABV. The drink is said to offer all of the lively flavors of winter. Go: 247 Westwood Ave., Westwood; 201-497-8455, fivedimesbrewery.com.

Magnify Brewing, Fairfield: Magnify Brewing has several winter and holiday-themed brews available for the most festive drinkers. Its New Year's Resolution imperial IPA is brewed with oats and double dry hopped with Galaxy, Amarillo, Mosaic and Apollo at 8.3% ABV. The brewing also has two holiday stouts available: Gingerbread Mind Over Matter − a double chocolate milk stout with spices reminiscent of a classic gingerbread cookie at 8% ABV − and Ugly Sweater Party − an imperial stout with coffee, cinnamon, vanilla and almond flavors at 10% ABV. Go: 1275 Bloomfield Ave., Building 7 Unit 40C, Fairfield; 307-427-0683, magnifybrewing.com.

Seven Tribesmen Brewery, Wayne: Seven Tribesmen Brewing has released its Krampusz winter ale, a spiced beer with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, at 8.2% ABV. Go: 1151 NJ-23, Wayne; 973-706-7337, seventribesmen.com.

The Alementary Brewing Co., Hackensack: Why eat fig pudding this winter when you can drink it instead? The Alementary Brewing Co.'s Figgy Pudding is a rum barrel-aged barleywine, conditioned on dried figs, prunes, apricots and dates, aged in premium Jamaican rum barrels. The beer features notes of baked bread, toasted banana bread, caramel, rum funk and dried holiday fruit at 9.1% ABV. Go: 58 Voorhis Lane, Hackensack; 201-968-1290, alementary.com.

Hackensack Brewing, Hackensack: Hackensack Brewing is offering its Delayed Opening beer, a dark imperial winter lager with notes of dark fruit and burnt sugar, at 8.4% ABV. They also have the Peppermint Imperial Porter Taproom, an imperial porter conditioned on crushed candy canes, at 7.5% ABV. Go: 78 Johnson Ave., Hackensack; 201-880-1768, hackensackbrewing.com.

Glide around an ice skating rink

The Rink at Van Saun Park's Winter Wonderland, Paramus: If you're looking for that classic outdoor ice skating experience, The Rink at Van Saun Park's Winter Wonderland is the place to be. The rink has overhanging twinkling lights and spotlight projections of festive shapes, like snowflakes, and offers open skate sessions on most days until Feb. 25. Tickets are $10 per person for each skating session. Go: Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave, Paramus; 201-634-3100, bergencountywinterwonderland.com/open-skate.

The Mackay Ice Rink at the John T. Wright Area, Englewood: The Mackay Ice Rink is a semi-indoor and semi-outdoor skating rink, offering open public skate sessions in the afternoon daily until April 7. Tickets are $10 for Englewood residents and $15 for non-residents and includes skate rentals. Go: 130 W Englewood Ave, Englewood; 201-568-3133, cityofenglewood.com/Mackay-Ice-Rink.

Newport Skates, Jersey City: Located along the Jersey City waterfront, Newport Skates is an outdoor rink open for public skating sessions throughout the winter season. The rink also offers lessons for beginner skaters. Hours vary depending on the day, and tickets are $20 per person for admission and a skate rental. Go: 95 River Drive South, Jersey City; 201-626-7465, newportskates.com.

Skylands Ice World, Stockholm: Skylands Ice World consists of two NHL-sized rinks and offers public skating sessions daily, as well as lessons for beginner skaters. The rink also holds its Ice Jam event every Friday, where skaters can enjoy music while they glide around the ice. Tickets are $16 for public skating admissions, and $25 for admission and $5 for skate rentals for their Ice Jam events. The times of public skating sessions change depending on the rink's event schedule, so check their calendar for specific times. Go: 2765 NJ-23, Stockholm; 973-697-1600, skylandsiceworldnj.com.

Ice Vault Skating Arena, Wayne: The Ice Vault Skating Arena has three NHL-sized rinks available, and offers public skating sessions most days during the winter season. Tickets are $17 for admission and $6 for skate rentals, and must be purchased at the arena. Check their website for updated dates and times for public skating sessions. Go: 10 Nevins Road, Wayne; 973-628-1500, icevault.com.

Eat in an igloo

Fig & Lily Garden, Morristown: Specializing in Eastern Mediterranean dishes, Fig & Lily Garden offers an outdoor dining experience in its garden igloos. There are a total of 10 igloos available, and each one can accommodate up to eight people. Make sure to call ahead to request one, as space is limited. Go: 2 Cattano Ave., Morristown; 973-539-3999, figandlilygarden.com.

Kitchen Step, Jersey City: Kitchen Step is a bistro in downtown Jersey City, specializing in modern American dishes and craft cocktails. The restaurant has a covered, outdoor patio available for guests to enjoy during the winter. Availability for outdoor dining is reserved for walk-in patrons on a first-come, first-served basis. Go: 500 Jersey Ave., Jersey City; 201-721-6115, kitchenstepjc.com.

Bloomfield Steakhouse, Bloomfield: Family-owned and operated, Bloomfield Steakhouse specializes in steak, seafood and cocktails. The restaurant has heated igloos on its outdoor patio, and are available for dining all day. Reservations are accepted for the igloos, due to demand. Go: 409 Franklin St., Bloomfield; 973-680-4500, eatbeefgethooked.com.

Fly down a hill on a snow tube

With 18 acres of skiable terrain and 100% snowmaking capabilities, Campgaw Mountain in Mahwah is a guaranteed hotspot for all things skiing, snowboarding and even snow tubing. The mountain has as many as 17 snow tubing lanes that are 800 feet in length, and even a snow-tubing lift to make getting back up the hill a breeze. Campgaw Mountain's season and operating hours vary depending on the weather, but is typically open daily through March.

Go: 200 Campgaw Road, Mahwah; 201-327-7800, skicampgaw.com.

Indulge in a decadent hot chocolate

Café Angelique, Tenafly: Located in Tenafly's old railroad station, Café Angelique offers small eats with a side of history. In addition to a full coffee bar, the café offers a decadent classic hot chocolate. But the real star of the show is its famous s'mores hot chocolate: Hot chocolate topped with a graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow cream, torched and toasted to perfection. Go: 1 Piermont Road, Tenafly; 201-541-1010, cafeangeliquenyc.com.

Uptown Coffee Co., Maywood: If you're looking for some creative takes on your typically winter hot chocolate, Uptown Coffee Co. has it. Formerly known as Stray Cat Brew and recently under new ownership, the café offers five different types of hot chocolate: original hot chocolate, funky hot chocolate (classic hot chocolate with two shots of espresso) caramel hot chocolate, strawberry hot chocolate and its signature s'mores hot chocolate, which blended with melted marshmallows and crushed graham crackers, and topped with marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate drizzle. Go: 108 W Pleasant Ave, Maywood; 201-518-0261, uptowncoffeeconj.com.

The Compound Coffee Co., Verona: If you tend to be indecisive with your winter drinks, then The Compound Coffee Co. is the perfect place for you. Offering drink flights with four samples for $14.95, you can try all of their hot chocolate flavors in one sitting. Their selections include classic hot chocolate; s'mores hot chocolate topped with graham cracker crumbles and mocha drizzle; peppermint mocha hot chocolate; and red ribbon hot chocolate with white chocolate and raspberry flavors. Go: 271 Grove Ave., Verona; 973-601-2570, thecompoundcoffeeco.com.

The Turning Point, Hoboken & Paramus: With two North Jersey locations, Turning Point Restaurant is a daytime café chain specializing in breakfast, sandwiches and drinks. Among Turning Point's specialty drinks are four styles of hot chocolate: traditional hot chocolate; s'mores with toasted marshmallow syrup, whipped cream and crushed graham crackers; peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream and crushed peppermint; and cookie explosion hot chocolate with caramel syrup, whipped cream, chocolate chips and Oreo cookie pieces. Go: 1420 Sinatra Drive N., Hoboken; 201-222-3797 and 65 Route 4 Unit 9, Paramus; 201-345-4399, turningpointrestaurants.com/menu/#seasonal.

Race around in ice bumper cars and go-karts

Ice bumper cars at Van Saun Park's Winter Wonderland, Paramus: Not only can you skate on an ice rink, but at Van Saun Park's annual Winter Wonderland, you can ride bumper cars, too. A recent addition to the event, ice bumper cars are open daily, except Thursdays, during select time slots until Feb. 25. Each 45-minute session includes two 8-minute rides on the ice, and tickets are $20 per person, per session. Go: Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave, Paramus; 201-634-3100, bergencountywinterwonderland.com/ice-bumper-cars.

Ice go-karts at Newark's Winter Village, Newark: At Newark's Winter Village, you can race around the rink on an ice go-kart. Open most days until Jan. 7, tickets are $20 per person and include an 8-minute ride on the ice. Go: 162 Mulberry St., Newark; 908-967-2117, newarkwintervillage.com.

Find local goods at a winter farmers' market

Getting local-made food items doesn't only have to be for the warm weather: Consistently voted as the best outdoor farmers market, the Ramsey Farmers' Market is open Sundays year-round. During the winter, the market is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and features a variety of local vendors selling winter vegetables, baked goods, seafood, drinks, cheeses, natural soaps, skincare and much more.

Go: Ramsey Main Street Train Station, Erie Plaza, Ramsey; 201-675-6866, ramseyfarmersmarket.org.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Things to do in North Jersey to stay busy this winter