With schools out and the holidays underway, families will be looking for some things to do around Hamilton for the next couple weeks.

It looks like tobogganing and snow-fort building will be out of the question this year with unusually mild temperatures for late December, so it's time to look elsewhere for holiday activities.

Fortunately, we've compiled a list of some great, family-friendly free and paid activities from around the city. Here they are:

Running from now until Christmas Eve, Gore Park will be home to free rides on a miniature train and carousel. Those are available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from noon until 7 p.m., Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The Battlefield House Museum and Park will be taking families back in time to experience a 19th century Christmas. The old Gage family home will take a festive turn, with evergreen boughs on mantles and Christmas aromas in the air. All ages are welcome. The museum will be in the holiday spirit until Jan. 3, running from Tuesdays to Sundays from noon until 4 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. For more information go to www.hamilton.ca/museums.

A new addition to the Royal Botanical Gardens' Holiday Traditions, the train show features numerous Canadian landmarks constructed from over seven tons of cedar slabs, 3,000 pounds of rock and 250 feet of track. There's also a mini, ride-on train, which begins at Hendrie tunnel and takes guests past festive lights before pulling into Candy Cane Station to meet Santa at his cabin. The RBG train show runs daily until Jan. 3, while the rest of the RBG's holiday traditions end Dec. 22. For more information on times, admission and more, visit https://www.rbg.ca/holidaytraditions.

From now until Jan. 3, Dundurn Castle will take a Christmas turn and be transformed into a mid-19th century family Christmas celebration. The castle will be decorated with cedar boughs, ribbons and dried flowers, and guests will see how Christmas was celebrated nearly two centuries ago. This event runs from noon until 4 p.m. daily, and is closed on Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. Tickets can be purchased at the castle or online by visiting this site.

The newly re-opened Hamilton Children's Museum will also be embracing the holidays every Wednesday in December with Winter Whimsy, where guests will enjoy winter activities and crafts. Winter Whimsy will be held Wed. Dec. 23 and Wed. Dec. 30 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Regular admission rates apply.

The Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology will be holding Christmas workshops from Dec. 22 until Jan. 3. Guests ages 4 to 12 are invited to drop by for a free self-guided craft centre for the holidays. The workshops are available from noon until 4 p.m. daily, but will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Regular admission rates to the museum apply.

Look back at how the McQuestens enjoyed their Christmas back in the 1800s. Running until Jan. 3, Whitehern Historic House and Garden at 41 Jackson St. W., enjoy a 19th century Christmas with toys and trees from the 1880s, and a table with the China they used for the holidays in the 1850s. The event runs daily, but will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Tickets can be purchased on-site.

And sharpen up your skates because several free public skating sessions will be offered in Hamilton over the break. 10 total sessions will taking place from Dec. 21 until Jan. 2. A full list of dates, times and locations is provided on the city of Hamilton's website.