UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Many local attractions have special activities planned this week for students on Mid-Winter Break.

For the sledding, tubing, and snow lovers out there, Val Bialas Sports Center is open and ready.

"Our terrain park only will be open," said Mark Ford, President and CEO. "We aren't operating the chairlift because there isn't enough snow at the top area but we will be operating our tubing operation and our free sledding is open anytime anyone wants to use it.

After the mild winter last year, Val Bialas Sports Center was down about 60 percent, but Ford said this winter has been considerably better. Ford is expecting this week to be one of the busiest of the season.

Val Bialas Sport Center will be open from noon to 6 pm this week.

Check out http://utica.skibigval.com/ for more information.

There is also much to see at the Utica Zoo this week.

"We have sealions, that's a great visitor delight, lion cubs who love to play in the snow and we still have our primates and our camels," said Andria Heath, Executive Director at the Utica Zoo.

If there is more snow this week, the zoo will open up their snowshoeing trail as well.

The zoo is open from 10 am- 3 pm all week.

There is more information at http://www.uticazoo.org/.

Also, be sure to check out the 4 floors of hands-on activities perfect for children of all ages at the Children's Museum of Utica.

The museum is open from 9:15-12:15 everyday this week except for Wednesday.

http://www.museum4kids.net/