Bakeries have elevated birthday cake decorations from simple sugar flowers and plastic balloons to confectionary works of art. With the possibility that this year's birthday party might be pod-sized, now is the time to splurge on a really great cake. Even better, these stunning creations taste as good as they look.

We've found 13 of New Jersey's best bakeries for amazing, custom, painted, and sculpted cakes that you'll be proud to showcase at your kid's next milestone celebration.

If you're not sure how you'll celebrate, we've found 15 creative birthday party venues to celebrate hosting parties in 2021, and have plenty more party planning tips in our Birthday Party Guide. A word to the wise: Be sure to contact your chosen bakery several weeks in advance, since most shops require lead time for special creations, and some book up fast.

If you haven't gotten enough winter sports close to home, Shawnee Mountain, nestled in the family-friendly Pocono Mountains, offers enough action for a late-season snow sports day trip.

We recently visited the 1,350-foot peak, which offers a 700-foot vertical drop, 23 trails, two terrain parks, and one of our favorite snow tubing parks. Its location near the Delaware Water Gap makes it an easy, family-friendly day trip from the New York City metro area, New Jersey, and even Philadelphia.

Read on for our review of Shawnee Mountain, and find more area destinations in our Poconos Family Vacation Guide and this list of 60+ all-season activities in the region.

Friday night is pizza night in my house, and although we love picking up the phone and having our favorite pie delivered, cooking with kids is special—and there is nothing quite like pulling a homemade pizza (on homemade pizza dough) fresh out of the oven. DIY Pizza Night has quickly become one of our most beloved screen-free family fun nights.

It all starts with a great pizza dough recipe, and I'm sharing my family's favorite easy pizza dough recipe. Plus our favorite pizza recipes, tricks, and hints for how to bring your next homemade pizza night to the next level. And pssst, save room for dessert.

If you're tired of your kids climbing the walls inside the apartment, we've got some good news: The Cliffs at Harlem is now open, bringing with it the city's largest bouldering gym, conveniently housed in a historic building smack dab in the middle of 125th Street.

The Cliffs at Harlem is the newest addition to The Cliffs' family, which already includes locations in Long Island City, Gowanus, and the seasonal outdoor bouldering wall in Brooklyn Bridge Park, plus locations in Westchester and Philadelphia.

Read on for our review of NYC's newest—and largest—kid-friendly rock climbing gym.

If you are looking to get out of the house but still stay safe in your bubble, take your pandemic pod or small play date to one of these spaces that will host a private session just for you.

For more indoor fun, check out our Guide to Play Spaces, and find plenty of seasonal entertainment on our winter fun list for Long Island kids.

You and your kids might be familiar with some of Van Gogh's most famous works, but can you imagine being "inside' one his vibrant paintings? That's what's promised by the brand-new "Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience," an exhibit touring the world this year and heading to Boston in late September. Tickets are available now, but you have to act fast if you want to score a visit: It's been the hardest ticket to come by in Chicago, San Francisco, and LA, prompting months-long extensions.

Here’s everything we know about this hot new art pop-up coming this summer—and a similar Van Gogh exhibit in SoWa later in the year. While you wait to "gogh," keep your artsy kids engaged with summer art camps or a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts.

My family asks our Alexa device to play music a lot or what the weather is, but the Alexa skills put to use most often in my household are Alexa games for kids. Whether they are launching "Animal Workout," a round of trivia, or a family-friendly "Would You Rather," these Alexa games have kept my brood highly entertained during lockdown and even in the before times. It's part virtual gym class, part tutor, and requires nearly zero effort on my part, which is a win for any multitasking parent.

Check out these Alexa games, storytimes, and other kid-friendly Alexa skills the next time your family needs a distraction during dinner or a diversion from the screens on a rainy day. When all else fails, launch Alexa jokes for kids...or just the fart application. There: we just bought you 20 minutes of me time!

If you're craving IRL performances, we've got some good news: Lincoln Center has announced it's turning its sprawling campus into a giant outdoor performing arts center to help revive New York City's arts economy. The programming series, named Restart Stages, launches on Wednesday, April 7.

All told, 10 outdoor venues will be installed—including one dedicated to kid-friendly programming and activities—bringing world-class talent into the great outdoors with safe, welcoming venues for artists and the public alike.

Read on for more details on this exciting public arts installation, and bookmark our Event Calendar for details on performance dates once they're released.