The 17 Most Insane, Over the Top LA Desserts to Treat (and Wow) Kids

Ice cream tacos come in every flavor and color. Photo courtesy of Sweet Rolled Tacos

Summer is coming (after one looooonnnnngggg school year) and kids really deserve a treat. Your Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook feeds are packed with incredible-looking sweets, but are they just eye candy? Or are they a treat for the tummy as well?

We sought out the very best, most amazingly outrageous, over-the-top desserts around Los Angeles, and taste-tested them with kids to discover if they are as good as they look on the gram. We picked the most insanely awesome treats in LA to see if they held up—and these made the cut. These delicious desserts are all a perfect end-of-school treat, a we-survived-this-year celebration, or even a birthday cake replacement. From taco ice creams to towering candy wigs, dive into the most impressive sweets in LA.

Vaccine Freebies in New York City For Kids and Families

Shake Shack is one of many restaurants offering free food to the vaccinated. Photo courtesy of Shake Shack

Updated June 3, 2021
The road back to normalcy is paved with shots in arms, and New York City is pulling out all the stops to get folks vaccinated as quickly as possible, offering a slew of vaccine freebies for individuals willing to roll up their sleeves and get their shot. These freebies range from eats and treats to museum tickets and more.

With teens newly eligible for the shot, and an ambitious goal of vaccinating 5 million New Yorkers by June, city officials, local businesses, and culture spots are getting creative and offering cool perks for the vaccinated. Read on for our favorite deals and even details on how to get your shot at two of our favorite kid-friendly museums, plus the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.

Road Trip on the PCH: Where To Stop and What To Do with Kids from LA to San Francisco

Elephant Seal Vista Point in San Simeon. Photo by Meghan Rose

My in-laws live in the Bay Area, so we make the trip up north several times a year, and whenever we can, we like to take our time and travel up the coast along the PCH and the 101. There are so many things to see and places to stop that a road trip up the PCH should be on every family's bucket list. There are kid friendly-activities and great food everywhere, not to mention hikes and places to explore the unique California landscape— including beaches filled with elephant seals, dinosaur caves, goat dairy farms, and hikes through Redwood Groves.

This is the perfect first family road trip because if you break the trip into a few days, the distances between destinations are easy for even little kids. So load up your device with great podcasts for kids, learn a few new road trip car games, and put rubber to the pavement with these must-see destinations for kids along the California coast!

35 Great Summer Kids Movies for Family Movie Night

Set up a backyard projector and watch a summer movie outside.

Summer isn't just beach days and summer camp and baseball games. It's also beach movies and summer camp movies and baseball movies!  The summer months are a time for blockbuster releases in the theaters, but it's also a great time to snuggle up after a day at the beach or camp to watch classic kids movies that leave everyone ready for more summer adventures.

So with the school year wrapping up and everyone ready for some summer fun, queue up these kid-pleasers on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, or Hulu—and don’t forget the movie snacks. For more movies to keep your family from now until Christmas (and beyond), be sure to check out our list of the 50 best kids' movies of all time.

The Dr. Seuss Experience Brings Iconic Books to Life for Houston Kids

Dr. Seuss takes over George R. Brown Convention Center.

After a year when "we sat in the house and did nothing at all," we were all about ready for the Cat in the Hat to turn up—thank goodness Dr. Seuss is paying a visit to Houston!

Almost every child has read at least one Dr. Seuss book, so every child is likely to love visiting The Dr. Seuss Experience. Familiar characters and settings make up the colorful and zany installations themed on some of Dr. Seuss’ most iconic tales. It’s as if the books have come to life; and our family had an amazing time walking through them.

Legoland New York Announces Opening Day

Improve your Spinjitsu skils at Lego Ninjago World when Legoland New York opens May 29.

Get ready for brick-tastic fun in the Hudson Valley: The long-awaited Legoland New York Resort has announced a phased opening, with preview days beginning Saturday, May 29, 2021. Tickets go on sale to annual pass holders today; single-day tickets are available to the general public beginning Friday, May 21.

Situated about 60 miles outside New York City in Goshen, the 150-acre park is the biggest Legoland yet. Legoland New York's grand opening was initially set for July 4, 2020, and delayed by the pandemic.

The amusement park, geared toward ages 2-12, is the third Legoland to open in the U.S., joining the parks in California and Florida. It's the first major theme park to debut in the northeast in four decades. Visitors to the Hudson Valley park will be able to explore seven themed "lands" featuring more than 50 rides, attractions, and shows—including a brand-new ride exclusive to the New York location.

Historic Villages in NJ That Are Fun for Kids and Families

Historic Cold Spring Village hosts family-friendly events throughout the year, including the Seafarers Weekend in August. Photo courtesy of the village

Unplug and step back in time at one of New Jersey's historic villages, which offer families a taste of what life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Located throughout the state, these historic villages feature blacksmith shops, working farms, gristmills, historic houses, general stores, and more, and many host family-friendly events throughout the year. Whether you're looking for an authentic historical outing or an afternoon of quaint shopping, these 10 spots make for a great family day trip.

For more historical day trip inspiration, check out our list of Revolutionary War sites to visit with kids.

10 Outdoor Restaurants in Queens With Kid-Friendly Backyards

Slice Astoria is a crowd pleaser.

Nothing beats dining at outdoor restaurants in warmer months, especially with kids in tow, and in family-friendly Queens, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy alfresco eats. We don't mean a sidewalk table or two—we're talking an actual yard with ample seating and room for families to enjoy a meal. Outdoor restaurants often provide a more relaxed atmosphere, where kids can be entertained by simple pleasures like a passing butterfly or flowers on a nearby plant, and city noises offer cover for little ones who may forget to use their indoor voices.

We've highlighted several Manhattan eateries with outdoor seating options in the past and a whole slew of outdoor restaurants in Brooklyn, as well as exceptional spots where kids and families can eat and play. Read on to take a closer look at outdoor restaurants in Queens with backyards for kid-friendly dining.

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