Guide to ICON Park Orlando: An Icon of Entertainment

ICON Park is a true entertainment destination in Orlando.

ICON Park is an entertainment destination in Orlando featuring 40+ rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants. This 20-acre, open-air complex is conveniently located on International Drive, just a hop, skip, and jump from the theme parks. In fact, USA Today named it the #1 Attraction in Orlando For Tots, Teens & In-Betweens!

Get up close to more than 5,000 sea animals at Sea Life Orlando Aquarium; strut alongside the stars at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum; and of course, ride The Wheel at ICON Park! With several more fun attractions, it's easy to spend a full day exploring this family fun spot.

Best Things To See and Do at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

Photo courtesy of  the author

Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is one of the oldest zoos in the country, and one of the last zoos that offers free entry. The zoo's combination of outdoor and indoor exhibits, along with its location near lots of other things to do in Lincoln Park not far from the beach, make it a great destination for families looking for some easy entertainment.

Lincoln Park Zoo has recently received an exciting update: The zoo's original Lion House was opened in 1912, housing big cats in a beautifully designed and built building—one that became dated and less animal friendly over time. In December 2019, the zoo, with the help of donations from the Pepper Family, started construction on a new habitat for it cats—the Pepper Family Wildlife Center.

Read on for an introduction to the new Center, plus lots of other tips for visiting Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo with kids. And for more animal adventures, check out our Best Zoos and Aquariums in Chicago.

New in NYC: 14 Family-Friendly Openings We're Looking Forward to in 2022

Soar over NYC landmarks with RiseNY. Photo courtesy of the RiseNY

Despite nearly two years of pandemic parenting, I'm still a "glass-half-full" kind of gal. With that in mind, I went on the hunt for hope on the horizon, compiling this list of 14 family-friendly openings in NYC we can't wait for in 2022. Our list of new fun for New Yorkers includes everything from new parks and playgrounds to immersive experiences, museums, and more. Read on for our list and bookmark our Guide to News and Openings to keep track of all the fun things to do all year long.

22 Free Kids' Music Playlists for Breakfast through Bedtime

Need a kids' music playlist that will get you dancing, eating, and even learning state capitals? We found a playlist for every occasion.

If you’ve played every Kidz Bop album under the sun, or sometimes find yourself singing Baby Shark alone in the shower, it’s time for some new kids' music. Here's a list of the best playlists of kids' music, with hits from every genre to fit every activity and mood—whether you’re looking for relaxing music for kids that leads to sleep music for kids or fun music for kids that will get a family dance party started. Read on to discover kids' music that will encourage children to be themselves, calm themselves, even learn the state capitals.

For more family-friendly audio entertainment, check out our list of the best kid-friendly podcasts; for more ways to get a family dance party started, don't miss our picks of the best easy TikTok dances for kids.

Winter Gardens: Get Out of the Cold at NYC's Indoor Plazas

Explore the plants, trees, flowers, shops, and public art at the Winter Garden atrium at Brookfield Place. Photo by Janet Bloom

If you feel like you've already exhausted your favorite NYC museum or indoor play space, why not try a nearby public atrium or winter garden? New York City is full of semi-secret indoor public spaces, as well as not-so-secret gardens perfect for staving off cabin fever during the winter with an antsy child.

Finding an indoor, tropical hideaway in your neighborhood can be a real winter lifesaver. My son was a winter baby, and when he was a newborn, it was freezing everywhere. We found our own indoor oasis just a few blocks from our Midtown apartment, in the lush, green garden that occupies the atrium of the Ford Foundation building. There are several similar winter gardens dotted around the commercial areas of Manhattan thanks to a zoning initiative in which the city granted buildings the rights to additional air space (i.e., taller buildings) in exchange for indoor and outdoor public areas.

Bonus: Most of these public atriums and winter gardens are FREE to wander into, and many offer seating, snacks, Wi-Fi, and public art. Some gardens are so steamy and warm, you'll feel as if you booked a tropical getaway. (This is why we love New York, right?) Here are 15 of our favorite kid-friendly indoor urban oases for NYC families.

Pixar Putt Brings Fun Mini-Golf Course to Discovery Green for Limited Run

An immersive, interactive, pop-up mini-golf experience inspired by Pixar's films. Photography by Daniel Ortiz, courtesy of The PR Boutique

Pixar and putt-putt fans take note: You can now interact with some of your favorite movie scenes thanks to Pixar Putt, an immersive, interactive, pop-up mini-golf experience that's taken over Sarofim Picnic Lawn at Discovery Green for a limited time.

I recently played the 18-hole course with my two kids and their grandparents, and we've got a sneak peek at the fun that awaits. Whether you want to walk in the shoes of The Good Dinosaur, sail away with Up, or whack a golf ball a little too hard at a creepy Benson doll bust, Pixar Putt is a fun addition to downtown Houston. But act fast: Your favorite characters are only in town until March 20th.

30 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities to Get Kids Moving

Try a little freeze dancing, robot style! Photo courtesy of Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels

Whether it's rainy, snowy, or simply too cold or hot to hit the park or backyard, exercise games and indoor activities that keep kids moving are a great way to get everyone in the family moving, giggling, and away from the screens for a bit.

We've put together a list of 30 easy indoor exercise games and fun exercises for kids at home. It's a really simple way for a family to integrate movement and exercise into any day. Most of these can be done right in your living room and will even work in tight city apartments (or hallways). We promise that everyone will be tired and laughing after attempting just a handful.

Looking for more indoor activities for kids? We have lots of ideas, including science experiments and sensory activities for all ages.

Lunar New Year Celebrations in NYC

Celebrate the The Year of the Tiger with the return of the Lunar New Year Parade. Photo courtesy of Better Chinatown Society

Lunar New Year is one of our favorite winter celebrations in New York City. After taking a hiatus last year, many museums, cultural institutions, and community groups are once again holding in-person celebrations to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, which officially starts on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, and is a public school holiday.

Often referred to as Chinese New Year, many Asian nations celebrate the Lunar New Year, and city kids can mark this cultural holiday with family-friendly celebrations throughout the five boroughs. The holiday provides an awesome opportunity to get out and explore a new-to-you neighborhood such as Koreatown and Chinatown in Manhattan, Flushing in Queens, and Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

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