Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild Lights Up the Central Florida Zoo

The Asian Lantern Festival runs though January 19, 2025.

Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a family-friendly event sure to brighten your holiday season. Now in its fifth year, this mesmerizing Orlando event offers an unforgettable evening filled with spectacular lantern displays, festive holiday cheer, and a celebration of cultural traditions.

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Best Baby Wraps and Slings and How To Choose the Right One

Moby is the category killer! Photo courtesy of  the Moby Store on Amazon

Baby wraps and baby slings can be amazing tools for parents who wish to keep their little ones close while going about life hands-free. Choosing the right baby carrier can make a big difference in your baby-wearing experience, but with so many options out there, from stretchy wraps to structured slings, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect one.

With three little ones under the age of five, I am the perfect person to walk you through the benefits of baby wraps and baby slings, talk about their differences, and share some of the top tips on using them. Then I'll share our top recommendations for the best baby wraps and baby slings available on the market today.

For more tried and true product recommendations from parents, check out our Baby and Maternity Guide. We've got everything from potty training tips from parents in the trenches to brain-boosting baby games and activities.

This New Brooklyn Climbing Gym Will Have the Whole Family Hooked

There are endless obstacles to scale at HAPIK, the brand-new climbing gym in Industry City. Photo courtesy of HAPIK

Parents stuck inside with stir-crazy kids, take note: I can’t rave enough about HAPIK—the brand new climbing gym that just opened at Brooklyn's Industry City. It’s hard to find an activity that appeals to my teen and 6 year old, but HAPIK climbing gym fit the bill. Even I put on a harness and took advantage of this fun family outing that left us pining for a return trip.

HAPIK's location in the amenity- and activity-packed Industry City makes it an awesome daycation destination. After we climbed, we loved perusing the cozy displays in the courtyards and refueled at Burger Joint. It’s a perfect family outing.

Read on for the full scoop on this awesome new indoor climbing gym and find more places to climb in our roundup of kid-friendly climbing gyms in NYC.

New Year's Eve Weekend 2025 in Orlando: Fireworks, Noon Year's Eve, & Balloon Drops

Start 2026 off with epic New Year's fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Disney

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your holiday weekend list!

This New Year's Eve weekend in Orlando features a host of thrilling activities for the whole family. Ring in 2026 with early New Year's Eve celebrations at Brevard Zoo, Millie Moo'sMonkey Joe's, and more. Older kids can enjoy New Year's Eve fireworks at Sunset WalkMount Dora, and Avalon Park. And start the New Year enjoying the beautiful outdoors at a First Day Hike in one of Florida's amazing state parks. Whatever you choose, have a happy New Year and know Mommy Poppins will be with you in Orlando all through 2026!

New Year's Eve Weekend 2025 in Atlanta: Fireworks, Balloon Drops, Drone Shows, Noon Years Eve

Celebrate Hanukkah with Menorah lightings around Atlanta, taking place December 25 - 30. Photo by Jacob Ross

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

It's New Year's Eve weekend of 2025, which means it's the last call for popular holiday events like Lights of LIFE in Marietta and Holidays at the Georgia Aquarium. On New Year's Eve, families welcome 2026 with plenty of kid-friendly (i.e. early) events like Zoo Year's Eve and Noon Year's Eve at Skyline Park. This weekend also brings other fun for animal lovers like Repticon in Lawrenceville and Mutts Gone Nuts in Sandy Springs. 

However you choose to celebrate, have a happy New Year from everyone here at Mommy Poppins!

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