The meal takes center stage on Thanksgiving Day, but if you'd rather forget the dirty dishes, grocery shopping, and hours of cooking, there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Philly for a hassle-free holiday. Catch the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning, then relax the rest of the day knowing that the family meal is being handled by the professionals. If you want to enjoy fine dining but don't want to change out of sweatpants, plenty of establishments also offer convenient pickup options.

Reservations are required or strongly encouraged for all of the following restaurants as many fill up in advance. Pre-orders for pickup are also required. Gear up for the rest of the holiday season with our Holiday and Christmas Activity Guide. 

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and we know many local families are struggling and could use the help of one of these local organizations offering a free turkey in NYC.

Inflation, job loss, and the extended government shutdown have left many New Yorkers facing food insecurity. With that in mind, we've rounded up 13 local organizations that are stepping up to ensure all who need help filling their tables or getting a hot meal this Thanksgiving can. From free turkey giveaways to take-out options and free holiday meals, here's a helpful guide to where to get help this holiday season.

If you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, consider donating to one of these exceptional organizations to help others across the city, and put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving by lending a hand at one of these local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities. You can find more ways to spend the day in our New York City Kids' Guide to Thanksgiving.

The bond between humans and horses has lasted thousands of years. There’s something so powerful and unspoken in the relationship that it seems natural to look to our companions to help enrich our children’s education. Equine-assisted learning programs have been on the rise at New Jersey stables. Interested in learning more and how to introduce your kids to this activity? I was, too, so I decided to visit a local program in Sussex County to find out more.

Read on to learn about where your kids can enjoy some equine-assisted learning at New Jersey stables and find more kid-friendly classes in our New Jersey Kids Guide to Classes.

My 3-year-old daughter and I have recently become NYC play space connoisseurs. Our colorful collection of branded grippy socks is evidence of a winter spent hopping from one new play space to another. So, you can take me at my word when I say Space Club Fort Greene offers out-of-this-world fun.

Read on to find out why this sprawling, artsy space is worth a visit, and find dozens of other cool indoor playgrounds on our list of Brooklyn's best indoor play spaces. For more family fun across the city, check out our NYC Kids Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.