It's time to celebrate kid-friendly openings that were the cream of the crop in Los Angeles in 2023 – yes, it's the annual "best of" season! Mommy Poppins is thrilled to shine a spotlight on the most exciting new attractions and kid-friendly openings that graced LA this past year. These are the latest gems that might have slipped under your radar. 

From new theme park lands to immersive experiences featuring beloved characters like The Cat in the Hat and Bluey, Los Angeles added fantastic options for family fun in 2023. Keep reading below for our exclusive rundown of the best 2023 kid-friendly openings that stepped into the limelight in Los Angeles this year. 

As we eagerly await the new attractions and kid-friendly openings 2024 has in store for Angelenos, catch a glimpse of the events already on our radar for next year by perusing our Calendar of Events in Los Angeles. 

Winter in Lake George, NY transforms this picturesque destination into a snowy wonderland, offering a ton of family fun. And this season, Lake George, NY is getting even better as it debuts two new winter immersive experiences: Winter’s Dream and Winter Realms. Both are located in Lake George Village and offer families a way to bring a little light into the darkest months of the year.

So grab your snow pants, put on those mittens, and check out this list of the best things to do in Lake George, NY with kids during the frosty season, including some family-friendly Lake George hotels. See our Guide to Visiting the Adirondacks & Catskills for even more family fun in this beautiful part of the country, including our list of 40 things to do in the Adirondack Mountains with kids.

Santa Trackers are the best way to see where Santa is and what he's up to on Christmas Eve!

Open the Santa Tracker of your choice early in the evening and keep watch on the Santa Tracker map to follow his magical journey. Each of our favorite Santa trackers have different ways to watch Santa's progress, plus fun games and activities to keep kids interested! Best of all, they're all FREE.

For more ways to bring a little extra magic to your Christmas this year, check out our list of 101 Christmas crafts and activities. If you’re still looking for last-minute gifts, our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide is here for you!

Give holiday cards, wrapping paper, and calendars new life with these fun and creative ideas. 

Slick City, which is billed as the world’s largest indoor waterless slide park, has opened a new location in the Houston area–and there's a good chance your family is going to have a blast at the Katy Mills Mall action park. 

The unique theme park is just the third Slick City location nationwide, and it's designed for all ages. The Katy location features 66,000 square feet of indoor sliding experiences, go-karts, and a sports court park.

We were invited to check it out, and my oldest child called it “the most fun we’ve ever had,” so, needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids. As a bonus, the adults had a lot of fun, too!

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new experience, and find more fun places to play indoors on our list of the Top Indoor Play Spaces in Houston.

It's not hard to find an after-dark holiday light installation in NYC this winter. From the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo to Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a ton of Christmas light drive-thrus in the suburbs, there are plenty of options, but none are quite like Astra Lumina at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Astra Lumina is QBG's first after-dark installation, and it lights up a mile-long trail in an awe-inspiring display that transports visitors to a whole new galaxy with an eye-popping display of lights, projections, and soundscapes.