You don't need to dig into your 401K to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC. This winter, there are a slew of family-friendly shows for all ages that cost a sliver of what you'd pay to see a Broadway production.

There are wonderful options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (Taste the Clouds, Gustafer Yellowgold, Sesame Street Live!); stage adaptations of popular picture books (Dog Man, Pete the Cat, She Persisted); a production specifically created for children on the autism spectrum (SUDS); and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (Thunderbird American Indian Dancers in Concert, Drumfolk).

Best of all, most of these 27 shows are priced at $25 and under, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway ticket.

Xplore Family Fun Center has leveled up its playtime with the addition of an elevated ropes course. Xplore, which was has been rebranded by the folks behind Safari Adventure in Riverhead in 2018, has been transformed into one of the top indoor play destinations in Suffolk's North Shore. 

Raise your glasses of butterbeer in celebration: A brand new Harry Potter store is coming to New York City. The shop, which promises to house the world's largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products under one roof, opens in the heart of the Flatiron District this summer.

While New York has seen its share of Harry Potter pop-ups, from the huge History of Magic exhibition at the New-York Historical Society to a fun coffee shop in the East Village, the new Harry Potter store is here to stay.

Philadelphia is home to the Flyers and some intense sports fans. So for many, hockey is serious business, and it comes as no surprise that kids want to take to the ice and learn to skate and play like the pros. Fortunately, there are a number of local programs that are NHL Learn to Skate USA partners. The program is designed to build skills and make hockey a positive experience, and the only thing you need are basic ice skating skills. If your kid has the eye of the tiger and is dreaming of growing up to be the next Bobby Clarke or Claude Giroux, we've put together a roundup of some Philadelphia-area rinks that offer ice hockey lessons for kids.

Want to check out other lessons in the Philly area that might interest your kids? Take a look at our Philly Classes and Enrichment Guide.

Your Los Angeles Public Library card may be small and plastic and may be hiding in your wallet, but did you know it comes packed with free surprises for the whole family? You may think your card is all about books you can check out from one of LA's fabulous public libraries—and that’s certainly one of its charms—but it also contains some little-known perks that can save you money and entertain a few restless kiddos. Bonus: Many of these freebies can be enjoyed 24/7, from the comfort of your own couch.

If your kids are separated by a large age gap, it can be hard to keep them both happy and entertained. What makes your baby happy can be boring for an older kid who wants to run and play. As they get older, your curious and easily distracted toddlers might not be able to keep up with your older kid's activities. Unless you can clone yourself to take each of your kids to different activities, finding something to keep them all entertained is key. Fortunately, there are amazing places that seem to know the realities of raising multiple kids with different interests. Here are a few we've tested with our age gapped kids that we think you'll love.

Nerf parties offer a fun and safe way to play indoor war games without the threat of breaking Grandma's prized china cabinet. Bonus, these indoor games are available year-round and aren't dependent on weather or time of day. So let the kids loose at these indoor obstacle courses, where they can have a rootin' tootin' shootin' good time.

Ready, set — pew pew!

Check out more birthday parties for active kids here or obstacle courses, rock walls, and ninja training here.

Finding hotels in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, just got a bit easier for families. The Cartoon Network Hotel finally had its Pennsylvania premiere on January 10, 2020, so it's ready for all those upcoming school vacations and summer weekend getaways.

The new Lancaster hotel boasts family-friendly suites, some with bunk beds, restaurants, and of course, swimming pools for family downtime. Though delayed from its plans to open in summer 2019, the new Amish country hotel seems to have delivered on its promise to recreate a fun-filled network experience for lodgers.