Whether it's a multi-tiered masterpiece of fondant or a tower of personalized cupcakes, birthday parties with standout birthday cakes are having their day. And while showpiece cakes were already a thing before COVID, with socially distant and virtual parties on the rise, securing a birthday cake that doubles as a centerpiece is becoming an even bigger deal.

The good news is that Houston is home to some of the best cake bakeries around, but that also makes for a lot (we mean a lot) of exceptional bakeries to choose from. Narrowing down which one to choose for your next party can be downright overwhelming.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, we selected a handful of our absolute favorite bakeries from each part of town, ensuring that you get an incredible looking and delectable tasting cake and you get to support a local business. Find yourself in a pinch and need something on the fly? We also included a couple of chains that consistently deliver quality cake! 

Find more party ideas in our Birthday Party Guide for Houston Families.

New York City may be home to 14 miles of beaches, but none of those sandy shores exist in Manhattan. That's all about to change, though. The Gansevoort Peninsula is set to open in Spring 2023, bringing with it Manhattan's first public beach, so get those sand toys ready. 

Construction on the Gansevoort Peninsula is set to begin this spring. It's the latest redevelopment project from the Hudson River Trust, and when completed, will join the recently opened Pier 26, which debuted last fall, and Little Island, one of our most anticipated openings of 2021, in reshaping Manhattan's west side landscape.

Read on for more details and renderings of the spectacular—and sandy—new park.

With majestic views of the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty, and Lower Manhattan, plus acres of sprawling green lawns, a riverfront walkway, nature trail, picnic areas, playgrounds, and one of our favorite kid-friendly museums, Jersey City's Liberty State Park is ideal for a memorable family day trip. 

Whether you spend a day exploring the park, or use it as a jumping-off point for more adventures, this green space on the banks of the Hudson is worth a visit. You can also head indoors for an afternoon at the Liberty Science Center, followed by a bite at one of our favorite family-friendly restaurants in Downtown Jersey City.

Read on for our favorite things to do during a visit to Liberty State Park, and find more outdoor family adventures in our Guide to Local Parks and Playgrounds.

It was a bummer to watch as many favorite in-person activities had to move to a virtual format this year. Watching the Dodgers on TV was not nearly as fun as being in Dodger Stadium. Visiting favorite local museums online didn’t have the same thrill, no matter how fantastic the virtual programming. (Though getting to tour some of the greatest museums of the world without leaving the house was pretty cool).

But this move from IRL to virtual is very exciting: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has created a new virtual and fully interactive tour. Now anyone, anywhere in the world, can get a peek inside the Pasadena laboratory—even seeing some of the places visitors aren’t allowed in-person. Get the scoop on the new JPL tour, how to take it, and exactly why this move online is so exciting.

Once upon a time, in our pre-COVID lives, there was something special about heading to the local movie theater, grabbing movie snacks, and crowding into a theater to watch a new movie. Well, a visit to a crowded theater isn't happening right now, but a Netflix Party is actually a pretty great substitute. Hosting a Netflix Party is the next best thing to going to the theater, and you can host a watch party (on any platform, not just Netflix) with friends living across the street or family living across the country—or even on the other side of the world!

Here are some helpful tips on how to get started hosting your very own Netflix watch party. Make sure you check out our 50 Best Kids’ Movies for Family Movie Night to pick a flick you all can agree on. 

There are plenty of places that offer parent-child swim lessons for babies and toddlers in Boston, but that format doesn't work for all families. In some cases, parents aren't keen on the idea of getting in the pool themselves; in others, kids respond better to instructors when parents aren't around. Fewer places offer lessons for under-3-year-olds without a caregiver in the pool to participate, but some that do are highly rated by parents. Here are a few Boston-area swim schools that are open and accepting students now, with certain COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Peruse our Boston classes guide for more enrichment ideas for your Boston baby and toddler, including music, soccer, and more.

Bowling is one of those activities that provides hours of fun for all-ages, and luckily, Long Island has no shortage of family-friendly bowling alleys.

We’ve put together this list of the best bowling alleys for Long Island families, so you can find one no matter where you live. From bumpers and ramps for toddlers to glow-in-the-dark game nights for tweens and teens, each venue offers a little something extra. Most offer specials during school breaks and some have after-school youth bowling leagues, too.

Read on for 15+ family-friendly bowling alleys nearby, and find more fun family outings in our Guide to Indoor Fun and on our always-updated Event Calendar.

If a stroll to the neighborhood park is not enough to stretch your limbs, pack that stroller and head for a trail—but make sure it's one that accommodates said stroller. Backpacking parents can enjoy our suggestions for traditional kid-friendly hikes; back-aching parents should read on to see nine suggestions for LA hikes with plenty of room for strollers to stride. From stroller-friendly hikes past waterfalls to hilly hikes with ocean views, there are stroller hikes here for every family.

For more hiking suggestions, be sure to check out our family hiking guide.