While we love to share all of the fun things to do in our own cities with kids, we also enjoy getting out of town and exploring other amazing places. And in 2024, Mommy Poppins writers and editors visited some incredible destinations. We traveled across the US, from California all the way to Florida. We also had some adventures abroad, including in Europe and Toronto.

If you have an animal lover in your family, you've got to check out our posts about our writer's trips to the Galapagos islands and on African safari. She shares all the scoop on how to have these bucket-list experiences with your own kids!

Here are our favorite family vacation destinations of 2024, including fun cities, sunny beach vacays, and kid-friendly hotels and resorts. Check out our Family Travel Guide for even more great places to visit with your family. And, join us in 2025 to see where we'll go next!

Westchester is home to a host of outdoor ice skating rinks. And what these ice skating rinks—ranging from outdoor ice skating rinks to ice skating on local ponds—lack in upscale amenities, they make up for in old-school charm. In most cases, you'll need your own pair of skates to glide across these ice skating rinks in Westchester, plus below-freezing temperatures to ensure it's safe to set foot on the county's frozen ponds.

If you just can't wait for the ice to freeze, you can find plenty more seasonal fun in our Winter Fun Guide for Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Having a tough time coming up with winter birthday party ideas for your Long Island kiddo? We've rounded up some great options throughout LI that offer festive fun for kids of all ages.

The party packages we've highlighted accommodate various price points, party themes, food choices, and activity options. Active kids can show off their ninja birthday skills at a family fun center, art-loving kids can celebrate with a paint party extravaganza, or you can sweeten the special day for your little one with a candy-making event. 

Read on for our full list, and check out our Long Island Party Guide for other exciting birthday party ideas. 

When the winter weather outside is frightful, it’s time for a cozy Georgia winter trip...just don't forget to bring the fuzzy blankets and hot chocolate. We've got cool (get it?!) spots ranging from the North Georgia mountains to Lake Oconee. Take advantage of winter holidays like Christmas vacation, MLK weekend, Presidents Day weekend, for a cozy Georgia winter trip. We’ve rounded up Georgia spots encompassing mountains, lakes, state parks, and even a dude ranch!

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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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.

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 with kids doesn't have to mean a boring night at home. Keep the night at home but lose the boring with these 15 fantastic family-friendly activities to help celebrate New Year's Eve with kids at home. From balloon pops to ball drops, discover how to ring in the New Year – or Noon Year! – in the most festive and memorable way.

For more New Year's Eve fun with kids with an international flavor, check out our guide to 23 Family-Friendly New Year’s Traditions from around the World. Chair leaping or grape eating, anyone? Also, there are tons of activities and things to do on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day on our local event calendars.

However you celebrate, from all of us at Mommy Poppins: Happy New Year!