In my family, the kids get to choose a birthday dinner restaurant from any New Jersey eatery they desire (within reason). They look forward to this ritual, and so do I. They have favorite spots they love to revisit, but I am also always looking for new suggestions to wow them. Keeping birthdays in mind, I did some research into fun and unique restaurants that children can enjoy on their special day.

Whether it is impressive kids’ menus, big sparkler candles, free food, or festive décor, the 10 featured locations below are sure to bring a smile to the birthday child’s face. This list highlights top family-friendly, locally-owned restaurants throughout the state. If you’re looking for big-name chains, then check out some of these themed restaurants in NJ.

You can find even more great family restaurants in New Jersey in our New Jersey Kid-Friendly Restaurants Guide.

Our kids' birthdays deserve special treatment, and luckily, Los Angeles has tons of unique restaurants to help make the celebrations extra special. So many places throughout Los Angeles take a "Happy Birthday" serenade to the next level with delicious desserts, outlandish decor, impressive culinary displays, and incredible settings. Read below for the best restaurants for kids' birthdays in Los Angeles. 

For more birthday fun, try the craziest desserts in Los Angeles, enjoy birthday freebies, browse great places for indoor kids' birthday parties, and see even more ways to mark the milestone occasion in our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for LA Kids. 

Madison Square Garden is a hub of activity no matter the season. Whether you've caught playoff fever and are cheering on the Knicks and Rangers or are seeing the latest family-friendly show on stage at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, when you hit the Midtown West hot spot, you're likely going to need a meal!

Avoid paying those sky-high stadium prices by opting for lunch or dinner out at one of these family-friendly restaurants near Madison Square Garden before or after the main event. Our picks include everything from fast-casual spots and excellent pizza—by the slice or pie—to unique sit-down establishments that will make your trip to Madison Square Garden a truly special occasion. All our top picks are below, but you can find more kid-friendly picks for many NYC destinations in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

We've got the ultimate summer camp packing list included below, plus 10 great tips for preparing your experienced or first-time camper for summer camp this year.

You’ve done your research and picked out the right summer camp for your kiddo. Whether it's a shorter camp for first-timers or a unique summer camp that fits their latest obsession, now is the time to start preparing your child for a quintessential childhood experience: going to an overnight camp. These tips will help make going away to a new sleepaway camp as easy as a summer’s breeze. 

Looking for the best summer camp options in your city? Be sure to bookmark your local Summer Camp Guide and check out our Sleepaway Summer Camp Guide to the Best Overnight Camps in the US.

Magnetic tiles—whether they're the classic Magna-Tiles brand or one of the many other variations—are one of the most beloved and versatile toys for kids of all ages. After all, there are so many fun Magna-Tiles games to play, interesting learning activities to do, and awesome structures to build.

Playing and building with magnetic tiles teaches kids STEM skills, helps them learn their shapes and colors, fosters their creativity, and so much more. I recently asked my third-grader and kindergartner to create whatever came to mind using their magnetic tiles and they had lots of inventive ideas, including a monster and a rainbow tower.

If you need some inspiration on how to have fun and learn with magnetic tiles, here are 50 Magna-Tiles games and activities, Magna-Tiles building ideas, Magna-Tiles printables and video tutorials, and more. For more at-home STEM and art ideas, check out our lists of easy science experiments for kids and 100 awesome art projects for kids.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a reputation as a haven for the hipster set, but families are just as at home in this buzzy, culture-rich neighborhood. Sprinkled in among all the nightlife and trendy boutiques are lots of family-friendly restaurants, shopping, and activities. And the neighborhood is home to some of NYC's most action-packed parks: McCarren Park, a 35-acre green space with playgrounds, sports fields, and a pool; Marsha P. Johnson East River State Park, home to Smorgasburg and skyline views; and Domino Park, the exciting waterfront play space inspired by the former Domino Sugar refinery, a neighborhood landmark, that's getting a new lease on life.

Williamsburg is easily accessible by subway from the G, J, M, Z, and L lines, so even if you don’t live in the neighborhood, you can experience all of the culture and color of this unique Brooklyn neighborhood. Here are our picks for the best things to do with kids in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Find more new-to-you neighborhoods to explore in our Guide to NYC Neighborhoods.

The party is planned, the presents are wrapped, and there's only one thing left to figure out: What are the best restaurants for a birthday dinner on Long Island? 

We've got you covered: Whether it's super milkshakes, a cool theme, or a live band, the restaurants below will make kids feel extra special on their bday.

Find great birthday cake ideas for a kids' birthday party and much more in our Birthday Party Guide for Long Island Kids. 

My recent stay at Finest Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic—the newest resort from The Excellence Collection brand—changed every assumption I had about all-inclusive resorts. In my experience, staying at an all-inclusive has typically required some level of sacrifice. Family-friendly all-inclusive resorts often involve large crowds, loud restaurants, and unwanted splashes at the pool. Adults-only all-inclusives solve those problems, but you can't bring the kids. And the more affordable all-inclusive resorts often have lower-quality food, poorer service, and fewer amenities.

But Finest Punta Cana sacrifices nothing. Open since October 2021, this stunning and luxurious resort welcomes families, but also has an adults-only section. Every meal I ate was memorable and delicious. Every staff member was friendly and attentive. The kids' club was the biggest and best I've seen. At nearly 80% capacity, the resort still did not feel crowded. And the best part? Finest Punta Cana offers better prices than many luxury resorts, not to mention the fact that food, drinks, and most activities are included in the cost of your stay.

Read on for my full review of Finest Punta Cana, my new favorite resort.  For even more family vacation ideas in the Caribbean, check out our Caribbean Family Travel Guide and our list of the best all-inclusive resorts for families.