As 2021 draws to a close, we're looking back on the year that was in NYC. There were highs that let us touch the sky, and lows that left us reeling, regrouping, and reevaluating. But in between it all, we managed to get out and enjoy a revitalized, rebounding city that packed plenty of kid-friendly fun. With that in mind, here are 15 highlights that make up our annual best kid-friendly openings in NYC.

It is a tradition among many of our friends—and not only the Jewish ones—to order Chinese food on Christmas Day. It makes perfect sense: You're exhausted from staying up all night trying to conjure up holiday magic, so why not have something everyone loves delivered to your door? If you don't celebrate Christmas, a day when just about everything is closed is still an excellent excuse to order in from one of these Chinese restaurants open on Christmas and watch family movies.

While you might already have your own "go-to" local restaurants on speed dial, we've rounded up a bunch of particularly good ones to share with you. If you're looking for a more traditional holiday feast, consider these restaurants open on Christmas serving everything from holiday ham to the Feast of the Seven fishes.

With an 8 year old in my house who is obsessed with all things ocean, the opening of the new Sharks exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History is being met with more than a little impatience, but it is absolutely worth the wait. The museum's newest interactive exhibit aims to dispel many of the myths surrounding sharks and the idea that they are terrifying. It does exactly that and makes it fun for both kids and adults.

Read on for our full review of the exhibit at one of our favorite kid-friendly museums in NYC, and find more must-see exhibits in our Museums Guide.

Real-life toy soldiers who salute you when you enter, shelves overflowing the larger-than-life stuffed friends, toys classic and contemporary, and dozens of charismatic salespeople waiting to blow your mind with magic tricks, monster makers, and more—walking into the iconic FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center is an all-senses immersion into childhood wonder—and we haven't even mentioned the dance-on piano!

With lines stretching down the block, the well-known toy store has reinvented itself and re-established its spot as a must-visit destination for tourists, but it's also one of our favorite indoor places to play on bad weather days. Read on for nine reasons we love FAO Schwarz, the iconic, long-running toy retailer.

If you're looking for a cool new outing, bundle up and head over to the Brooklyn Children Museum's new rooftop ArtRink, which transforms the space into an art-filled winter wonderland. The 3,200-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink is the main attraction on the museum's newly bedecked rooftop, which also features interactive art installations and plenty of places to cozy up—all under the sparkling lights of a giant rooftop canopy.

As the mother of a 3- and 5-year-old, we've visited Storybook Land in the past, and both our children were enamored with the little kid-friendly theme park, but a recent visit to Storybook Land’s Christmas Fantasy with Lights proved to be truly spectacular, and it's an excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit!

The theme park is bedazzled in holiday lights annually from mid-November through the end of December and a visit is truly one of the top holiday events for little ones in New Jersey. Read on for our full review and start planning your holiday outing.

Local families and visitors take note: New York state has reinstituted its mask mandate, while New York City's COVID vaccine requirement rules now apply to children ages 5+. Here's what you need to know about where vaccines are required and the latest on mask mandates in NYC and nearby so you can enjoy all the city has to offer during the magical holiday season and beyond.