New York City is filled with great indoor places for kids to play. However, many drop-in indoor romping spots like play spaces and kiddie gyms cater to really young kids. Now that my son is almost nine, he's aged out of most of them, which always leaves us scrambling to find age-appropriate indoor fun (we can only go to the Museum of Natural History so many times).

That's why I was so excited when Modern Pinball opened near me in Kips Bay. A massive pinball showroom, Modern Pinball doubles as an arcade where visitors of all ages can play on more than 30 different machines, both new releases and restored vintage games. It's a total nostalgia trip for parents and introduces the analog wonders of pinball to a new generation. Judging from how much my son loved going to Modern Pinball, it's particularly fun for hard-to-please tweens, who are stuck in that weird phase where they're either too old or too young for so many activities. Bonus: No quarters required. You can train to be a pinball wizard all day for a flat fee.

Over the years, I've learned that it's the little things that make a big impression on kids. Since Valentine's Day is all about making our loved ones feel special, it's the perfect time to surprise the with an out of the ordinary breakfast treat. This super easy Valentine's Day parfait will wow your kids and you can still get your beauty rest. And it's healthy enough to become a new morning staple.

Primarily a residential neighborhood located in north-central Queens, Flushing has a bustling commercial center along Main Street filled with a wide variety of restaurants, chain stores and culture spots like Flushing Town Hall. The neighborhood is particularly well known for its Chinatown section around Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, where you'll find lots of dim sum eateries, specialty shops and the borough's annual Lunar New Year Parade every winter.

But Flushing, like all of Queens, is a true melting pot with residents and businesses from a multitude of diverse backgrounds. It's also home to many lovely landmarked buildings built in different eras and architectural styles. You can walk through history at the 17th-century John Bowne House, the Victorian Voelker Orth Museum and iconic relics from two 20th-century World's Fairs held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

This month, we'll offer an in-depth look at everything Flushing, Queens has to offer families, including our favorites spots to play, explore and experience with kids. We're also highlighting the major family attractions in the Willets Point section of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, like the Queens Museum and Citi Field. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are 20th Avenue to the north and Flushing Meadows Corona Park to the south, Grand Central Parkway to the west and Utopia Parkway to the east. We kick off our coverage with the top 25 things to do with kids in Flushing, Queens.