It’s that time of the year again: “best of” season! Well, we’re not immune here at Mommy Poppins, and it’s such a delight to highlight fun things to do with kids in Los Angeles that are brand new and you might not have experienced yet. We searched our archives, our memories, your Facebook recommendations, and more to compile this list of the best kid-friendly openings in Los Angeles in 2022. With a new entertainment center (with duckpin bowling, for my fellow former east coasters!), new playspaces, and maybe the best pizza in town (are we fighting?), Los Angeles has more fun things to do with kids than ever before.

Without further ado, here is our list of the best kid-friendly destinations that opened in 2022 in Los Angeles. I wonder what 2023 will bring… For a peek at events already on our January radar, check out our January Calendar of Events in Los Angeles!

When it comes to kid-friendly fun, we might be biased in our thought that NYC has it all and in 2022 the city that never sleeps sprung back to life with tons of brand-new, family-friendly openings adding destinations and attractions begging for our attention. From a brand new kid-focused museum in the Bronx to destination-worthy, story-inspired pop-ups nearby and toddler-friendly stage shows, plus fun playgrounds, parks, and pop-ups, here are our picks for the best kid-friendly openings in NYC in 2022.

The end of the year has us waxing nostalgic for the year that was and spotlighting the best new kid-friendly openings of 2022 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with this look back at eight awesome openings, events, and things to do Best of all? Many of these new-to-the-scene family fun spots are either open all year or still going strong.

Whether your outings this year took you to one of these new openings, or you revisited old favorites like the region's beautiful farms, hit up a festival or two, or simply enjoyed local hikes, and explored destination parks, it's a perfect time to look back on the family-friendly memories made all around and appreciate the kid-friendly fun in our own backyard.

As we turn the calendar to 2023, we wish you and yours a very Happy New Year and thank you for being a reader. Cheers to a new year filled with more family-friendly fun.

Long Island enjoyed several kid-friendly openings in 2022 that represented a modest return to normalcy for parents who longed for additions to the time-honored lineup of family-friendly experiences we’ve grown to love.

While it’s true that, at times, we leaned on Long Island’s beaches, farm stands, and libraries for another year of family fun, we also saw the doors open on new play spaces, hiking and biking trails, and family-friendly restaurants. Some of them were even FREE for the public to enjoy. And as these new venues opened, our parent-strong team of local writers was there to give you Mommy Poppins’ first impressions.

Here is a look back at Long Island's kid-friendly openings in 2022 that inspired us, elevated us (literally), enlightened us, but mostly just brought us together. Check them out at your convenience and know we will be here in 2023 with the skinny on all family-friendly things to do on Long Island.

As we say a fond farewell to 2022, we also remember it was a good year for saying hello to many family-friendly attractions that opened in New Jersey this year. From indoor play places to outdoor playgrounds—and even an enormous Ferris wheel—NJ's great tradition of having lots of exciting new things to do is alive and well. Read on for the best kid-friendly openings in New Jersey in 2022.

After two years of pandemic-era closures and restrictions, DC opened back up in full force in 2022, and families flocked to enjoy all of the new goings-on. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum reopened in October after a seven-month closure, four years into a seven-year, $1 billion remodel. The new Museum of Illusions came to CityCenterDC, and several buzzworthy exhibits—including a Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Hirshhorn and an immersive King Tut experience at the National Geographic Society—drew crowds.

Families also enjoyed several new parks, playgrounds, and indoor play spaces in Maryland and Northern Virginia, as well as a massive new fitness and wellness center in Baltimore. And beloved holiday events Boo at the Zoo and ZooLights finally returned to Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Read on for our favorite kid-friendly openings and happenings of 2022. Here's looking forward to more exciting openings in 2023!

2022 in Atlanta has been making news for all the great, kid-friendly spots that have opened this year. In fact, as we speak Atlanta is still making headlines for 2022 with Winter Storm Elliott's freakishly cold temperatures (Christmas weekend 2022 is the coldest it has been in years in Atlanta). Stay cozy by curling up to your device and reading about our favorite openings and new events that made Atlanta children smile this year!

We at Mommy Poppins love a good recap, so we've rounded up awesome things in Atlanta this year. From engaging exhibits to delicious eateries, 2022 was a great year for Atlantans to try some fabulous new options. Take a look at just some of our favorites!

2022 in Chicago was a fun year. From museum openings to new exhibits and play spaces, there were some great additions to the Chicago kids space this year. To help ring in 2023, we’ll take a look back at some of the top openings, happenings, and other stuff we loved about 2022 in both Chicago and the rest of the country.

If you didn’t get to visit some of these great new spaces, they are great additions to your bucket list in 2023. For more kid-friendly fun in the new year, check out our round-up all things family in Chicago here.