Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Westchester

Kids love a birthday party filled with games and pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. Photo courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese

Most Westchester restaurants will offer some kind of birthday package. But what if you want something more for your child’s special day than table service in a quiet room at the back of the restaurant? What if you want a truly unique experience? 

Fortunately, Westchester County has lots of restaurants, some exclusive to the area and others with multiple locations, that offer a wide range of singular birthday celebrations. With that in mind, here are 10 of Westchester’s most entertaining and unique birthday experiences.

Check out our rundown of the best birthday party places for toddlers in Westchester and more in our Kids' Birthday Party Guide for Westchester Families

18 Best Places to Go Camping on Long Island with Kids

Hither Hills State Park campground offers oceanfront camping in Montauk.

Families have bonded over camping for generations, and Long Island campgrounds can offer oceanside views, hiking trails, historic landmarks, and even lighthouses. Happy campers can enjoy roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on tent walls, chasing after fireflies, and otherwise celebrating nature.

We've compiled a list of the best camping destinations in Nassau and Suffolk counties just waiting to host you and your family. Some are located in our favorite state parks, while others are in county parks, where residency restrictions might apply. Other camping spots are private or corporately run and open to all. Regardless, camping is an especially popular Long Island pastime from May to October, so book soon if you plan to go camping this season.

Find more great outdoor fun in our Guide to Playgrounds and Parks on Long Island, and more vacation inspiration in our Long Island Getaway Guide.

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in New Jersey

Celebrate a birthday on the mini golf course after a special dinner at Duffer's in Wildwood.

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.

Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Los Angeles

Photo by Frontburner, courtesy of The Melting Pot.

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

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants near Madison Square Garden

Zou Zou's has a chic vibe and serves a flavorful selection of Mediterranean-inspired fare. Photo by author

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.

Preparing for Summer Camp and a (Printable) Camp Packing Checklist

Pack together, so kids know where to find their stuff! Photo courtesy of Canva

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.

Best Montessori Preschools in New York City

Battery Park Montessori's authentic trilingual Montessori approach provides an immersive language experience. Photo courtesy of the school

Picking out a preschool in NYC is no simple feat. From dual-language and immersion programs to outdoor and nature-themed classes, there are so many options and, as always, so little time. But, if you're considering sending your child to a Montessori school, we've got the details on some of the top Montessori preschools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

For the uninitiated, Montessori is an educational philosophy developed more than a century ago that encourages kids to be independent and learn at their own pace. Typically students are grouped by ability rather than age, classrooms are outfitted with specific learning materials, and specially trained teachers act as observers and facilitators. Read on to see what makes these 12 Montessori preschools in NYC extra special, and you just might find the perfect fit for your little one.

Find more options in our Preschool Guide and Directory, where you can search for NYC preschools by program type, philosophy, or neighborhood.

50 Magna-Tiles Games and Building Ideas for Kids

What treasures will you find at the end of this Magna-Tiles rainbow? Photo courtesy of Magna-Tiles

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.

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