These puppet shows in NYC are the perfect first-time theater experience. Even if your kids can't sit still for more than five minutes, chances are they'll make it through a puppet show. The colorful characters are captivating, the stories are often adaptations of familiar fairy tales, the tickets are FREE or cheap (and certainly a lot less than nabbing seats for our favorite Broadway shows). Puppet shows are also short, and if your kids make silly faces at the stage, the puppets won't get offended (and neither will the puppeteers—they get it).

While the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park is the best-known destination for children's puppet shows in New York City, there are many other companies regularly mounting puppet shows for families, and a few offer birthday party packages.

A few other NYC theaters, notably the New Victory, also present puppet shows, like the upcoming Baobab and Wink. DR2 Theatre is also hosting a return engagement of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Be sure to check our Event Calendar for even more puppet fun, including a variety of interactive Puppetsburg puppet show productions.

The Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles is hands down the best mall in LA for kids. And it only keeps getting better with recent additions like the American Girl Store and The LEGO Store. 

This attractive outdoor shopping mall and celebrity hot spot (we’re looking at you, J-Lo, and J-Law) make it feel like you arrived at a luxury vacation spot in the middle of the city. From swanky family lounges to interactive stores, special holiday events, a movie theater, and even an escape room, it’s easy to spend several hours discovering all the family-friendly pockets. We’re here to help guide you through the hidden spots, like the pirate ship in the play space, amid the cacti feng shui. 

Shop beyond the mall at the best baby stores and black-owned businesses, and browse our restaurant guide for Los Angeles and Orange County families for other favorite spots to dine with kids (besides Eataly and other favorite noshes at the Westfield Century City mall!).

Summer camps in San Francisco will be taking place before you know it. That means it's already time for planning and registrations, and those summer camp registrations usually begin in February. It's no secret that summer camps can be costly, especially if you have more than one kiddo, but luckily there are some fantastic free and affordable summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Trust us when we say you'll be glad to have something booked for the kids to keep them busy and active. 

There are options galore for free and affordable summer camps in San Francisco that include sports camps, coding camps, nature camps, STEM camps, and so many more camps to select. These free and affordable summer camp options will let curious minds wander and create summer camp memories that kids will fondly look back on. We’ve rounded up the best free and cheap summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area. 

Cost-savvy parents will also love free museum days, and if the little ones are too young to start camp, take them to a baby and toddler class. If you're full steam ahead on summer planning, check out our summer activities guide for San Francisco Bay Area kids. 

Looking for restaurants serving breakfast in Houston? Check out one of these kid-friendly breakfast restaurants for when the kids are up early.

Where is the best place to take kids for breakfast in Houston? Whether you prefer eggs and bacon, breakfast tacos, pancakes, migas, donuts, or masala eggs, we've got the answer for you. All parents know that eating out with kids can be challenging, especially in the evening when they're tired. So why not take your kids out first thing in the morning and enjoy delicious food when they are at their best? Then they're fueled and ready for a busy day. We've picked independent and chain restaurants that we know will welcome you and your kids to fill up on breakfast treats. If your kids have woken you up early, these restaurants are open early to serve you breakfast, and some have an online waitlist, so you don't need to stand in line with hungry kids!

Don't worry if you miss your early morning dining. Some choices serve all-day breakfast, or you can check out our full restaurant guide for more ideas on family-friendly restaurants in Houston. 

There are so many museums in Chicago! Here are our favorite museums for kids in Chicago.

Chicago has a lot to offer for kids: great food, the tallest building in the U.S., trains, and the lakefront. But one of its biggest draws is its wealth of amazing museums. Sure, the half dozen children's museums in the city and suburbs are a huge draw, but there are at least as many museums that appeal to the whole family. Learn about anything from science to history to art to writers in museums in downtown Chicago, in the neighborhoods, or in the suburbs. For the record, we had a tough time narrowing this article down to our favorite dozen, so click through the links to see some additional favorites at the end of the article, or check out our Chicago Museum Guide.

Of course many of these museums have their own free days, and many of them have fun events geared toward families and listed on our calendar. But whether you're going for a specific event or just to have fun, you should have a great time at any of these fantastic (and educational) museums for kids and families.

Pssst...you can save on some of these museums and other top attractions in Chicago with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass.

All-inclusive resorts are the way to go when you need a family vacation that's both relaxing and activity-packed, where delicious food and drinks flow freely, and where you don't have to worry about pulling out your wallet. The best all-inclusive resorts offer so many fun activities for grown-ups and kids, such as swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Many of them even have kids' clubs so the adults can get a break. Plus, the plethora of fabulous all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico make it easy to escape the cold weather for a warm and sunny winter getaway.

We've rounded up some of our favorite all-inclusive resorts in the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean for families. Of course, they don't always come cheap, so we've included a couple of more budget-friendly options, too. These soup-to-nuts getaways will please the most discerning pint-sized guests (and their paying adults).

Check out our Guide to Family Resorts and Hotels for even more great places to stay on your next family vacation.

When the weather keeps you inside and your child is literally climbing the walls, it's time to head to ninja warrior gyms, obstacle courses, and parkour facilities in Boston. These gyms channel the TV show American Ninja Warrior. Just like the show, the indoor obstacles at these family-friendly gyms and indoor play spaces in Massachusetts require speed, agility, balance, and strength to complete. They are perfect for little monkeys who love to climb and appreciate a physical challenge. If your kids are inspired by the show, or just need a productive way to channel their energy, we've got a great list of Boston-area gyms with obstacle courses perfect for aspiring ninja warriors.

We love Boston's indoor play spaces for helping kids get their energy out. Find that and more in our Boston Indoor Fun Guide; it has great ideas for keeping kids active when it's cold or wet outside. And if your little one isn't so little anymore, see our guide to Teen Birthday Parties in Boston: Cool Party Places for Teens. 

Ninja warrior gyms, obstacle courses, and parkour classes are the perfect places for kids to burn off energy when it's cold or rainy outside—or when they just need something a little different than a playground or indoor play space. At ninja warrior gyms and obstacle courses, kids can safely channel their inner ninja without doing flips off the couch or climbing the furniture. And when you've got children of multiple ages—including tweens or teens—they will all have a blast jumping, climbing, and swinging through the various obstacles.

Here are 10 great ninja warrior gyms, obstacle courses, and places to do parkour near DC for kids. These include both indoor and outdoor obstacle courses and ninja warrior gyms where even grown-ups can get in on the fun. For more things to do indoors near DC, check out our Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Kids in DC, which includes our lists of free indoor places to play and awesome trampoline parks near DC. Who knows? Maybe you'll have the next American Ninja Warrior on your hands!