Taking the kids out to dinner can feel a lot like traveling with the circus; there's usually acrobatics occuring, it's really loud, and there may even be some ill-timed magic tricks. Because of this, eating out is something that we do sparingly, but we all know that sometimes you just need someone else to cook for the night. When that happens, our default choice is Tex-Mex. Free chips, fresh tortillas, gooey queso, and a side of guacamole... Tex-Mex is food heaven for kids! But the Tex-Mex restaurants on our list don't stop there—they also have another perk: free ice cream! 

For more restaurant recommendations, check out our Houston Kid-Friendly Restaurants Guide.

With dozens of colorful hands-on activities, the Crayola Experience Orlando is an amusement park for kids who love art! Inside this 70,000-square-foot space, you'll find enough creative play opportunities to keep your family busy all day (including a giant, crayon-themed playground). We were there for 4 hours and still didn't get to all of the 27 exhibits! Tickets cost less than $30 dollars per person, making the Crayola Experience a bargain compared to other Orlando theme parks and attractions. The age range of young visitors at Crayola Experience Orlando runs the gamut, from infants to teenagers. So tap into your inner child and get those creative juices flowing...here's your guide to the Crayola Experience Orlando!

There are a million great things to do in NYC, but which ones are truly fun and worth-it to visit with kids? New York City’s museums are world-class, its food scene is diverse and ever reinventing, and the city teems with history ranging from colonial times to the 2000s. We've visited them all and here are our recommendations of the best things to do in NYC with kids. Bookmark this list of the top 40 attractions in New York City until you've done them all!.

We’ve got picks for the most family-friendly hotels for your next visit and our guides to Kid-Friendly Restaurants, the best Museums and Galleries in NYC, and the top Parks and Playgrounds offer even more family-friendly picks to explore during your visit to New York City.

Los Angeles is full of iconic tourist attractions, from the Hollywood Sign to Universal Studios. Locals tend to skip many of these areas unless they have out-of-town guests, but some of the attractions are worth a visit any time of year, even if you live here. The Santa Monica Pier is a perfect example of one of these destinations, providing even life-long Angelenos with a full day of fun by the coast. From exploring the historical carousel and the Looff Hippodrome to riding the Ferris wheel and screaming on the rides on the Santa Monica Pier, the Pier is a great place to spend a day in the sun.

While you're in Santa Monica, visit the Cayton Children's Museum, hit the beach, explore Third Street Promenade, and bring along our checklist of the 30 Best Things To Do in Santa Monica with Kids. For more great ways to play tourist in LA, check out our Los Angeles Visitors Guide for Families.

Park Slope is indeed one of our favorite kid-friendly neighborhoods in NYC thanks to its great restaurants, activities, schools, and parks. Now there's one more reason to love The Slope: The neighborhood just got a little greener, thanks to the opening of The Sill's brand new retail shop.

The Sill, well-known for its mail-order plant business, has opened a brick-and-mortar store in the heart of Park Slope. Even better: It's partnered with Blank Street Coffee, so you can grab some takeaway snacks while you browse the amazing selection of greenery.

Enjoy the outdoors at Huntsville State Park - a majestic forest with a 215-acre lake and 21 miles of trails about an hour north of downtown Houston. Three streams flow into Lake Raven, where you can swim, fish, and boat. Giant trees provide great shade, and there are many beautiful picnic spots. If you love the outdoors, you will enjoy the opportunities to bike, hike, see wildlife, camp, and more.

Ready to go? Check out our list below of 20 ideas for things to do in Huntsville State Park with Kids. And for information on more parks in the Houston area, check out our Guide to Playgrounds and Parks in Houston.

It may be called The Second City, but Chicago is second to none when it comes to urban vacation destinations for families. It's easy to get around using public transportation and taxis, and there are lots of kid-friendly activities in Chicago with the Loop, giving families the chance to visit multiple tourist attractions in Chicago in one day. For example, you can check out Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, and the Art Institute without ever getting in a cab or train. Or, visit the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium all on foot.  There are also plenty of opportunities to explore beautiful landscapes at Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Gardens, and Oak Street Beach. Did we mention that Chicago's signature foods are mainly kid-friendly dishes like pizza and hot dogs? And who doesn't love popcorn and ice cream?

Here are the top 25 tourst attractions in Chicago that out-of-town families should visit the next time they come to the Windy City!

If you're staying in town and plan to visit multiple attractions in the Chicago area (we’re looking at you, people with visiting relatives you’ll be squiring around town), it’s worth it to look into a Go City - Chicago  sightseeing pass to save money on entrance fees to attractions like the Navy Pier, Field Museum, the aquarium, and the planetarium.

Let Atlanta's great food hall expansion continue! Whether you live ITP or OTP, we guarantee there is a food hall in your vicinity...or at least one about to open. Atlanta seems to be going through a food hall renaissance, with delicious spots intown as well as in the surburbs. And these delicious food halls are perfect for families, especially those with picky eaters, varying dietary needs, and kids who just need to move around in a big space at mealtime!

So what is a food hall? It's sort of an elevated version of the mall food court you may have hung out in your teens, except better and more creative cuisine, upscale setting, and no Orange Julius. Or think of it as mini restaurants built as individual stalls? However you define them, food halls offer hungry patrons a chance to eat amazing dishes from a variety of chefs in a centralized locale.

Here in Atlanta, kid-friendly food halls offer both indoor and outdoor seating at large tables —great for meeting new people or dining in a large group. Some even have communal games, like corn hole and oversized chess sets, that kids can play and safe areas that younger diners can explore while their parents eat. Food halls offer a great opportunity to expose children to different cuisines...and if necessary, bribe them with something sweet as almost every food hall has at least one dessert stall.

Grab your appetite and fork because here's a look at kid-friendly food halls in Atlanta!