Does your animal-crazed kid want a critter-themed birthday party? While you could just take everyone to the zoo or aquarium, it might be easier (and more fun) to have the party at home this year. This way, you can have a larger socially distanced party outside, or keep it intimate—with more one-on-one animal time, kids won't miss having a huge party. Plus, when the party's at your place, there are no extra fees for staying late and no public restrooms to contend with.

The best part is that having adorable animals show up at their very own house will surprise and delight your little animal lover. These are our favorite businesses that offer a variety of animals and party experiences and are happy to bring the party to you.

Located just a few miles north of the Bronx border, Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers is a sprawling, scenic urban oasis that can be enjoyed by the whole family year-round.

Living as close to the park as we do, I would take my children there at least once a week, and they always enjoyed a trip to the “fountains park,” as they called it. They loved running around the Walled Garden, with its beautiful flowers and pools filled with goldfish, climbing up to the Temple of Love for a spectacular view of the Hudson River, or just hiking the many trails which crisscross the grounds.

Read on for five reasons to love this natural gem and find more ways to enjoy the great outdoors with Westchester kids in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds.

Whether you're a serious cyclist or a toddler on training wheels, riding a bike is an activity to enjoy with the whole family. Just like President John F. Kennedy famously said, "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."

Luckily, the Atlanta area is filled with designated bike paths that incorporate our city's beautiful trees. We scoped out the best ones for families--flat, fun and doable for all ages (restrooms required). These trails are a perfect addition to our outdoors guide. After a ride, why not pay a visit to one of these Atlanta destination playgrounds?

They might be too young for the playground, but Long Island babies (and their caregivers) can still enjoy our great parks. Spring is the perfect time to strap the baby in the stroller and get out to explore one of these 15 stroller walks along Long Island.

Of course, not all parks are created equal, especially when it comes to taking your baby out for fresh air. Some parks are aesthetically beautiful, but the trails are rocky and covered in sand, making pushing a stroller nearly impossible. Others are smoothly paved but have nothing for you and your little one to see. Here are our picks for Long Island walks with the best terrain and scenery for a springtime outing.

Find more things to do in our Spring Fun Guide and plenty of age-appropriate activities in our Baby Guide for New and Expecting Parents.

Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland is a welcome oasis for your little ones, where they can enjoy a hike, interact with nature, and more. Here are 10 reasons to love Brookside Gardens.

Betsy Head Park is the latest NYC green space to get a multi-million dollar overhaul. Renovations have wrapped up on the $30 million Anchor Parks project and the Brownsville, Brooklyn, park, and it's welcoming visitors just in time for the springtime temps.

Read on for the details of this multi-year renovation, which brought tons of upgrades to the 10.5-acre park, including state-of-the-art athletic fields, event spaces, a large skate park, the first parkour fitness course in the city, and more amenities. Find more destination-worthy outdoor spaces in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds for NYC Kids.

After a year-long shutdown, two of New York City's favorite amusement parks are ready to roar back to life. Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park, the heart of Coney Island, are set to reopen on Friday, April 9.

To mark the occasion, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is holding its annual "Blessing of the Rides," that day, with locals gathering for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in an event honoring the city's essential workers and ushering in a belated birthday celebration for the namesake Wonder Wheel, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020. Look for more centennial celebrations later in the season.

Keeping with time-honored traditions, Luna Park will celebrate with its annual egg cream christening of the Cyclone. It will also honor essential workers by giving 500 frontline heroes free admission for the day and offering local hospital workers the first chance to ride the Cyclone. 

A lot of things have changed in the last year. Many shops and restaurants have closed, a few new things have opened. But only one thing completely disappeared: LACMA. Okay, technically the museum is still there. It’s even opening up again on April 1. But the main buildings (the Bing Theater, along with the Ahmanson and Hammer buildings and the Art of the Americas building) have all vanished.

I recently visited to see what’s happening at Hancock Park and learned that while a vast majority of the art is in storage, there are actually lots of reasons to visit the LACMA campus—including outside art, inside art, scientists at work, cocktails in the courtyard, and a whole new museum. Read on to find out why a family trip to LACMA should be in the cards this (or any!) weekend.