It's prime season for end-of-year "best of" lists, and at Mommy Poppins, we love a good year-end roundup too. So we've searched our archives and scrolled through our Instagram feed to bring you this list of the best kid-friendly openings in NYC in 2019. From the debut of an entirely new neighborhood and shopping hotbed to some long awaited and highly anticipated openings, it's been quite a year for city kids. We've seen some classic destinations get upgrades and made some new friends along the way.

Without further ado, here is our list of the 15 best kid-friendly destinations that opened (or re-opened!) in 2019 in New York City.

It’s getting cold outside, and you may already be running out of ideas for how to keep boredom at bay when it's too cold for the playground. There are only so many play dates that can be arranged, and there are only so many bounce houses and ball pits in NYC. So if you’re going to survive the remainder of these long, cold winter months with kids in tow you’ll need a bevy of activities that won’t break the bank.

Here’s a look at 10 Staten Island hotspots where toddlers can blow an afternoon playing and bigger kids will stay occupied too. The best part about all of these cultural centers, museums, bookstores and libraries? They all host free days and events.

If you're parent to a Star Wars fan (or are one yourself) and are looking for a way to burn off some sugar-fueled energy—without a pricey trip to Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland—the Lightsaber Dojo virtual reality experience might be the answer. Either as an add-on to seeing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or just as a great activity for a rainy day, your young jedis will get excited about a trip to Huntington Beach for some weapons-free lightsaber slashing.

There are plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh, North Carolina, with kids whether you're looking for a fun Southern city to explore with younger kids or beginning the college search with teens. 

Known as the "City of Oaks," thanks to its mighty trees, the North Carolina state capital is the second-largest city in the state, right behind Charlotte. It's home to 12 colleges and universities, so it's no surprise that you'll find plenty of educational venues here, including museums and science centers. If you're also in the market for an action-packed good time, check out the go-karts and obstacle courses to arcades, escape rooms, and trampoline parks around Raleigh. We've also included our favorite free things to do in Raleigh for kids and noted at what ages free admission applies to some of the city's top attractions.

Here are 24 things to do in Raleigh for families, many of which are FREE.

Houston is a melting pot with cuisines from all over the world. Many of the city's restaurants are well known, and they have been featured on television shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Eat Street, Unique Eats, Man vs. Food, Cupcake Wars, Bizarre Foods, and Food Paradise. If you and your family enjoy trying different foods, you have to check out these Houston-area restaurants featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network, and Cooking Channel. Some of these incredible places offer kids menus and outdoor spaces for children to play while parents enjoy conversing over incredible eats.

And for more ideas on where to eat around the city, visit our Houston Restaurant Guide for families.

There are all sorts of local spots to play indoors when the weather gets frightful. And some of the best spots are absolutely free—including some very special local libraries, which feature unique play spaces along with shelves of books. Whether you’ve got a preschooler or a pre-teen, a trip to at least one of these libraries will be a fun, brain-boosting escape on a cold or wet day.

The new year is upon us, but let's not forget all the fun and exciting openings and attractions that 2019 brought Long Island kids. In 2019, Jones Beach and other state parks continued part of their million-dollar upgrade. Jones Beach also made a new addition to its holiday light show. Meanwhile, multiple playgrounds had ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and indoor play spaces continued to see a boom. Whether you spend your time in  Nassau or Suffolk, or prefer indoor or outdoor fun, 2020 is shaping up to be great for Long Island families. 

Whether your child's birthday falls in winter or you'd just rather not worry about weather (or your house getting wrecked), indoor birthday party spots are great for no-stress kids' celebrations. From trampolines to laser tag to cooking, these Connecticut kids' party venues appeal to a wide range of interests and offer an indoor space as well as many amenities, from supervision to paper goods.

We have more ideas for making your kids' special day magical in our Connecticut Birthday Party guide. For impromptu indoor celebrations, be sure to check out these CT indoor play spaces, too!