There are very few things that can lure me into Midtown's big department stores during the holiday season. While I do make an annual exception for Macy's Santaland, the real holiday magic lies outside the doors as the holiday windows come alive with spectacular displays.

Always a Mommy Poppins favorite, and certainly a must-do FREE outing, a holiday windows walk in NYC is especially exciting this year, with interactive elements and beloved characters. We spent a good part of our Sunday afternoon checking out the dazzling displays. Read on for a peek at their magic, and relive the fun of NYC holiday windows in years past.

Chelsea Market, an enormous food hall and marketplace located in the former factory that was the birthplace of the Oreo cookie, has a little something for everyone, from fancy chocolates to grilled cheese. The building’s unique architecture and convenient location near the High Line make it a popular NYC shopping and eating spot. But one of the best things about shopping at Chelsea Market is that you don’t have to worry about anyone leaving with an empty stomach. Even the pickiest eaters can find something they love among the bakeries, pizza shops, and burger joints inside.

If want to introduce your kids to a variety of delicious foods from around the world—or you're just looking for an indoor activity (that's not another indoor play zone or museum), there is enough here for a fun afternoon or morning outing. Pro tip: It's best to avoid lunchtime when it is really crowded, or better yet try a weekend morning when the place is a ghost town. Here's what to taste, see, and do at Chelsea Market with kids.

Now that Santa has paraded into our living rooms and shopping malls, the 2018 ho-ho-holiday season is officially underway. And whether you have an infant who can really only look cute in his or her "First Christmas" footie pajamas, a toddler who’s a bit more clued-in to the Santa scene, or a preschooler who’s been on his or her best behavior to impress your Elf on the Shelf, you can rest assured that you’ll have enough fun things to keep your under-5 crew occupied.

We’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of some wonderful holiday must-dos to take you through the New Year—from Christmas light displays to breakfasts with Santa, rides aboard the Polar Express to the merriest musicals—and we’re pretty sure you’ll find them nice!

So, cue up that seasonal soundtrack and make a note of all the local little one–friendly yuletide hangs in our Holiday Guide, plus be sure to check out everything festive flagged in our Event Calendar.

This time of year, kids can find Santa ho-ho-ho-ing it up at most holiday events in the area, like tree lightings, craft fairs, festive breakfasts, and fancy teas. We've rounded up some of our other favorite places where kids can see Santa in and around Boston, especially for a photo op that can make for the perfect Christmas card.

See our list below for more than a dozen places where you can get a photo with Santa near Boston; most visits are free (with photos being available for purchase). All the kids have to do is be sure that they're good, for goodness sake! 

If you are one of the many Angelenos whose paths rarely lead them through La Cañada-Flintridge, then perhaps you've never visited Descanso Gardens. It would be understandable; most of us need to drive a befuddling combination of highway numbers to get there. Well, 'tis the season to download Waze and get there, because Descanso's holiday light display, Enchanted: Forest of Light, is worth the drive and then some. Home holiday lights are lovely and cheery. Boat parades are delightful and so SoCal. But Descanso's holiday woodland light show is an experience unto itself and one to bundle up the kids and make time for.

Attention, Disney fans: Celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday at at the latest family pop-up to hit New York City. From his humble beginnings in “Steamboat Willie” to the cultural icon that we all know and love today, Mickey Mouse gets the full biographical treatment in a museum experience that offers a little something for everyone.

Located near NYC's High Line, Mickey: The True Original Exhibition celebrates 90 years of Mickey Mouse’s influence on art and pop culture. The 16,000 square-foot exhibition features classic memorabilia for all the nostalgic feels, plus contemporary work from popular artists. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the pop-up, immersive museum celebrating Disney’s most beloved character.

If you’ve ever traveled to an NYC-area airport in a car service with a baby or toddler in tow, you’re likely familiar with your options. Either you lug your own car or booster seat along and install it on the fly, you take your chances and hold your little one on your lap for the ride, or you try out a service that offers car seats.

The problem with the last option is that many of the companies offering car and booster seats often arrive with improperly installed seats, a driver who doesn't know how to install them, or an old or out-of-date model. Or, sometimes, no car seat at all. The last time I tried using our local car service, the driver shrugged his shoulders and popped the trunk revealing an ancient car seat that was clearly the wrong size for my 3 year old. And, if you need more than one car seat? Fuggedaboutit. 

Enter Kidmoto: a new service in NYC that is striving to solve this dilemma. Catering to those traveling with small children, the Kidmoto app connects parents to a network of professionally trained drivers who provide secured child car seats for safe airport and cruise ship transportation.

Read on for the lowdown on everything you’ll need to know to make your next airport trip a car seat success story.

Calling all sleuths! There’s a mystery brewing in Jersey City, and Liberty Science Center needs your help to solve it. At The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes, the latest exhibit at the favorite New Jersey science spot, children and adults hunt for clues in a beautifully detailed exhibit that teaches the science behind detective work and puts it to the test to solve an elaborate murder mystery.

Hunt for clues on the streets of Victorian London, learn about poisonous plants, forensics, send Morse code messages, and then, detective notebook in hand, document your deductions by embossing, stamping, rubbing, and punching holes in paper. Finally, puzzle out what the all evidence means to solve the mystery.

This highly interactive and educational exhibit solves the one mystery families are always looking to crack: where to spend a great day that the whole family will enjoy. And we’re here to clue you in on what to expect, who it’s best for, and what you need to know before you go.