I've been hearing about the holiday lights at the Mission Inn in Riverside for as long as I've been writing about SoCal events, but it took me until this season to finally take the plunge into slightly-less-daunting-than-usual traffic to see the spectacle for myself. I had to know if the lights that USA Today calls the Best Holiday Lights Display in the Nation really are all that. More to the point, are they worth driving an hour or more, when we know there are some pretty impressive holiday lights a whole lot closer to home? I filled a minivan with the toughest audience I know (five 13-year-olds) and drove to Riverside on a Friday night to answer that question. Really.

Now that the New Year is upon us, the holiday menu is in the rear view. This year's restaurant week runs January 14-26, 2018, and there are more than 100 different restaurants to choose from. We've gone through the options and picked eight options for the family to try. Every winter and fall, restaurants offer three-course dinners for $35 per person. Some will also offer a three-course lunch for $20 per person. Resrvations are required and can usually be made through OpenTable. We also recommend checking out these spots for kids to eat free.

If you've ever wanted to try some of the fabulous seaside fare at Galveston's top restaurants, there's no better time to do it than during Galveston Restaurant Week. Galveston may be a bit of a drive for some Houstonians, but with so many things to do around the island and reduced menu prices at many of the island's restaurants from Jan. 6- 21, 2018, it's worth the trip! We've made planning your day just a bit easier and rounded up our top 10 picks for kid-friendly restaurants to visit during Galveston Restaurant Week.

It may be winter, but it’s never too early to start thinking about summer camp. From day camps to art camps to riding and horse camps, the options in New Jersey are endless. If you’re looking to get your little Serena Williams some fundamental instruction or give your beginner basic lessons, try a week long tennis camp for fitness, team play and overall summer fun! And to find out all the day camp options in NJ, check out our New Jersey Summer Day Camp Guide.

My twins turn 8 this summer and we're embarking on our first foray into kid sports!  I'll admit, this Momma was not at all prepared for the idea of my kiddos competing in a sport of any kind, but I'll happily report the benefits of participating far outweigh any negatives.  Lucky for us, living in New London county, with our miles of coastline, a host of recreational areas and award winning facilities catering to a wide spectrum of sports and abilities, this area boasts a gold mine of summer sport camp options. Check out our Summer Camp Guide and our Summer Camp Directory for even more fun ideas.

Exploring the great cities of Europe with children in tow may sound more complicated than it's worth—except that it's really worth it. And speaking of great cities of Europe, there is none greater than Vienna. Once the seat of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Central European capital packs in museums, palaces, and epic landmarks the way Mary Poppins packs surprises in her carpetbag. Vienna is a feast for the eyes, with a feast for the belly waiting at every corner, too. I'll take Vienna over Paris every time.

But kids? What's there for them, amidst all of these old buildings? If you dread dragging little ones on cultural tours, but long for a bit of culture yourself, check out Vienna. In summer, the city has an astonishing number of kids' activities, well organized in the city's Ferienspiel plan listing free and cheap kids' activities all over town. In winter, holiday themed activities turn Vienna into a twinkling, often snowy, wonderland.

Too wet? Too cold? Too hot? No problem. The climate-controlled Bounce Town in Canton provides a great outing for children, no matter what the season or the reason. Oversized inflatables will entertain for hours: rush up the ladder of a fire truck, go under the sea on a Nemo-like adventure, chase each other through a Frozen bouncy house, giggle your way down the bumpy Kahuna slide (my daughter couldn’t get enough of this one), and challenge each other to a basketball shootout. Kids will leave exhausted, happy, and begging to return.

Family destinations really upped their game in 2017. We saw amazing new attractions at some of our favorite amusement parks, the opening of the largest indoor water park in the US, and the opening of the brand new Dr. Seuss Museum. LEGOLAND's new Beach Resort is so awesome it went right into our list of mind-blowing kid-friendly hotels, and technology brought us a whole new way to go camping. Our writers have been busy checking them all out and sharing insider tips. Speaking of insiders, our new Disney experts gave us the scoop on visiting California's Disneyland with a baby or without. 

Read on for our top travel reviews of family-friendly resorts and beaches, great cities, theme parks, and attractions of 2017. Want more family travel inspiration? Read our top travel spots of 2014 and 2015 or check out our Family Travel Guide.