Northridge isn't a must-visit destination for parents the way DTLA, Hollywood, and even Santa Monica are, but that's no reason to avoid it. You may just find that this little Valley suburb west of the 405 has a lot of the cute restaurants, fun shops, and awesome playgrounds found in other parts of the city—but with fewer crowds, less traffic, and tons of free parking. Sounds better now, doesn't it? This not-entirely-sleepy suburb has plenty of locations for kids (and even one for college-age kids, at least if they attend CSUN). Here are a few ways to enjoy a visit to this corner of the San Fernando Valley.

Ah, New Year's Eve. What was once a wild night out can be downright grueling for parents already running on empty after weeks of holiday planning and organizing, er, fun. Wouldn't it be nice to convince the little ones that 5pm is the perfect time to ring in the New Year? Break out the confetti and sparkling apple cider, because Netflix has your back with 14 on-demand New Year's Eve countdowns, many of them featuring your kid's (or even your) favorite stars.

It's the no-cry solution to an early bedtime for all, because the new year can now happen any time you want it to happen. It's also a simple way to get kids in on the festivities, celebrating new adventures as a family. 

Looking for more New Year's Eve fun? Venture out armed with our list of the best kid-friendly celebrations in your town: New York City, Los Angeles, Long Island, New Jersey, Boston, Connecticut, Philadelphia, and Houston.

The idea of teaching kids how to ski sounds great—until you tally up the cost. While it's possible to just let little ones sled or play in the snow for less, there's good news for anyone with a hankering to ski and a fifth-grader at home: The 5th Graders Ski Free Program has returned to the ski resort nearest you—Mountain High in Wrightwood.