It’s that time of the year again: “best of” season! Well, we’re not immune here at Mommy Poppins, and it’s such a delight to highlight fun things to do with kids that have opened this past year, instead of closed. We searched our archives, our memories, your Facebook recommendations, and more to compile this list of the best kid-friendly openings in Los Angeles in 2021. From a massive and amazing new museum to cool places for kids to play or do art—and of course all the new things at our local amusement parks, there have actually been quite a lot of new things to do this year.

Without further ado, here is our list of the 21 best kid-friendly destinations that opened in 2021 in Los Angeles. Wonder what 2022 will bring…

In 2021, Houston saw some exciting openings for new activities, restaurants, and things to do for kids all over the city. Whether your kids love entertainment centers, art, nature, science, or just a great donut, we have the list of the 10 best new kid-friendly things and places that opened or upgraded in 2021 in Houston.

As 2021 draws to a close, we're looking back on the year that was in NYC. There were highs that let us touch the sky, and lows that left us reeling, regrouping, and reevaluating. But in between it all, we managed to get out and enjoy a revitalized, rebounding city that packed plenty of kid-friendly fun. With that in mind, here are 15 highlights that make up our annual best kid-friendly openings in NYC.

As we prepare to count down to the end of another extraordinary year, we’re looking back at all the wonderful new kid-friendly attractions that opened in New Jersey in 2021, as well as few delayed openings from 2020. We added a few new indoor play spaces, a new water park, and a museum dedicated to an iconic anti-slavery activist.

If you didn’t get enough shopping during the holiday season, swing by the new Toys R Us flagship at American Dream. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center. Speaking of Legoland, the much-anticipated theme park finally opened its doors this year just over the border in New York. We've also added outposts of popular chains, including The Gravity Vault, and what’s old is new again, as the State Theatre New Jersey reopened its doors after extensive renovations.

Whether you want to play all day or shop till you drop, you’ll find plenty of options on our list. Read on for the 14 coolest, brightest, and best new openings in New Jersey for kids.

The pandemic still slowed things down in 2021, but it didn’t stop our city from getting some incredible new additions like playground upgrades, art exhibitions, and entries to the ice cream scene. With an emphasis on safety and outdoor activities, Philly families have been able to enjoy new play spaces, culture, and of course, some sweet treats over the past year. So in the spirit of year-end list-making, we're running down the best kid-friendly destinations that opened in Philly in 2021.

Venues across the DC area gradually opened back up in 2021 after being closed for much of the year prior due to the pandemic. And along with the reopening of many beloved museums, indoor play spaces, and other kid-friendly places, there were several new things that opened near DC for kids and families. They include the National Children's Museum, the newly renovated Franklin Park, and several other new exhibits, playgrounds, play spaces, and more.

Here are our picks for the 12 best things that opened near DC for kids and families in 2021. Be sure to check the websites for updated Covid policies!

In 2021, Chicago saw an awesome variety of new kid-friendly exhibits, activities, restaurants, pop-ups, and more for families. Many of these new places in Chicago for kids came as unique options to give people a way to get out and enjoy time together during a trying year. If you didn’t get a chance to visit some of the great spots on this list in 2021, these are all open for business and ready for exploration in 2022.