It is a tradition among many of our friends—and not only the Jewish ones—to order Chinese food on Christmas Day. It makes perfect sense: You're exhausted from staying up all night trying to conjure up holiday magic, so why not have something everyone loves delivered to your door? If you don't celebrate Christmas, a day when just about everything is closed is still an excellent excuse to order in from one of these Chinese restaurants open on Christmas and watch family movies.

While you might already have your own "go-to" local restaurants on speed dial, we've rounded up a bunch of particularly good ones to share with you. If you're looking for a more traditional holiday feast, consider these restaurants open on Christmas serving everything from holiday ham to the Feast of the Seven fishes.

If you're trying to get away from the noise of city life and are looking for an exciting mountain escape, Wrightwood is an idyllic town to visit. Just 77 miles outside the big city you'll find this cozy, picture-perfect mountain town, nestled in the pine trees. Its charm, beautiful scenery, and abundance of family-friendly activities will lure you any time of the year, but my personal favorite season to visit Wrightwood is in winter. Read on to discover what my family loves to do when we visit this charming little piece of the Universe. 

For more mountain day trips from Los Angeles, like Lake Arrowhead, or weekend getaways, like Lake Tahoe—check out our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips from Los Angeles.

Like something of a STEM-powered funhouse, Wobbly World is the newest interactive exhibit to open at the Liberty Science Center. Since the first week of December, the bright and somewhat off-kilter kid oasis has been inviting little ones ages 0-5 to balance on hills, build with oversized blocks, and even spin on a giant mobile that’s literally powered by play.

Brought to life with the help of renowned toy designer Cas Holman, the exhibition engages kids in a totally unique way, encouraging them to explore mobility and uncertainty in a safe and comfortable environment. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to take my 3 and 5 year olds to this one-of-a-kind wonderland, so we hopped in the car on a Sunday morning and headed over to LSC for some dizzying fun (and you better believe we snuck in some other favorite attractions while we were there too).

Phoenix, Arizona is where I grew up. Though I traded Phoenix's dry heat for the humidity of Atlanta after college, I still regard myself as a Phoenician for life. With family and friends still in Phoenix, we get to visit the desert at least three times a year. And what's really nice is now that I'm a mom, I get to revisit some of my favorite childhood attractions with my kids and discover awesome new things to do in Phoenix. Seriously, there are so many delicious Phoenix restaurants, fun family activities, and great hotels and resorts.

A trip to the Valley of the Sun makes for a perfect getaway for a sun-soaked family vacation. Kids love all of the fun things to do in Phoenix, and so do adults (the resort spas are out of this world). Here are the 45 top things to do in Phoenix for families with kids, plus some great family-friendly restaurants and hotels in Phoenix. Whether you stay at a five-star resort or spend your vacation with family and friends, this gem of the Grand Canyon State has a little something for everyone.

With an 8 year old in my house who is obsessed with all things ocean, the opening of the new Sharks exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History is being met with more than a little impatience, but it is absolutely worth the wait. The museum's newest interactive exhibit aims to dispel many of the myths surrounding sharks and the idea that they are terrifying. It does exactly that and makes it fun for both kids and adults.

Read on for our full review of the exhibit at one of our favorite kid-friendly museums in NYC, and find more must-see exhibits in our Museums Guide.

One of the best things about living in Southern California is the endless supply of year-round adventures that are just a short drive from home. While summer is the perfect time for a day trip to one of our favorite beach towns and  fall offers the chance for a road trip to see foliage, winter day trips from Los Angeles offer up some unique opportunities. It's actually the best time to explore the area— coastal locales are sleepier in the cooler months, desert towns are more bearable when it’s not in the triple digits, and there are even snowy winter wonderlands. Southern California has it all, and here we’ve collected the 20 best winter day trips from Los Angeles.

Check out other favorite day trips from LA, local weekend getaways, and the best family travel spots in the country (and beyond) in our Family Travel Guide.

Although we may miss having snow at Christmas in Houston, one of the benefits is that the weather is great for a winter day trip to outdoor and indoor attractions. You shouldn’t have to worry whether the roads will be clear of snow or need to pack thermal sweaters! We’ve drawn up a list of family-fun-filled winter day trips that can help you get out of the house and make festive memories. Plus, these destinations are all less than two hours from Houston by car, so you shouldn’t have too many cries of “are we there yet?” Read on for details of trips North, South, East, and West of Houston. Whichever direction you want to head in, we have a fun destination!

Check out our car games to have fun even while you drive. For ideas closer to home, don’t forget our Winter Activities Guide.

All timings are approximate and by car from the center of Houston.

Real-life toy soldiers who salute you when you enter, shelves overflowing the larger-than-life stuffed friends, toys classic and contemporary, and dozens of charismatic salespeople waiting to blow your mind with magic tricks, monster makers, and more—walking into the iconic FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center is an all-senses immersion into childhood wonder—and we haven't even mentioned the dance-on piano!

With lines stretching down the block, the well-known toy store has reinvented itself and re-established its spot as a must-visit destination for tourists, but it's also one of our favorite indoor places to play on bad weather days. Read on for nine reasons we love FAO Schwarz, the iconic, long-running toy retailer.