It’s almost New Year’s Eve— and out with the old, in with the new sounds pretty good this year! While many events are going virtual again this year, there are still loads of in-person New Year celebrations and things to do on New Year’s Eve with kids in Los Angeles. Ring in 2022 by taking the kids for a paddle in swan boats, ice skating in the heart of the city, seeing fireworks, or even taking the kids to a Noon Year's party. There are also plenty of innovative ways to party at home, family style, or learn some cool New Year celebrations from around the world.

More events and activities can always be found on our event calendar and our guide to the best activities of the week. That’s a wrap on 2021—we did it, LA!

Happy New Year from all of us at Mommy Poppins.

Whoever said getting there was half the fun has clearly never sat in bumper-to-bumper holiday traffic in a minivan filled with bored kids. If you are heading out on a road trip with kids this holiday season, check out this list of tried and true backseat entertainment options, including fun car games, engaging audiobooks, and the best podcasts for kids. From verbal car games to printable games to play in the car (and even a few surprises), this list will surely keep the kids busy while you drive over the river and through the tunnel.

Want to get out of town, but you need some suggestions for where to go? Check out our Guide to Weekend Getaways and Day Trips near you.

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.