With the change of seasons in the air, you may be on the lookout for new places to play indoors, and while New Jersey is home to plenty of fabulous indoor play spaces, it's always fun to scope out a new spot. We've found six indoor play spaces that are newly opened within the past year, and just waiting for kids to come visit and have fun.

For even more options, visit our Indoor Play and Rainy Day Guide.

In an annual rite of summer passage, NYC Parks has been revamping local swimming pools through its Cool Pools program and has now turned its brightly colored paintbrushes toward a new medium. New Wave Pier recently debuted on the East River Esplanade, giving a bright, new life to an underutilized public space.

When I told my 8-year-old daughter we were going to the zoo last Saturday, she rolled her eyes. Aside from the fact she’s 8 going on 18, she was probably thinking, "been there, done that." I will admit, we are frequent visitors to the Turtle Back Zoo since it’s practically in our backyard. This time, though, we were going somewhere new: the Bergen County Zoo. The zoo recently welcomed two rare red wolves and I figured this would be a great opportunity to check it out. Come along with us on our visit to this new-to-us zoo, and find more local zoos to visit in this round up of the best zoos and aquariums in the Garden State.

Most kids learn about California history by visiting the gorgeous California Missions that dot the Southland. However, you don't have to hop a flight to Gettysburg for some Civil War-era history. An easy day trip from LA is Fort Tejon State Park, where visitors get a look at a day in the life of a 19^th-century soldier from the time of the Civil War. It's a unique and fascinating glimpse of lesser-known local history. So pack a picnic and head over the Grapevine to explore this hidden historic gem.

The luminescent holiday light show Magic of Lights returns to Jones Beach State Park this winter. Guests can enjoy holiday cheer from the comfort of their toasty cars as the spectacular display unfolds along a 2½-mile drive-thru route, illuminating the skies and bringing smiles to all those who visit.

Read on for all the details on this now-annual holiday favorite, plus tips on how to score early-bird pricing. There's also three other lantern shows to illuminate Long Island this holiday season. For more seasonal fun, check out our Long Island events calendar and Holiday Fun Guide.

Exploring the La Brea Tar Pits is one of the best free things to do in Los Angeles with kids of all ages. But did you know that there's also an incredible museum just a few yards from the famous tar lake? The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits gives an inside look at the city's prehistoric past and explains why that sticky black tar is seeping up all over the Miracle Mile. With a small footprint compared to the Natural History Museum or California Science Center, the Page Museum is easy to explore in a day—in fact, you'll have plenty of time to check out other sites along LA's "Museum Row," like the brand new Academy Museum.

Here's a detailed look at highlights of the La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, plus tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to explore in the area.

On a beautiful winter day, what could be more enjoyable than skating around on a fresh sheet of ice? In 2022, skaters will have plenty of options for ice skating near DC, from rinks that are part of special holiday events to outdoor ice skating rinks near DC that stay open all winter long.

Weather permitting, outdoor ice skating rinks near DC generally open in mid to late November and close in February or March. Many of them also host special skating events, so check the websites for more information. Otherwise, lace up your skates and enjoy ice skating near DC at one of these great rinks. For more fun things to do near DC this winter—from the best ski resorts near DC to the best places to go snow tubing near DC—check out out Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids.&