All Aboard These Train Rides and Day Trips near NYC for Locomotive Lovers

Lisa Warden's picture Submitted by Lisa Warden on

Train-lovers of all ages love to explore the roundhouse at Steamtown.

All of my three children have gone through a train-loving phase around 2 years old, and while we are lucky enough to live on a train line where we can watch the trains zoom by all day long, I've been known to go out of my way to feed our kids’ love of choo-choos. From local train rides to seasonal Polar Express train rides, train museums, and model train displays, families in the tri-state area have plenty of options to entertain pint-sized train lovers.

Read on for our top picks for train-inspired day trips, including all the best things to do with train-obsessed kids in NYC and beyond.

The Funniest Words Kids Mispronounce

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Most kids love wallymelo, but can they pronounce it? Photo courtesy of Canva

English is a weird language! When kids are mastering it, there are loads of commonly mispronounced words, or words that kids use instead of the real name because they make more sense. On our Mommy Poppins Instagram and Facebook pages recently, we had a hilarious discussion about the funny words our kids mispronounce.

Some are sweet letter slip-ups, some are sound-alike mistakes, and some make lots of sense (a bra really is a "boobie mask" right? and "stunk" perfectly describes a skunk!).

We rounded up the funniest responses below. Reading them brings back some sweet memories! Can you add to it? Join the conversation!

Check out our Parenting Guide for more parent talk, from funny animal parenting memes to parenting tips from dads.

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places for Westchester Kids

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Build birthday memories brick by brick at Legoland. Photo courtesy of Legoland

Indoor birthday party places in Westchester come in clutch when it isn't park or pool weather, and luckily for us, there's no shortage of places for Westchester kids to get their party on. 

Local venues offer parties centered around bouncing and trampolines, scaling rock walls, practicing yoga, racing go-carts, and more. 

We’ve put together a list of indoor birthday party places suitable for a variety of ages, from preschoolers to tweens and teens. Looking for even more options? Check out our full Party Planning Guide for Westchester Families.

Harlem Globetrotters, Earth Day Events, and More Fun Things to Do in Orlando This Weekend With Kids

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Check out the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters on their global tour to entertain and impress fans. Photo courtesy Harlem Globetrotters

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

This weekend, catch the globally renowned Harlem Globetrotters showcasing their incredible trick shots, masterful ball-handling, and hilarious antics on the court! Plus, Earth Day events continue this weekend, including Earth Day Work Day in downtown Orlando, Earth Day Block Party in Winter Park, and Earth Fest and Arbor Day Celebration in Casselberry. Read on for the details about these and other exciting events this weekend!

KinderFest, Brick Fest Live, and More Fun Things To Do in DC this Weekend with Kids

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Building fans of all ages will love Brick Fest Live. Photo by Gina Ragland for Mommy Poppins

Looking for the best things to do in DC this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Fest is the word of the weekend. Brick Fest Live takes over PG Sports Complex Saturday and Sunday while Watkins Regional Park hosts KinderFest on Saturday. Montgomery County holds its annual GreenFest at Black Rock Center for the Arts on Saturday as well.

This is also the last weekend to ride the Spring Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park.

Georgia State Fair, Inman Park Festival, and More Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

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The Inman Park Festival features a street parade, kids' zone, and an arts & crafts market. Photo courtesy of Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

It's the last weekend of April and spring festival season is in full swing with Atlanta events like the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes. Kids will love visiting the Georgia State Fair, which kicks off on Friday! Strawberry fans have their pick of two festivals this weekend: Super Spring Saturday at Washington Farms in Bogart and the Georgia Strawberry Festival in Reynolds. We have even more fun things to do this weekend -- read below! 

Swiftie Events and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend With Kids

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Cirque Italia Water Circus. Photo by Joseph Gage via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

Music is all over Chicago this weekend, and there are lots of ways to enjoy it with kids. We heard a certain popular artist may have come out with a new album last week, and families are celebrating with events in Ravenswood and Lake Zurich. You can also learn about A Cappella music in Glen Ellyn or enjoy festive Austrian tunes in Oak Lawn. Families can also plant a tree for Arbor Day, see a new playground opening in Oak Park, or reuse and recycle old items in Wrigleyville to round out Earth Month this weekend.

Mother's Day is going to be here before you know it! Plan an activity or a brunch with our handy lists. Then check out the full line-up of spring festivals—we've rounded up 35 that are family-friendly. 

Have a great spring weekend in Chicago!

Earthfest, Black Comic Book Fest, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

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Th Gilder Center makes a stunning backdrop for the Earthfest activities at the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday. Photo by A. Keding/courtesy of AMNH

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

April bows out with a bang, with Earthfest festivities at the American Museum of Natural History and a Climate Arts Festival at the Queens Botanical Garden. Barbie is painting the town pink with a Barbie Family Day at The Paley Museum on Saturday, while superheroes abound at the 12th Annual Black Comic Book Fest at Harlem's Schomburg Center, and kid-lit authors come together for Books of Wonder's Indie Bookstore Day.