Best Amusement Parks near NYC for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ, offers a classic summer experience. Photo by Margaret Hargrove

If you're looking for amusement parks for toddlers and preschoolers near NYC, there's no need to seek out the latest scary high-tech roller coasters. For young children, a ride on a carousel’s painted pony, a spin with dad around the bumper car track, and a dripping swirl of frozen custard are the stuff summer memories are made of. 

Happily, several amusement and water parks in or near the New York City metro area offer these kinds of tame attractions. Here's our roundup of theme parks perfect for the pint-sized.

Find more seasonal rides in our Theme and Water Parks Guide for families.

Mother's Day Weekend 2024 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do

Albany's Dutch heritage is celebrated at its annual Tulip Festival with more than 140,000 tulips. Photo courtesy of the festival

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Mother's Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Indulge mom's sweet tooth at the Hudson Valley Cupcake Festival or check out the Dutch festivities and loads of blooms at the Albany Tulip Festival. Pirate-loving families can don their best costumes and join the sword-fighting and mischief-making at the Hudson Valley Pirate Festival.

Consider this a friendly reminder to book your reservations for Mother's Day brunch ASAP if you haven't already. Still shopping? We've got tons of last-minute ideas for Mother's Day gifts moms actually want.

Mother's Day Weekend 2024 in New Jersey: Brunches and More Things To Do with Kids

Head to the Shore with mom to walk on the boardwalk or race on the go-karts at Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach. Photo courtesy of Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Mother's Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

It's all fun and games this Mother's Day weekend as moms score free admission to amusement parks on Sunday, including Casino Pier. Plus, treat Mom to a weekend of food, music, and shopping at Asbury Park Spring Bazaar 2024

Check out our full rundown of Mother's Day events in New Jersey for even more ideas.  

Ride the Beam and Enjoy the Views at Top of the Rock Observation Deck

 The Beam offers an unobstructed look at the panorama of the city below.

Visiting the Top of the Rock observation deck is on many tourists' must-do lists, but even locals should put it on their bucket lists. Even if you feel like you've already been there, seen that view, now is a good time to revisit this classic NYC attraction, thanks to the addition of The Beam, a thrilling telescoping ride that lifts you 12-feet above the observation deck for an unobstructed look at the panorama of the city below.

While NYC has five observation decks, each presents its own unique experience and perspective, including Top of the Rock. Here's what you can expect during your visit to the observation deck, plus more things to do in the action-packed Rockefeller Center campus it calls home, whether you visit during the twinkling holiday season or at another time of year.

Best Kids' Luggage for Travel and Family Trips

Travel luggage kids can ride on? Yes, please!

Traveling with children can be chaotic and stressful, be there's something you can buy that will make any family vacation easier: kids' luggage. Giving children their own travel luggage gets them involved in the travel process, boosts their independence, and even makes packing a little more fun.

But it's important to choose the right kids' luggage. The best travel luggage for kids is durable, is appropriately sized, and has child-friendly features like fun designs and smooth wheels.

Here are our picks for the best kids' luggage, plus advice on what to look for in luggage for kids. Find more great travel gear for children, from road trip essentials to top travel games, in our Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Families.

Best Bluey Episodes, Themed Snacks and Games for a Memorable Family Night In

Catch all three seasons of Bluey–plus the show’s biggest episode ever–right now on Disney+.

The best Bluey episodes plus show-inspired snacks and games for an easy family night in that everyone will love.

Absolutely hilarious, heart-warming, and oh-so-relatable, if there’s one show that’ll have your entire house happily huddled around the TV, Bluey is undoubtedly it.

Recently–and unsurprisingly–named the most-streamed series across all audiences,* kids love Bluey for its exceptional storytelling, while grownups appreciate the honest portrayal of modern parenting—plus thoughtful solutions to some very common dilemmas. It’s that perfect balance that makes it a great show for families to sit down and watch together. Not only is it laugh-out-loud funny (and sometimes dry-your-eyes touching), but it lends itself to wonderful teachable moments too.

While all three seasons of of Bluey are streaming on Disney+, we’ve picked out some of our all time favorite episodes to watch as a family, plus suggestions for Bluey-inspired snacks and games that will make your night in extra special.

If you don’t have Disney+, you can sign up here.

Top Summer Day Camps in New Jersey

Jeff Lake Day Camp in Sussex County is set on a 50-acre lake where activities include water trampolines, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

It's definitely not too early to start exploring New Jersey's summer day camp options, even if summer still feels like a lifetime away. The Garden State is home to many awesome summer day camps that offer a wide variety of activities within one campground. Traditional offerings at these camps include sports, swimming, and arts, while some even include zip lines, laser tag, cooking, gymnastics, and rope courses.

Read on for the top summer day camps in New Jersey, many of which see entire generations of families pass through, and find more New Jersey summer camps in our Camp Guide

Pages