Santa's Village, NH: Rides, Treats, and the Magic of Christmas in Summer and Fall

Kelley Heyworth's picture Submitted by Kelley Heyworth on

When the humidity is soaring and the holiday spirit is in hibernation, a winter wonderland sure is a nice idea. While Santa's Village can't make it cooler outside, it does create the feel of Christmas in July (actually, May through December, with daily hours in the summer). With themed rides like the Chimney Drop, activities like "snow" tubing down a giant slide, and encounters with real, live reindeer, Santa's Village is a uniquely sweet theme park experience akin to Story Land, another New Hampshire gem especially suited to young kids. Here's how to get the most of your trip to the near-North.

Color Factory, a Colorful New Pop-Up Museum, Is Coming to NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on

The year of the interactive, Instagram-worthy art pop-up continues (we've already seen and loved the Dream Machine, The Egg House, Narcissus Garden, and the Hot Dog Bus) when The Color Factory lands in Soho on August 20 for a limited time. The Color Factory promises to be one of the coolest kid-friendly art events this summer, and tickets go on sale today.

Featuring 16 unique installations designed to encourage the exploration of color and light, this vivid exhibit—described by organizers as a "playhouse pop-up"—will convert a commercial space in Soho into 20,000 square feet filled with immersive artwork. Be ready for playful color palettes, jaw-dropping effects, and of course, lots of ways for kids and their grown-ups to interact with the art. For an advance look at photos of the gorgeous space, plus information about how to visit, read on.

Weekend Fun: County Fairs, Wooden Boat Festival, Butterfly Bonanza

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Hope you're feeling festive this weekend, because there are plenty of summery festivals to choose from throughout the state. Celebrate with food and music at WILDfest Food Truck and Music Festival, connect with nature at Howell Living History Farm's Butterfly Bonanza, check out cool sailing vessels at The Wooden Boat Festival, and find all kinds of warm-weather fun at Summer in the Street.

Plus, county fair season is in full swing, and this weekend's lineup includes the Burlington County Farm Fair and the Morris County 4-H Fair. You can also catch plenty of free outdoor flicks this weekend in Highland Park, Fort Lee, Belmar, and Seaside Heights.  

Check out our Summer Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids for more options for family fun, including 13 Exciting Boat Rides for Families and 25 Super-Fun Summer Day Trips. And look to our event calendar and July GoList for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

11 Queens Water Playgrounds and Sprinkler Parks

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on

Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to live by the schedule of open swim hours at your local NYC pool. Sometimes you just want to tire your kids out so they sleep until 6 (or even 7) in the morning. And sometimes you just want to relax outdoors with iced coffee and a book, but your children aren’t as into that idea as you are. This is why water playgrounds were invented...we're pretty sure, anyway.

While we already have profiled some of the top water playgrounds in other parts of the city as well as some of the top fountains for splashing, we realized we had neglected our Queens families. So in the interest of parenting solidarity we’ve put together a list of eleven spraygrounds or water playgrounds in Queens. They’re all FREE, and as an added bonus most usually have an ice cream truck in the area—for the children, of course, totally for the children. 

Check out our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide for more summer splashing, or our Summer Fun Guide for more seasonal activities for the kids.

25 Fun (and Educational) Things to Do for Free with Kids this Summer

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Summer is all about going to the beach, eating ice cream, exploring the outdoors, and having family-friendly fun—no "reading, writing, and arithmetic" allowed...Right? Well, it turns out that there's a whole world of educational fun to be had while your family enjoys summer, from exploring marine habitats at the beach to learning about science while making your own ice cream.

Whether your summer vacation takes you to the forests of Yosemite or the beaches of Mexico, here's a list of 25 ways to keep kids learning—while having fun—all through their school vacation.

Unlock Your Child's Love of Nature at Lavender by the Bay

Submitted by James Smith on

“Live life in full bloom.”

That’s the motto at Lavender by the Bay, a 17-acre oasis of flowering plants that turns the normally green North Fork of Long Island into a most regal purple for three weeks in the early summer.

Situated on the Main Road in the Victorian-strewn community of East Marion, near Greenport, the farm draws visitors from as far away as New York City, who come by car or railroad; and from New England, who shuttle across on the nearby Orient Point ferry. Young and old, they are drawn by the aroma of fresh lavender and the opportunity to distance themselves from the essentials of modern living.

The blooming season ended Sunday, July 15 and will resume in late June 2019. You can visit the gift shop daily through the end of September and on Thurdays through Mondays through the end of October. In the meantime. feel free to glimpse our guide to gardens and petting zoos across Long Island.   

Beat the Heat: 30 Ways to Stay Cool with Philly Kids this Summer

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on

With heat and humidity hitting us this summer, this weather is enough to turn even the sweetest kids into total grumps. And while staying in and enjoying your A/C has its perks, sometimes you just need to get out of the house. Fortunately, no matter the weather, there are amazing places to go romp and play in the city and the suburbs that can help you beat the heat.

Check out our events calendar, and our list of family-friendly museums in the Philadelphia area for even more fun indoors and out!

Arthur’s World: Have a “Wonderful Kind of Day” at the New Liberty Science Center Exhibit

Submitted by Danielle Halibey on

It had probably been more than 20 years since I’d visited Liberty Science Center (oof, Mommy’s getting old...), but when I found out that my favorite former field trip destination was getting a visit from some of my most fondly-remembered PBS pals this summer, I knew I had to bring my baby boy over. I packed up my husband — an LSC-lover in his own right — and our one-year-old, and we journeyed to Jersey City to check out the new Arthur’s™ World exhibit at Liberty Science Center. We had a beyond “wonderful kind of day.”

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