Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids |

Weekend Fun: Firefly Festival, NJ State Fair, Fairy Day

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 1:55pm

School is out, and summer is officially on. Let the celebrating begin this weekend! Have a blast at big-time summer festivals, like the jam-packed New Jersey State Fair, plus the food-centric North Wildwood Italian-American Festival, Tropical Fruit Festival, and Whitesbog Blueberry Festival. Whimsical fun can be found at fantasy-filled festivals, such as Fairy Day and Fantasy Faire.

Spend time, not money, at free-admission activities including Firefly Festival, St. Gregory the Great Carnival, SMASH: Fossils, and Gymboree's National Day of Play.

Check out our Summer Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids for more options for family fun, and go for a swim at New Jersey's Best Pools with Day Passes. And look to our event calendar and June GoList for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Summer Day Trips for Long Island Families

Submitted by Natalie Ferro A... on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 12:00pm

While there are plenty of things to do on Long Island during the summer months, sometimes it's nice to change your routine and explore a different area. And how lucky are we, that there are so many kid-friendly destinations just a ferry, train, or car ride away? So families can spend the day exploring these locations and all they have to offer.

Here are a few of our favorite easy getaways from Long Island, including nearby Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York City, and New York State destinations.

And for what's happening back on Long Island, check out our Summer Fun Guide.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Plans to Install a Permanent Outdoor Pool

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 11:04am

Brooklyn Bridge Park is getting a new, outdoor public pool—eventually. After years of the public enjoying what was supposed to be a temporary pop-up pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the park has launched a fundraising campaign to fund the construction and operation of a permanent pool.

While the new pool won't be in the same spot as the pop-up pool, swimmers will still enjoy Manhattan skyline views from its location in Squibb Park, a portion of Brooklyn Bridge Park just above Pier 1 that sits in Brooklyn Heights at the entrance to the bouncy Squibb Bridge, which connects the promenade to the park. The construction of the new pool is expected to cost between $10-$15 million, according to park organizers. Admission will be FREE, as with the current pool.

Fans of the current pop-up pool may be wondering what this means for swimming in Brooklyn Bridge Park while the new pool is being constructed. The news is mixed.

100 Free Things to do This Summer in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 8:00am

Lack of fun-money doesn't have to keep families stuck inside and bored during the best season of the year: summer! Even if you are tight on funds, there's plenty of great places to go and things to do right here in Connecticut. Mommy Poppins has assembled a block-buster list of free events and ideas for you and your family to have fun with this summer! Let's go!

Griffith Observatory: 10 Reasons To Visit Real Stars in Los Angeles

Submitted by Lindsay Halladay on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 12:01am

Feeling a little "been there, done that" with some of SoCal's popular tourist stops? Can't say we blame you. But the famous Griffith Park Observatory is one iconic destination not to be overlooked. The most-visited public observatory in the world, Griffith is also a familiar sight from the many films in which it has (ahem) guest starred. If you or anyone in your family loves space exploration, stargazing, science, or even hiking it's a must-go. Here are 10 reasons why.

Blast Off Into Nature at Challenger Seven Memorial Park

Submitted by Ashley Jones on Mon, 06/18/2018 - 8:15pm

Looking for a serene spot to connect with nature that's large enough to take your entire extended family? Look no further than Challenger Seven Memorial Park in Webster. Known for it's miles of winding trails, lush green spaces, stellar playground equipment, and plenty of picnic tables and pavilions, this park is a hot spot for family fun.

Great Outdoor Dining Spots for Kids on Long Island

Submitted by Kailyn Champlin on Mon, 06/18/2018 - 3:50pm

What could be nicer during the warm-weather months than taking the kids to a family restaurant with an open-air atmosphere? There's just something about a warm breeze that makes a tasty meal even more delectable.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to eat with kids in Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End. These family-friendly menus, locations, and attractions make them ideal choices for parents with hungry kids. It's just part of our comprehensive guide to Long Island family-friendly restaurants.

If, after dinner, your kids crave some sweets, why not check out our list of old-time ice cream parlors, or for more outdoor inspiration, see our guide to summer fun on Long Island.

Say Hello to Japan at Please Touch Museum's Latest Intercultural Exhibit

Submitted by Lindsay Li on Mon, 06/18/2018 - 2:17pm

The newest traveling exhibit to come to the Please Touch Museum has come a long way to enrich the educational experience with a trilingual space that explores the cultural experience of traditional and contemporary Japan. Hello from Japan! features tons of hands-on activities and is one of the most digital exhibits to travel to the museum so far. I had a chance to check it out with my two kids (aged 5 and 1). Hello from Japan! invites visitors to explore how traditional Japanese aesthetics co-exists harmoniously with the contemporary.

Best Brooklyn Splash Pads and Water Playgrounds for Summer Fun

Submitted by Sara F on Mon, 06/18/2018 - 2:00pm

When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.

And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week.

It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!

Pelham Bay Park with Kids: Bike, Hike, Play in the Sand

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 06/18/2018 - 1:30pm

Pelham Bay Park is the crown jewel of the Bronx. At nearly 3,000 acres, Pelham Bay Park is three times the size of Central Park, and packed with awesome family attractions including Orchard Beach, four playgrounds, miles of paths to bike or hike, tennis courts, mini golf, two nature centers, a horseback riding stable, and a historic 19th-century mansion-turned-museum. How many other NYC parks boast all that? None!

My family and I are lucky enough to live nearby, but even though we've been to Pelham Bay Park countless times, we never tire of visiting. There's so much to do here, you can't possibly cover it all in one day. We've highlighted the best activities and attractions in the park for families in our top 12 ways to enjoy Pelham Bay Park with kids.