Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids |

Zip Line, Maze, and Climbing Tower to Open on Governors Island

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 2:00pm

Governors Island has long been one of our favorite places to play and the summer fun is about to get a lot more thrilling on the isle.

Adventures at Governors Island, a new high-octane entertainment zone boasting a zip line, 3-D climbing wall, and maze debuts this Memorial Day weekend (weather dependent), and we can't wait to check out the exhilarating attraction. Its opening will double the number of zip lines in NYC—to two.

Memorial Day Weekend Fun for NJ Kids: Water Parks, Parades, Beach

Submitted by Jaime Wisz on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 2:00pm

The unofficial start to the summer is here, New Jersey, and that means plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends! If you're planning to stick around town, there's fun to be had in every corner of our state. This weekend marks the season opening of Jersey Shore beaches, and amusement parks and attractions, including the Land of Make Believe, Field Station Dinosaurs, and most of the outdoor water parks, including Raging Waters at Morey's Piers. It's also the start of strawberry picking season at many area farms.

Truck lovers will want to check out Memorial Day Weekend at Diggerland, and thrill seekers may want to take part in Your First Mud Run in Garfield. Round out your long weekend with the Fit & Fun Festival at Camden Children's Garden, the Wildwoods International Kite Festival, or the Woodland Park Street Fair.

For additional Memorial Day weekend options, take a look at our full Event Calendar, or peruse our Day Trips Guide to explore a new-to-you playground, park, or even a cute New Jersey town.

Also, this is the last weekend to cast your vote for the New Jersey Besties! When you vote you'll be entered to win one of two terrific prizes: a luxurious NYC getaway including a suite credit from Suiteness and a custom itinerary designed by Mommy Poppins herself, Anna Fader, or a two-night stay for four at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains. The contest ends May 28, so v ote today!

Family Fun in Northport: 20 Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Thien August on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:40pm

The historic community of Northport lies on the north shore of Long Island. With its walkable Victorian Main Street, family-friendly restaurants, bars, shops, and theaters, it has become a destination for Long Islanders and visitors alike. Then of course, there are those beautiful views of the boats in Northport Bay. ...

And it's not just a summer destination. In the autumn, Northport hosts Halloween fun nights, and during the holiday season the community comes alive with holiday house tours and seasonal celebrations.

Here are our suggestions for 20 things to do and see in Northport with kids, and a few bonus picks for the surrounding areas.

Looking for more fun family day trips on Long Island? Check out our guide to the East End as well as must-do activities in Riverhead and Port Jefferson Village. Not sure where to go? These seven must-do day trips are a good place to start.

Free Outdoor Concerts Happening in Philly this Summer

Submitted by Becki Melchione on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 12:02pm

Summer means warm weather which is the perfect time to head outdoors for easy, cheap and fun activities like free movies and concerts. Pack your chairs, a blanket, a picnic basket and the bug spray, and enjoy an afternoon or evening of free tunes. Here's our comprehensive list of the outdoor concerts happening in the Delaware Valley this summer.

For some of the more popular bands, the venues can get packed, so plan on arriving on the early side.

11 Places Where Kids Can Pick Flowers Near Boston

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 10:12am

With ample room to roam around, farms are a great place to bring kids on a nice afternoon.

ICS Carnival: A Family Fun Tradition in Lower Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 10:00am

The annual carnival presented by the Immaculate Conception School in Tuckahoe—known colloquially as "the ICS Carnival"—is one of two must-do carnivals in Lower Westchester (the other being the annual Lake Isle carnival). The large-scale scope of the event makes it destination-worthy for families with kids of all ages.

An annual tradition for more than 20 years, I’ve been taking my kids for nearly a decade, and I expect to continue to do so till they go off to college (maybe even beyond).

Read on for our first-hand account of this fun-filled annual tradition, and check our Event Calendar for other fun happenings!

Memorial Day Parades Around LA and the OC

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 05/23/2017 - 5:06am

One thing about Los Angeles - it's not a one-parade town. If festivals are too stationary for you, if you need a parade to drum up an appetite for that Memorial Day BBQ, then you've got it made in the shade (as long as you've found a shady spot for your chair) in Los Angeles and Orange County on Monday. The good news for the parade abstainers is that none of the parades on this holiday marches down a major thoroughfare (unless the 405 gets shut down - in which case Topanga is going to hear plenty of honking that isn't for peace). For parade fans, the patriotic fanfare never sounded so good.

Day Trip: 10 Things To Do at Colonial Park in Somerset, NJ

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Mon, 05/22/2017 - 2:25pm

Looking for Central NJ park outing that's more than just swings and slides? Make Colonial Park in Somerset, NJ, your next day trip destination. This sprawling, 685-acre park has activities to suit children and adults of all ages. Here are 10 ways to enjoy a day there.

Free Outdoor Movies for NYC Kids This Summer: Hundreds of Them!

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 05/22/2017 - 1:00pm

New York City will screen hundreds of FREE outdoor movies this summer, many of them just for kids and families. The popular Movies Under the Stars series, which debuted with screenings in parks and at playgrounds in all five boroughs last year, returns along with many of our favorite annual series.

A few outdoor movie series, such as RiverFlicks for Kids in the West Village, are aimed specifically at children. But even grown-up series, such as those in Bryant Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, include a family-friendly screening or two. Movies usually begin between 8 and 8:30pm, but plan to arrive early: The well-known series fill up fast. Sometimes there is even pre-movie entertainment.

So grab your calendars and start plotting your FREE summer of entertainment now. Find more seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.

50 Free Things To Do in Boston With Kids This Summer

Submitted by Tara D on Mon, 05/22/2017 - 10:29am

You don't have to go broke to have fun with kids in and around Boston this summer. There are lots of free things to do, whether you want to enjoy the sunshine outside or cool off indoors. Read on for a summer of free events, festivals, crafts, music, games, movies, and more.