| Page 21 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Can't-Miss Dino Safari Interactive Experience in DC Area Through August 4

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 07/04/2024 - 10:00am

Dino Safari features life-size animatronic dinosaurs, themed rides, interactive experiences, and more.

LuminoCity has done it again with its spectacular new immersive light show, Dino Safari. Featuring life-size animatronic dinosaurs, themed rides, interactive experiences, and more, the mesmerizing walk-through display arrives at Bethesda’s Westfield Montgomery Mall on Thursday, July 4th–welcoming visitors of all ages through Sunday, August 4th.

Read on for a rundown of the epic family-friendly dinosaur adventure.

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag (or Mason Jar) in 5 Easy Steps

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 07/04/2024 - 9:05am

Learn how to make homemade ice cream for a tasty activity with the kids!

We have the best recipe for how to make homemade ice cream in a plastic bag, or a mason jar if you want to be a little extra. You don’t need a fancy ice cream machine to make delicious homemade ice cream! And it's so easy, that kids shouting "I'm Bored" from the rooftops can make this themselves. We also have 100 other ideas of things to do when kids are bored!

These two homemade ice cream recipes take just 5 to 10 minutes and in just a few steps. Making homemade ice cream is one of the coolest science experiments for kids, and the perfect anytime activity, but especially fun during the summer.

74 Best Free Things To Do in NYC July 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 07/03/2024 - 12:15pm

Slip and slide your way to smiles during Asphalt Green's Sprinkler Day. Photo courtesy of Asphalt Green

July is hot, but it's packed with cool FREE things to do in NYC for families, from Macy's 4th of July fireworks to City of Water Day and the BAAND Together Dance Fest. Shakespeare is rampant in the parks, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Publ ic Theater's Much Ado About Nothing. Fab fests include the Seaport Beach Fest, the downtown Math Fest, and Bastille Day!

Need more? We've found 100 FREE things to do in NYC this summer. Find more fun this month in our Summer Fun Guide for NYC Kids.

Best Blueberry Picking Farms and Festivals in New Jersey for Pick-Your-Own Berries

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 07/03/2024 - 12:14pm

Pick blueberries to your heart's content at Happy Day Farm in Manalapan.

The best blueberry-picking farms in New Jersey offer the perfect summer activity for the whole family: The bushes are low, the berries easily pop off the plants, and your family can literally pick hundreds without breaking the bank. Luckily for us, blueberries are the official state fruit of New Jersey, and they are plentiful throughout the Garden State.

We’ve assembled this Guide to the Best Pick-Your-Own Farms in New Jersey, so read on for our recommendations on where to go blueberry picking in New Jersey with kids. Find tons of other great things to do in the Garden State this season in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

4th of July Weekend in Los Angeles: Fireworks, Parades, and More Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Toby B on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:15am

4th of July block party fun! Photo courtesy John McCoy for Gloria Molina Grand Park

4th of July weekend in Los Angeles is alight with fireworks, fun runs, parades, and more family-friendly events to add to your list for this weekend.

4th of July festivities will be everywhere this week in Los Angeles! Take in the red, white, and boom of fireworks over water, sporting arenas, and theme parks. Watch 4th of July parades marching by, go to carnivals, and more. The LA Convention Center gets animated with Anime Expo, and Pageant of the Masters turns its players into living works of art. The makings are here for a spectacular red, white, and blue weekend.

For a complete list of all the dazzling 4th of July fireworks in Los Angeles, check out where to see 4th of July fireworks in Los Angeles and the best 4th of July activities that aren't fireworks if you choose to have a more low-key celebration. We wish you a Happy Independence Day, LA!

4th of July Weekend in Chicago: Fireworks, Festivals, and More Things to Do With Kids

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:00am

Chicago has lots of parades and fireworks for July 4th weekend. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Parks Department

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this 4th of July weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Not sure what to do with the kids this 4th of July weekend in Chicago? We've rounded up tons of events this weekend, including fireworks, parades, festivals, and carnivals for patriots of all sizes! And plenty of the things to do in Chicago this 4th of July weekend are perfect for littles who can't stay up late enough to see fireworks: Kids can enjoy parades in Hyde Park, Hinsdale, or Arlington Heights, concerts in Rosemont, Grant Park or C antigny Park, or festivals in Washington Park or Oak Brook.

Beat the heat this weekend in Chicago at one of the best free public pools or lakeside beaches. Or get out of town for the Fourth of July weekend with a Chicago-area day trip, by staying at a local campground, or discovering one of the best children's museums in the country.

4th of July Weekend in Orlando: Fireworks, Festivals, and More Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Charlotte B on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 9:15am

The free and family-friendly Eustis Hometown Celebration features live music, vendors, food, and a fireworks show on July 5. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this 4th of July weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Orlando is one of the top Fourth of July travel destinations in the country! It's no surprise that this weekend is bursting with 4th of July fireworks, parades, and more in Orlando. Celebrate our nation's birthday with fireworks at the theme parks or one of the many Independence Day events with beautiful Central Florida fireworks displays. Take advantage of the long weekend with a s ummer day trip or a trip to a local beach as well.

4th of July Weekend in San Francisco: Fireworks, Festivals, and More Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 9:00am

Celebrate at the Half Moon Bay Ol' Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Block Party. Photo by Igor Porton for Miramar Events.

4th of July weekend in San Francisco and the Bay Area is alight with fireworks, fun runs, parades, and more family-friendly events.

Independence Day weekend is here, and this year it's a super long one! So we've packed our weekend roundup with things to do: Spend the 4th of July at Great America's 4th of July Celebration in Santa Clara for rides, water slides, BBQ, and fireworks. Run off the BBQ and flag cake at the Firecracker Run in Santa Cruz. And the Bay Area's ever-popular 4th of July Parade and Fireworks takes place in Redwood City, where you can have festive family fun without spending a dime.

Before the rockets' red glare and fireworks blast off, celebrate Independence Day with the best 4th of July activities for kids, including crafts, games, and flag cake.

Read on for our picks for the best things to do all Fourth of July weekend long, including county fairs, chalk fun, a rodeo, and so much more!