Heckscher Museum of Art for Families

Submitted by Denise on

The Heckscher Museum of Art is well worth a visit. The atmosphere is family-friendly, children's guides are provided, and a table is set up for hands-on art, inspired by a current work of art on display. While the museum is small and manageable for small children, its collections are huge, meaning you may want to come back again and again as the curators rotate their displays. Its location is also ideal for families as well, situated in Heckscher Park, with its wildlife, ponds and playgrounds, you could certainly make a day out of an outing here. 

Sizzling Summer Camp Sale: Huge Deals on Top NYC Summer Programs

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

Announcing the Sizzling Summer Camp Sale! Last year we hosted a big camp sale on our Poppins Perks site and it was so popular, many people asked us if we were going to do it again. Not only did we help hundreds of families save big on summer camps, we also raised enough money to help send five underprivileged teenagers to a week of sleepaway camp in the Catskills with Manhattan Youth.

This year's camp sale is just as great. We've got 15 summer camp programs offering deals of up to 66% off. We have lots of options, whether you're looking for a half-day preschool program, a week of full-day camp or several weeks of full-day day camp. There are even programs for those tricky weeks after school ends in June and those last few weeks of August before school starts again.

Europa Park: Europe's Best Amusement Park is Worth a Detour On a Family European Vacation

Anna Fader's picture Submitted by Anna Fader on

I wasn't sure what to expect before our visit to Europa Park, a large theme park in the middle of Europe that rivals EuroDisney. Would it be cheesy? Would it live up to the big American parks we are used to, like Universal and Disney? Would there be any European-ness to it that would make it a valuable cultural spot as well as entertainment for my kids?

Proposition 39: How Can Charters and Other Public Schools Share Space Equitably?

Submitted by erika on

Californians are always talking about this proposition or that, trying to make sense of the way we do politics out here. Proposition 39, because it has to do with school and space for all children, can elicit intense feelings of fear, competition, and defensiveness in parents - and confusion in everyone else. What is Prop 39 and why do public school parents get so worked up about it? We'll attempt to explain the whats and whys of Prop 39, in order to help readers consider how we, as adults, can address an issue we emphasize with our children: how to share and be fair.

The Parrish Art Museum

Submitted by Karen on

Get messy, get creative and have a great time learning about art at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. This charming small museum features first-class ever-changing exhibits of fine American art from the 19th century to the present, with particular focus on the artists of the East End. This is an art museum, not a children’s museum, and while the whimsical sculptures currently on display in the sculpture garden invite play, they most definitely cannot be climbed on. But while running in the galleries and touching the art is definitely forbidden, the museum offers a really marvelous and extensive program of art workshops, camps, tours, and performances aimed at teaching children and their families how to appreciate fine art and how to create art for themselves. Many of these programs are completely free, although advanced registration may be required. 

Letterboxing in Norwalk : Things to Do in Fairfield County

Brandee Gilmore's picture Submitted by Brandee Gilmore on

Letter-what? 

Letterboxing  n. a type of treasure hunt, in which a box, known as a letterbox is hidden in a remote rural location and clues are provided as to its whereabouts.*

Treasure hunt.  Clues.  Free.  Need I say more?  And forget the gadgets of geocaching.  This is antique -- something straight off the activity roster of some rustic sleepover camp in northern New Hampshire. All you'll need for this adventure is your signature rubber stamp and an ink pad.

This Week: Memorial Day Weekend Means Beaches, Governors Island and Dinosaurs; Plus Strawberry Picking and Free Summer Sports

Raven Snook's picture Submitted by Raven Snook on

Looks like it's going to be a monster of a holiday! The Memorial Day weekend is the main event on all of our sites. Lots of summer attractions open for the season this Saturday, including beaches, Governors Island and tri-state area amusement parks, including Victorian Gardens in Central Park.

There are some big openings outside NYC as well. Right across the Hudson in Secaucus, New Jersey, Field Station: Dinosaurs is poised to make a roar with more than 30 animatronic dino robots. Interestingly, Boston's Franklin Park Zoo is opening a similar prehistoric wonderland Zoorassic Park this holiday weekend, in case you're looking for a last-minute getaway. Other great day or weekend trips include strawberry picking at farms on Long Island, in New Jersey and Connecticut, and hitting a suburban beach. You can find even more inspiration on our Travel site.

Of course Memorial Day weekend marks summer's unofficial start. If you haven't figured out summer camp yet, you're in luck: We're running deals on a bunch of NYC summer camps. What you see is just a preview, so be sure to check back next week for additional deals.

Here's what else we shared this week on our NYC site.

8 Great Yoga Studios for Kids on Long Island

Submitted by cristin on

(Photo courtesy of Breathe N Flow Yoga)

You can probably imagine the benefits kids receive from practicing yoga even if you have never taken a class yourself (or hijacked the kids’ Wii for some Wii Fit Yoga!). Physically, yoga improves kids’ strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, posture, and the list goes on.  Beyond the physical benefits are the mental benefits. Yoga teaches children self-awareness, self-respect, and most important in the eyes of this mom, self-relaxation skills that do not require the use of a remote control, game controller, snack, or couch.

We’ve rounded up Long Island yoga studios that offer a wide range of classes and services for kids sure to educate and entertain your children and develop skills and practices they will employ for life.

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