When it comes to special occasions, it's easy to leave kids with food allergies out of the fun, but NYC is home to myriad gluten-free bakeries and other sweet spots serving treats that include all the fun of a spectacular dessert while leaving out gluten, dairy products, nuts, soy, and other common allergens. Next time you're planning a birthday party or on the hunt for a sweet treat, consider supporting one of these local allergy-conscious sweet shops and gluten-free bakeries in NYC.

Looking for more kid-friendly sweets, treats, and eats? Bookmark our Guide to Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC for more picks at every meal.

Pennsylvania has a long (and sometimes haunted!) history that lends itself to ghost stories.  Museums and historic sites around the state are committed to preserving this haunted history and the folklore of its past. While some ghost experiences are offered seasonally during the spooky month of October, you can still get your fill of family-friendly ghost outings throughout the year. 

Here's our top six haunted happenings in Philly and Pennsylvania's most historic areas, from Bucks County to Gettysburg. With this list, it can be Halloween all year round.

Virtual reality for kids in NYC is becoming an increasingly popular activity. With gaming technology growing ever more sophisticated, spending a day immersed in one of these VR for kids outings allows visitors to enter an immersive and interactive new realm of fun.

When it comes to virtual reality for kids in NYC, there are a number of futuristic pop-ups and permanent exhibits catering to kids. Some of these VR for kids experiences are located within kid-friendly attractions, like those at Harry Potter New York, while others are standalone destinations all their own, including the brand new RiseNY in Times Square. Read on for seven picks for virtual reality for kids in NYC.

The playground area of Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore has been upgraded, adding overdue updates to the first section of the park that greets visitors. A colorful new climbing structure was added in late spring and has been attracting everyone from toddlers to tweens since.

For more info on local outdoor play spaces, check out our rundown of Long Island's top playgrounds. Find more great outdoorsy things to do in our Summer Fun Guide, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar. 

Did you start to go a little stir crazy in your city during the past few years? Everyone here at Mommy Poppins felt a bit housebound, and got excited talking about the places we couldn't wait to visit with our kids. A couple of places kept coming up, one on each coast. These are cities we've played in, dreamed about, and maybe even left our hearts in, just a little bit. So, we got to work and now we can announce that Mommy Poppins San Francisco Bay Area and Miami are here!

Our two new sites join our growing family of cities that includes NYC, Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, Connecticut, DC, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, Orlando, and Atlanta. Also expanding: the cool things you can do on our site. We recently redesigned our search pages with a cleaner, easier-to-use design and new functionality. You can now find camps and classes on your local calendar of events and even buy tickets directly from our website — if an event has a red "Book It" tag, you can purchase tickets immediately, with no added fees. 

In short, we've been busy...

Sunny skies, salty hair, sandy toes, and fresh seafood are the stuff that New England summer magic is made out of and nothing is quintessentially more New England than a lobster shack.  Lobster Shacks are traditionally casual and serve up some of the best seafood in the country. While you are debating between a hot and cold lobster roll, your kids can pick from a variety of childhood favorites at each of these spots. We’ve compiled this list of the best lobster shacks in New England from reader recommendations and contributor favorites. Each of these spots serves something for everyone - including landlubbers, so your entire family can enjoy a meal together.   

Baby swimming lessons on Long Island exist because babies and toddlers love to splish and splash in the water. Whether it's tub time, romping at a splash pad, or even dipping toes into the pool, it's important to keep our precious little ones safe while having fun. Swimming lessons aren't just for the big kids. In fact, there are specialized swimming classes made just for our tiniest and most precious family members, and we've rounded up 11 top swimming lessons for babies and toddlers across Long Island. 

If you're looking for more mommy-and-me classes, check out our Long Island Baby Guide. You can find more great things to in the warmer months in our Summer Fun Guide, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar. 

When it comes time to book your next visit to a family resort, consider a trip to one of these great resorts with water parks. At these family resorts, the hotel can be the destination—not just a place to lay your head—thanks to larger-than-life water slides for thrill-seekers; kid-friendly, water-drenched playgrounds for tots; and lazy rivers to float on when you need a bit of relaxation yourself.

Read on for 29 family resorts with water parks. Our picks include both indoor water parks for all-seasons fun and outdoor water parks to visit this summer. They span the US from the Northeast to Hawaii and everywhere in between. We've even thrown in a few all-inclusive family resorts and Caribbean resorts with water parks as a bonus.

Looking for more family resorts with water parks? Bookmark this list of hotels with outdoor water parks or our picks for the best Orlando hotels with water parks, plus our Guide to Theme Parks and Water Parks for local options closer to home.