| Page 1477 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Mountaintop Lodge at Lake Naomi: Poconos Bed & Breakfast with a Twist

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 03/08/2013 - 5:23pm

The Pocono Mountains are my new favorite destination for family vacations near NYC. With incredible natural beauty so close to New York CIty and Philadelphia, tons of things to do with kids and places to eat, the Poconos is a great place to vacation with kids year-round. But the abundance of choices isn't limited to things to do in the Poconos. There are as many different types of places to stay as there are fun activities, from all-inclusive resorts to dude ranches to house rentals in lake communities.

Choosing where to stay is an important factor when planning your vacation since it will dictate your access to activities. Most people who vacation in the Poconos either stay at a resort for access to the amenities and activities the resort offers or rent a house in a lake community, which may have a clubhouse and other activities in addition to fun on the lake. All-inclusive resorts in the Poconos are lovely, but can be pricey. And renting a house usually means at least a week-long commitment.

There's a new Pocono vacation lodging option that offers the amenities of a house rental in a lake community without the expense and commitment of renting an entire house. Mountaintop Lodge at Lake Naomi is a bed and breakfast in Pocono Pines, PA. It was recently purchased and restored by Lake Naomi Club, which bills itself as the only five star platinum club community in the Northeast. What that means for you is a lovely, inexpensive place to stay in the Poconos with all the amenities of a lake community.

Oz the Great and Powerful (Parent Review)

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 03/08/2013 - 1:58pm

OK, so Oz is great and Oz is powerful; but is Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful a good film for your kids to see? Parenting minds want to know. So we headed down to El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for a screening of the much anticipated Wizard of Oz prequel in 3D - the ultimate Hollywood venue for the ultimate Hollywood prequel.

Girls Only Sleepaway Summer Camps in Connecticut

Submitted by Mary Beth Lawlor on Fri, 03/08/2013 - 6:25am

Same sex camps come with lots of benefits. Without the male species at camp, tweens and teens can focus more on girl bonding and the task at hand (while avoid getting distracted by "that cute boy with beautiful blue eyes"). Girls can create everlasting friendships while experiencing strong female role models. Here's a list of girls only sleep away summer camps in CT, some of which are traditional, artsy and/or sportsy.

This Week: Free & Cheap Camps in NYC, Easter Egg Hunts, New Giveaway, Focus on Forest Hills, Queens

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 4:00pm

Did you see NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott's live webcast on Wednesday night about the core curriculum and New York State test changes? We did, and our Facebook posts sparked some interesting conversations. One of the best things about this site—beyond telling our readers about great things to do with kids in NYC—is being able to interact with our fellow NYC families. We also get lots of post ideas from your questions and comments, so don't be surprised if you see a post related to the webcast and your thoughts in the next week or two.

On a lighter note, the big March holidays are almost upon us, and we've got ways for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Easter all over the five boroughs. Even though Easter isn't until March 31, you can celebrate this weekend at our Live Baby Chicks Portrait Event or at the first egg hunt of the season at Brooklyn Plantology. Of course some special holiday events only happen outside of NYC, like train rides with the Easter Bunny in New Jersey. They make for great day trips.

Since we know a lot of families are still trying to figure out what to do about summer camp, we updated our always-popular free and cheap summer camps for NYC kids post. The lottery for one of our favorite inexpensive summer programs, the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp, which costs $500 for seven weeks, is currently underway. And speaking of inexpensive camps, how would you like a free week of Pony Camp at Dapple Hill Farm in Whitehouse Station, NJ? All you need to do is enter our giveaway and see if you get lucky. We launch new giveaways every week so be sure to bookmark our giveaway page.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Mostly Free and Fun Things to do in CT With Kids This Weekend March 9-10: St. Patrick's Parades, Hoops, Maple and Art Festivals

Submitted by Pam Hegner on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 10:45am

March 17 has taken on a different feel since having children. Gone are the days of kegs and eggs at 8am followed by a day of adult debauchery. But St. Patrick's Day is now one of my favorite kid-friendly holidays, because you can get creative with turning everything green, and introducing lads and lasses to Irish music and culture.

Fun and Free Things to Do in Boston with Kids - Maple Sugaring, Family Festival and More, March 9-10

Submitted by Audrey Trieschman on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 7:30am

There’s plenty going on this weekend, from free movies at the Museum of Science and maple sugaring tours in Milton and Topsfield to a performance by the Stacey Peasley Band in Arlington. Plus, families can go on a time-travel trip during the Museum of Natural History’s Stories through Time family festival. Read on for more of our picks, and be sure to visit our Events Calendar for a complete list.

We’ve had a busy week on Mommy Poppins Boston, covering a range of topics:

April Vacation Week - four terrific solutions to the "What are we going to do during school vacation?" problem;
Our new writer, Kristin Quinn (also of Misadventures in Mommyhood), took her toddler to the Museum of Science Planetarium to see every preschooler's favorite red, furry animal in Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky. Find out whether it's a must-go or just an OK show;
It’s National Craft Month, and we're accepting the Cre8time Challenge - can you find 8 minutes every day to devote to an art activity? Send us your photos, and we’ll add them to our Pinterest Board; and
A roundup of Gluten Free Dining With Kids In and Around Boston.

Finally, just a reminder to set your clocks ahead on Sunday (seems about 3 weeks early this year!) Enjoy the weekend.

Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Kites, Klezmer and Oz the Great, March 9 - 10

Submitted by Toby B on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 3:34am

Good news, bad news folks. Good news: spring is in the air, and I know this because we are about to Spring Forward. Daylight savings time begins this Sunday, and that means sundown is later! Bad news, we lose an hour of sleep this weekend. But who has time to sleep when there’s so much to do? This weekend we can hang with whales, woofers, and a wizard, prepare for summer whether our plans are local or abroad, listen to music and make some of our own, learn how to live green and go fly a kite.

Another thing putting a spring in our step, (an Irish jig to be exact), is the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. Though the holiday isn’t until next Sunday, you can get an early start at this weekend’s Irish Fair (or Tuesday’s hunt for the Leprechaun’s gold). Even the Easter Bunny is starting his rounds. And the surest sign that Spring is upon us: the looming specter of Spring Break. We've found some of the coolest camps to entertain your kids.

Read on for our favorite picks for this weekend …

Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend for NYC Kids: Early Easter Egg Hunts, St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, Muppets March 9-10

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 4:00pm

Even though Easter, Passover and St. Patrick’s Day have not officially arrived, you can celebrate all three this weekend. Put on your best green outfits and head to the Throgg's Neck St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Children's Museum of the Arts for an Irish Dance Party or the Kids Film Fleah at the Irish Arts Center. Meanwhile you can enjoy the first Easter egg hunt of the season at Brooklyn Plantology or hit the Streit's matzo factory for Passover Palooza.

The Mommy Poppins team is also hosting a fun spring-themed event: portrait sessions with live baby chicks. Come out and get an adorable photo of your kids and enjoy other activities.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Winter Fun Guide.