Kids love train rides. In Connecticut, taking the Metro North-New Haven line usually means commuting to work or going to the city for the day. But riding on the train can be a short day trip to a new town or a fun activity near a local station. Either way, it’s fun for children to see all their train favorites like meeting a conductor, holding a ticket (get a paper one at your station!), and just looking out the window. And riding the train adds an element of fun to the destination. No car seats or traffic on this leisurely day out. Another perk is that kids under 5 ride free on the Metro North, and kids 5 - 11 years old are only $1 per trip with a paying adult—​all aboard!

Here is a list of stations where you can hop off, with activities to do right off the train without needing a car. Head to your local station and start your next train adventure on Metro North’s New Haven Line. Choo-Choo! And check out our Connecticut Day Trips and Weekend Getaway Guide for more fun ways to explore Connecticut with kids.

Long Island's waterfront restaurants offer the refuge of an ocean breeze, a delightful view, and fantastic meals. Lucky for us Long Islanders, many area restaurants are nestled right on the water. There's no better way to start or end the day with the family than with a delicious meal right on the water.

Below, we've rounded up Long Island's top waterfront restaurants in Nassau, Suffolk, and of course, the East End. A delectable, waterfront meal is only miles away.

Find our roundup of Long Island's best restaurants with entertainment for kids and more dining ideas in our Long Island Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

While all three of my kids love to go for a dip, these NYC splash pads and play fountains offer more spontaneous fun than a swim in one of NYC's public pools. For those hot summer days when we're out and about or need a last-minute distraction, I keep this list of play fountains and splash pads in my back pocket.

A more immersive experience than standard NYC sprinkler parks, these mega splash pads and play fountains feature wading pools, plus jets shooting water sky-high. Play fountains are the perfect place for kids to frolic and get completely doused without mommy having to go all-in—literally. Best of all? They're all completely FREE. Here are 10 fun mega-sized splash pads in NYC where kids can get absolutely soaked.

Bubble World is the newest immersive experience in Los Angeles that is bursting with fun. 

"Hop in the car. We're going to Bubble World!" These are words I never thought I'd say. Disneyland, maybe. But Bubble World?

My kids and I are always up for an adventure, so we recently checked out LA's new immersive Fever experience. To sum it up, my boys (ages seven and four) haven't stopped talking about this experience since. They ask every day when we are going back. Bubble World pops with a maze of technicolor rooms filled with dazzling lights and irresistible photo ops. Read more about our experience below.  

Looking for other immersive experiences? Check out World of Barbie in Santa Monica, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, or one of the CAMP Store immersive exhibits on rotation at Westfield Century City.  

The best arcades in Boston have more than just video games. With ice hockey, skee-ball, pinball machines, and more, these old school arcades and family fun centers offer indoor fun any time of year. Looking to get out of the heat (or the cold, or the rain)? Visiting the best arcades in Boston and around the city is a guaranteed boredom buster. Whatever the weather, Boston's arcades keep the fun flowing like prize tickets!

For more indoor fun, check out our guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Boston Kids. It's full of our hand-picked choices for all-weather fun, like the Best Indoor Mini Golf in Boston.

If you're looking for some fabulous first birthday gifts for a special child in your life, check out our ultimate gift guide for 1-year-olds.

A child's first birthday is a big milestone, and often comes with plastic gifts that delight kids for all of 5 minutes, and then clutter the house up before becoming landfill. To avoid that fate, we've rounded up the most amazing first birthday gift ideas that will delight any 1-year-old—and their parents!—for a very long time.

Naturally, toys make some of the best first birthday gifts. The best toys for 1-year-olds foster sensory exploration and help develop fine and gross motor skills. Open-ended toys that can be played with in different ways as kids grow, such as building blocks, are the #1 gift among the parents at Mommy Poppins.

But of course, you don't have to stick with toys. On our list of the most beloved first birthday gifts we've included books, clothing, furniture, and other unique suggestions that delight kids and parents.

Check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties for more fun ways to celebrate, including tips for planning an at-home birthday party and great birthday cake ideas. And if you're looking for gifts for kids older than a year old, the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays is literally your one-stop shop!

If your summer travels take you to the Hudson Valley, make note: The Historic Hudson Valley is extending tour hours for its collection of properties that allow locals and tourists alike to get a glimpse into the region's past. Whether you decide to visit the grand Kykuit estate of the Rockefellers, dive into local lore at Sleepy Hollow, explore the working farm at Phillipsburg Manor, or take in the glorious stained glass masterpieces at Union Church of Pocantico Hills, there's no time like the present.

Read on for details on how to visit these historic properties, and find more fun things to do on our list of the best things to do in the Hudson Valley with kids.

Kid-lit lovers take note: The Eric Carle Story Show is coming to NYC next month, and Mommy Poppins has the exclusive details on how to nab tickets to this latest page-to-stage adaptation that's a perfect first theatergoing experience for tots to preschoolers. The puppet-powered performance is produced by Jonathan Rockefeller, the creative force behind the very popular and colorful adaptation of Carle's most famous story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.

The Eric Carle Story Show debuts Sunday, August 13, and is sure to be a hot ticket for the toddler set. Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Children's Theater for more stories like this.