These kid-friendly Long Island restaurants prove that some things in life are still free.  

From pizza to pasta, fast food to waitress service, and pub fare to ethnic dishes, check out these restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk counties the next time your family is looking for a stress-free dinner. Promotions change, so take a look at restaurant websites before you go. And be sure to check out our roundup of The Best Long Island Brunch Spots for Kids and Families for more great dining ideas. 

Bon appétit!

Thanks to your library card and the Culture Pass NYC program, New York's cultural treasures—from museums to gardens, performing arts institutions, and more—are all just a few keystrokes away. While New York is home to some of the world's greatest cultural institutions, visiting them all with your family regularly can seriously add up. So, while we're always on the hunt for free times to visit NYC museums, if you're a current cardholder at the New York, Brooklyn, or Queens Public Library, you're going to want to read on for the details on how to unlock the NYC Culture Pass benefit.

Looking for fresh family movie night ideas? Here are some of the best movies for kids of all ages, from toddlers all the way through teens.

Family movie night is always exciting... until you spend so much time choosing a movie everyone can agree on, it's already past bedtime. We are here to save family movie night by sharing 75 of the best movies for kids of all ages. From classic family-friendly movies we all grew up watching to popular Disney and Pixar flicks to movies that will thrill tweens and teens, there are family movies on this list to please everyone.

So get out the popcorn, grab a blanket, and check out this list of the 75 best movies for kids. Then visit our Guide to Boredom Busters for Kids for more ideas for family fun night, from the 100 best board games for kids and family game night to the 100 best kids' TV shows of all time.

Here at Mommy Poppins we've definitely got the travel bug, and we love to share our favorite family travel destinations with all of our readers. Luckily, we went to some pretty awesome places in 2023. We soaked up the sun on beaches from Florida to Belize; explored amazing US cities in the South, Midwest, and West; caught thrills at some great theme parks and water parks; and even went abroad to Seoul, South Korea and Oslo, Norway.

We shared some less-conventional types of travel, too. Outdoorsy families will love our lists of the best US glamping spots, family-friendly river rafting trips, and even some fabulous kid-friendly wineries in Napa, Sonoma, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here are our favorite family vacation destinations of 2023, including some great hotel and resort suggestions. Check out our Family Travel Guide for even more great places to visit with your family—we've got big plans in store for 2024!

Indoor water parks offer summertime-style family thrills year-round, and many are just a car ride away from the New York City metro area. With winter's chill upon us, many families look for ways to escape the city for a warmer locale, but jet-setting to a tropical island might not always be a possibility. Instead, stay a little closer to home and visit one of these indoor water parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley, which are sure to help beat the winter blues.

We've found 10 warm and wet indoor water parks nearby perfect for kids and families and all are less than 2½ hours from Midtown Manhattan. Most indoor water parks keep temperatures a hot and humid 85 degrees year-round, creating a perfect beach day in any season. So leave the sunscreen at home, dust off that bathing suit, and hit the water.

Check out our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for more destination inspiration.

Celebrating New Year's Eve with kids doesn't have to mean a boring night at home. Keep the night at home but lose the boring with these 15 fantastic family-friendly activities to help celebrate New Year's Eve with kids at home. From balloon pops to ball drops, discover how to ring in the new year in the most festive and memorable way.

For more New Year's Eve fun with kids with an international flavor, check out our guide to 23 Family-Friendly New Year’s Traditions from around the World. Chair leaping or grape eating, anyone? Then there are so many things to do on New Year's Day on our local event calendars.

However you celebrate, from all of us at Mommy Poppins: Happy New Year!

Freezing weather can lead to stir-crazy kids and parents, so we've pulled together this list of great winter day trips in and near New Jersey for families. Options include bundling up for a day of snow tubing or, if you're dreaming of summer, splashing the day away at an indoor water park.

Whether your crew loves outdoor adventures or prefers indoor pursuits, read on to find the perfect winter activity for you from this list of 25 winter day trips from New Jersey for families.

Find all our picks for seasonal fun in our Winter Fun Guide and bookmark our Day Trips Guide for all-seasons destinations.