Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

By land, by sea,  by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

Local families love the best museums for kids in Connecticut; children's museums that are interesting, fun, and always hands-on! Connecticut offers all sorts of special places to take your kids. There is STEM-related fun in Hartford, historical exploration in Mystic, and CT children's museum excitement in Niantic, Norwalk, and beyond. So whatever your child is interested in, you can find interactive fun to fill up an entire day. Many of the museums offer regular classes and meet-ups that will become a part of your week. Some turn down the lights and music and offer sensory-friendly hours. 

Be sure to look through our list of Free Museums in Connecticut to Visit with Kids for bargain-priced museum fun. And be surte to explore our Connecticut Museums Guide and Indoor Fun Guide for family activities in any kind of weather!

Best Museums for Kids in Philly: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

Explore Franklin's life and character in the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Photo courtesy of NPS

Museums are some of the best places for kids to learn more about the world around them, practice new skills, and have a safe place to play during wintry or rainy weather. Luckily, Philadelphia is home to a host of museums that are sure to entertain any child, no matter their interests. From history to science and nature to art to cars and trucks, there’s something for everyone and for every budget. Check out our favorite children’s museums and family-friends museums in the Philadelphia area.

Don't forget to check out our Museum Guide for reviews and more. Our Indoor Activity Guide also has tons of great indoor fun for days when the weather has you down.

Best Christmas Light Shows and Holiday Drive-Thrus near NYC

The stunning Peace, Love, and Lights drive-thru at Bethel Woods returns for another season of bringing visitors joy.

If you're ready to add a little extra sparkle to the holiday season, take note: The tri-state area boasts some pretty spectacular Christmas lights and holiday lights drive-thrus where your crew can enjoy twinkling Christmas lights displays from the warmth, comfort, and safety of your car.

We've compiled a list of 15 must-see Christmas lights displays to drive through in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut that are guaranteed to bring smiles to your family's faces. So, pack some snacks, cue the Christmas music, and get ready to make some priceless holiday memories.

Find tons more ways to celebrate this season with those you love in our jam-packed Holiday Guide. Consider it our seasonal gift to you.

Top Travel Games for Kids

You don't have to worry about UNO Splash cards getting wet! Photo courtesy of Mattel Games, via the UNO Amazon Store.

Family vacations are all about having fun and making memories together, and travel games are a great way to do just that. Whether it's car games to keep kids busy on a road trip, games for the family to play together at the hotel or rental home, or fun games to play at the pool or beach, the best travel games are compact, lightweight, and easy to toss into a carry-on bag.

Here are some of our favorite travel games for kids and families that are sure to bring the fun to your next family vacation, from card and puzzle games to more active pursuits.

If you've got some extra room in the car, you can add in some of the games on our list of the 100 best board games for family game night—some of them come in travel size! And if you're planning a road trip and could use a little extra help, our Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Families has you covered.

25 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in New England for Kids

New England kids have so much to smile about, with a season full of holiday activities and Christmas events! Photo courtesy of the I Love Wickford Village Facebook page

The holidays are coming fast, and we've rounded up the best holiday activities and Christmas events in New England for kids. What better place to celebrate the Christmas season than New England? There's a reason all those classic holiday movies were filmed here. From snow-blanketed landscapes to quaint, historical towns, to nature in all its winter-wonderland glory. Choose from 25 Christmas-time events and activities in New England that kids and grown ups can enjoy. These holiday activities can be found in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Enjoy sleigh rides, hot cocoa, sparkling lights, and festive traditions galore. Read on for our guide to the 25 best holiday activities and Christmas events in New England for kids!

Are you getting into the holiday spirit yet? Us, too! Check out our list of favorite towns that go all out for Christmas. Get started on your holiday shopping, and remember to explore our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide.

See the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation with Kids

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is an event unto itself. See the larger-than-life balloons come to life the night before the parade. Photo by Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0

Thanksgiving in New York City wouldn’t be what it is without the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you're eager to take your kids to glimpse those giant balloons and don’t want to rise before dawn, visit the area near the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, to watch the giants come to life during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is far from crowd-free, it’s an only-in-New York event all its own—and one of our must-do holiday events for families. Read on for tips on when to go and where to eat. In need of more holiday inspiration? Visit our NYC Kids Thanksgiving Fun Guide.

Best Kids' Ride On Toys for Kids of All Ages for a Gift That Will WOW

The Licensed Land Rover Ride On Car Toy is one of the coolest ride on toys for kids.

Ride on toys are the perfect gift to give a child if you really want to "wow" them. After all, what's more fun than zooming around town—or the house—on two, three, or four wheels? Plus, many kids' ride on toys have the added benefit of building balance, coordination, muscle strength, and fine motor schools.

We've rounded up 21 of the best ride on toys for kids of all ages, from toddlers all the way through teens (and even adults). These kids' ride on toys run the gamut from ride on horse toys to scooters to tricked-out electric cars for kids. With these ride on toys, your kiddo will surely be cruising the neighborhood in style.

Find more awesome gifts for kids, from the best first birthday gifts to the best gifts for tweens and teens, in our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide.

Free Turkeys in New Jersey for Thanksgiving 2023

A number of New Jersey organizations offer free turkey giveaways this holiday season. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Free turkey meals in New Jersey offer help to families who may not have the financial means to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal they deserve. Many churches, soup kitchens, and charities throughout New Jersey offer free turkey giveaways or full, hot Thanksgiving dinners this season.

Read on for details on where to find these services, and if you're fortunate enough to have a full pantry and pocketbook, keep in mind that many of these nonprofits need help now more than ever, so consider reaching out to donate.

In addition to helping families fill their Thanksgiving table, we've also rounded up a collection of resources and organizations ready to supply free toys for the upcoming holiday season.

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