Dive Into Atlanta Indoor Pools and Water Parks

It's always a blast at the pool at Collins Hill Aquatic Center.

Enjoy awesome Atlanta indoor pools with recent freezing temps! Keep your kids entertained (and your sanity intact) by swimming in the wintertime. Atlanta offers family-friendly options to enjoy heated indoor pools guaranteed to chase the wintertime blues away. Or do something different in the summer and hit up an indoor water park for a change!

Whether kids want to go down a water slide or swim laps for swim team season, call individual facilities before heading out as pricing may change (and in some cases, reservations are required). Also, confirm operating hours as some facilities close during swim meets and holidays. Let's dive in Atlanta indoor pools and water parks!

Best Coffee Shops in Orlando to Bring Your Kids When You Need Caffeine

Nautilus Coffee features a cool vibe, where kids can touch interesting design pieces and fill up on yummy items. Photo by Charlotte B

Fun coffee shops in Orlando provide a much needed jolt of caffeine for parents and a charming spot for kids to unwind. We've gathered our favorite Orlando coffee shops -- offering sweet treats, kid-friendly drinks, quirky ambiences, on-site games, or even cute cats and dogs(!) -- all perfect for families. We've even rounded up awesome coffee shops and cafes at theme parks to get parents through the exhausting walking and waiting in lines with a jolt of joe. Take a look at the top coffee shops in Orlando and Central Florida now!

25 Best Things To Do in Warwick, NY, with Kids

The Village of Warwick hosts family-friendly events throughout the year, including a free summer concert series. Photo courtesy the Village of Warwick

Warwick, New York, is the southernmost town in Orange County. Bordering New Jersey, it's geographically, one of New York state’s largest towns—is a perfect family-friendly destination for a daycation. It boasts a cute, walkable village, plenty of shops and restaurants, and it is a great destination to visit with kids.

Warwick also has an agriculturally rich environment, with numerous orchards and wineries within its borders—perfect for pick-your-own outings with kids. It's also an official Appalachian Trail Community, making it a great place for hiking and other outdoor fun.

Read on for our in-depth look at Warwick, and all our picks for the best things to do with kids during a visit to this picturesque Hudson Valley town. Find more local fun in our Guide to the Hudson Valley

Indoor Water Parks and Pools for Philly Area Families

Splash around in the tropical waters at Aquatopia at Camelback Resort.

While it might be nice to board a plane to a sunny island, it’s not always possible or cost-effective. Luckily, you can enjoy some summertime fun year-round at the many indoor water parks near Philly. Go dig out your bathing suit from behind your coats and mittens, and get ready to take the plunge at one of these exciting parks and family-friendly resorts.

If you're looking for more indoor fun, check out our Indoor Activities Guide or start planning some faraway quality time using our Family Travel Guide.

Best Outdoor Dining on Long Island: Igloos, Greenhouses, and More Winter Restaurants

Enjoy oceanside dining inside a heated igloo at Gurney's Resort in Montauk.

Outdoor dining on Long Island is still viable in the dead of winter, with family-friendly local eateries offering options like igloos, mini-greenhouses, and heaters. 

While these outdoor dining options come with perks like fairy lights, Bluetooth speakers, plush seating, and more, they also often come at a hefty price tag, and they might be best saved for a special occasion. Reservations are generally required and the spaces often sell out, so plan in advance.

Find more family-friendly eateries in our Family-Friendly Long Island Restaurant Guide, plus plenty of seasonal fun in our Winter Fun Guide.

30 Banned Children's Books You Should Read Today

New Kid book signing with author Jerry Craft. Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

Books are getting banned at an alarming rate, especially children's books. When you think banned, you think there's got to be something controversial, mature, or upsetting in the books. But many of these books are classics that are beloved by generations of kids.

While kids might want to ban bedtime, bathtime, or broccoli, we're guessing that books like Charlotte's Web and Captain Underpants are things kids would rather celebrate than ban. We've compiled a list of frequently banned children's books that kids of all ages adore. So go ahead, be a rebel. Read a banned book. Books are magic, and knowledge is power.

For more of our favorite books that expand minds, thoughts, and hearts, check out our Best Kids' Books Guide to Great Reads, which includes incredible Kids' Books About Racism, Best LGBTQ Books for Kids, and more great book recommendations.

Parents Confess: 50 Things We Pretend to Enjoy

Let's see if they're still smiling after a long day at the amusement park!

Every week we here at Mommy Poppins ask our readers a question—things like, "What is your favorite donut place in your city?" or "Which would you rather have, a maid or a chef?" We typically get lots of great responses—some funny, some sweet, and some super insightful.

But rarely do we receive as much feedback as when we posed this question: "What are you convinced people are pretending to enjoy?" So many of you came to your keyboards for this one! We received hundreds of responses, with kale being mentioned the most.

Since this was such a hot topic, we decided to compile the best answers into one big list of 45 things we pretend to enjoy—and believe other people pretend to enjoy, too. Save this for the next time you're hanging out with other parents—it's sure to make for a lively discussion. Then check out our Parenting Guide for more parent talk, from funny animal memes to parenting tips from dads.

21 Birthday Freebies in NYC: Places Where Kids Eat Free and Nab Gifts

Hit up the Hard Rock Cafe for a free birthday treat.

Rent-out-the-whole-museum and hire-a-marching-band kid birthday parties have their fans, but when it comes to a memorable day, we think it's nice to find a few birthday freebies. Of course, there are plenty of at-home, DIY ways to celebrate your child's birthday for FREE, from leaving cute notes on the mirror to playing hooky. But it's also the one time each year you can take advantage of all those corporate birthday clubs that promise to make your kid's big day even more special with fun birthday freebies like complimentary gifts, food, and other deals.

We've rounded up a mix of local spots, with a lot of national chain restaurants and popular kids' stores thrown in, which all offer FREE birthday goodies. Some are specific to kids, though adults can snag a few birthday freebies, too. Most require an email list or loyalty card sign up.

Find more fun for your little one's big day (maybe even a marching band) in our NYC Kids' Guide to Birthday Parties.

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