Belmont Park makes for a charming destination for an old-fashioned family-friendly day trip. Located in Elmont, New York, this thoroughbred horse racing track is centrally located for families traveling from New York City and Long Island, and yet a day at the races is far from an ordinary outing.

My mom grew up as a certified country girl, riding horses and watching the rodeo circuit, and though she—and I—have raised a family of city kids, I try to keep my kids connected to our country roots. Spending a day admiring the horses at Belmont Park is one of our favorite you're-not-in-NYC-anymore outings.

Belmont Park receives tons of attention on the second Saturday in June when the Belmont Stakes—the final leg of racing's Triple Crown—brings the top racehorses to its starting gates, but its racing season debuts in early May and runs through mid-July each year. From food trucks to fillies, here are all the fun things to do during a family-friendly day trip to Belmont Park. Our Guide to Local Farms and Pick-Your-Own Produce offers even more agritainment for families.

If you haven’t been to an alpaca ranch, you’re missing out on one of the most unique experiences around. Luckily, we've got loads of choices for Alpaca farms to visit in the Philly area.

These furry and friendly camel cousins can be fed, petted, and walked at alpaca farms throughout Philadelphia’s surrounding counties, often free of charge. These soft, furry sweethearts are shorn in the spring, and their fleece is used to make everything from clothing to stuffed animals to dryer balls, and the products are for sale at most of the alpaca farms in the Philadelphia area listed below.

Check out some of our favorite places to get up close and personal with these amazing animals. There are plenty more great animal farms in the Philly area, all of which you can find in our Guide to Philly Zoos and Farms.

Orlando zoos and aquariums create the best childhood memories, especially gazing at wild animals that kids wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to see. Central Florida is home to many zoos, aquariums, and attractions that offer opportunities to get up close and personal with native and exotic animals, reptiles, and more. Here are the top places to see animals in Central Florida, beyond the theme parks.

Want to enjoy wildlife from the comfort of your own car? Check out these exciting Orlando wildlife drives!

The Dr. Seuss Experience recently opened in Northern Virginia's Tysons Corner Center near Washington, DC, following successful runs in Houston, Chicago, and several other cities. The experience immerses visitors into the zany world of Dr. Seuss. Whether it's the Cat in the Hat making trouble or Horton protecting the Whos, Dr. Seuss has had a place in children's imaginations for decades. Now kids and their families can step inside the pages of some of Seuss's most popular books.

At The Dr. Seuss Experience, kids can wind their way through a mirror maze, meet beloved characters, and even take a ride on a carousel. Eye-popping, silly Seuss scenes bring the popular books to life and provide some amazing photo ops.

My family recently got to visit The Dr. Seuss Experience for a media preview (oh, the places we go here at Mommy Poppins) and had a great time. Read on for my full review, and be sure to purchase tickets soon—this unique experience is only in town until September 30, 2023.

When you take a child to petting zoos in Connecticut and farms with animals, it's as if the pictures in their little books come popping off the page. A real-live donkey, even a zebra, and all the farm animals whose sounds we teach them so early on are right there! There are lots of nurturing, healthy petting zoos, farms and rescues in Connecticut where families can visit all the furry creatures, big small!

In addition to getting up close and personal with these animals, many of these Connecticut Farms also offer a wide variety of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables. There is plenty of family fun to be had. Read on for our favorite Connecticut petting zoos and farms to visit. And don’t forget to visit your other four-legged friends at these Connecticut Zoos and Gardens. 

Imagination City is a brand-new indoor pretend play space in the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, and I recently checked it out. Since opening its doors in February, families have been talking about it, the mall has been promoting it, and our family just had to see it ourselves. Once in a while, we like to go to a spot around the Bay Area that's getting a lot of buzz and see if it's worth all the hype. Keep reading below for our review! 

If the kiddos are yearning for more imaginative play, we've got a whole list of indoor playgrounds and play spaces, plus free museum days to continue education and inspiration. 

New Jersey's wonderful roller skating rinks will get the kids moving and serve up a nostalgic reminder of your own childhood. 

Roller skating rinks offer the perfect place to throw a rad party or spend a mega-fun afternoon indoors with the kids. Check out the roller skating hot spots throughout NJ that we've rounded up below–Spandex pants are strictly optional. We've got more fun indoor places to play on this list of 40 indoor activities in New Jersey, plus tons more fun in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

Booking a great, family-friendly NYC hotel might be the most difficult part of a family trip to New York City. After all, it's easy to formulate an action-packed itinerary, but finding a hotel with rooms bigger than a shoebox, located in a central location, that doesn't break the bank is more challenging. Enter Virgin Hotels New York City. The Richard Branson-backed chain recently opened a new location in the heart of New York City and it’s a great NYC hotel for families that checks all the boxes.

Read on to find out what we loved about our stay at Virgin Hotels New York City and find more parent-tested picks for family-friendly hotels in New York City in our Guide to Weekend Trips and Getaways.