The Best Poconos Resorts for a Family Vacation

The H2Oooohh! indoor water park is a highlight of Split Rock Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort

The Pocono Mountains draw families to Pennsylvania from the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and beyond for their picturesque landscapes and outstanding family resorts. Plus, there are so many things to do in the Poconos with kids all year long, from skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing in the winter to hiking, swimming, and boating in the summer. Many Poconos resorts boast zip lines, adventure ropes courses, and other outdoor activities for families, plus indoor fun for kids like arcades and bowling. And some Poconos family resorts, including the popular Camelback Resort and Kalahari Resort Poconos, even have indoor water parks offering hours of splashy, weatherproof fun.

We've rounded up eight of the top Poconos resorts for families, including Poconos all-inclusive resorts, so you can see which one best fits your next Poconos family vacation.

18 Family-Friendly Food Halls in NYC for an Easy, Delicious Meal

Essex Street Market's food hall offers a diverse selection of culinary delights. Photo by Jody Mercier

You want to grab a bite out with the kids and the local pizza joint isn't going to cut it—but asking your wiggly, tired kids to sit quietly in a nice restaurant is like lighting a firecracker and then hoping it won't explode. New York City's diverse selection of food halls is the perfect solution.

Despite their historic mall­-culture reputation, the model of a casual food hall with multiple food options is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, and not just in suburbia. Right here in NYC, food halls are gaining major foodie clout with excellent vendors, artisan marketplaces, and appealing perks (and sweet treats) for families with kids. It's the perfect eatery for families: There's a food option for everyone, minimal wait times, multiple bathrooms, and no one notices if your kid tantrums or drops half their meal on the floor.

Read on for 18 outstanding food halls in NYC offering top-notch eats, spacious seating, and lots to do in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Battery Park, Chelsea, Midtown, Dumbo, and more.

Check out our Guide to Family-Friendly NYC Restaurants for more dining in just about every neighborhood to satisfy every finicky palate.

Taco Tuesday: The Only 5 Taco Recipes You’ll Ever Need

Taco Tuesday makes meal planning easy and dinner kid-pleasing.

Taco Tuesday makes meal planning and cooking on a busy weeknight fun and easy. It's one night a week that you know for sure what’s for dinner and that your kids will actually eat! Here's my secret: master a basic taco seasoning recipe (the best one ever is below) and anything can turn into tacos. I've also included my favorite recipes for a few more easy taco meals: shrimp tacos, chicken tacos, fish tacos, and classic beef tacos. Consider Tuesday night's dinner planned with these quick, easy, and delicious tacos. You can go from "Mom, I'm hungry" to eating in under 30 minutes. 

Find more yummy (and quick) things to make for dinner, like No Cleanup Necessary Sheet Pan Dinners Kids Love or Easy Crockpot Recipes for Family Dinner in our Easy Recipes Guide.

Pick-Your-Own Adventures Await on the Many Gorgeous Flower Farms of New Jersey

Beautiful blossoms await at Johnson's Locust Hall Farm.

New Jersey is known for its bountiful farmland, and the pick-your-own-farms dotting the state offer opportunities for many hours of family fun. These New Jersey farms are overflowing with acres of beautiful flowers, including camera-ready zinnia and lavender fields. Sunflower fields in New Jersey offer a particular treat for fans of the long-stemmed plants during its long growing season, which typically lasts from mid-July through October. In the fall, some farms host sunflower mazes, sunflower trails, and even sunflower festivals. Read on for everything you need to know about spending a day of flower-picking in New Jersey and bringing home a fragrant assortment of blooms. 

If your family also gets excited about picking your own produce, check out our guides to picking strawberries in late spring, blueberries and peaches in the summertime, and apples and pumpkins in the fall. 

Visiting the New York Aquarium With Kids: Top Things To Do and See

Wave hello to Bruiser, the talented sea lion and star of the Aquatheater show at the New York Aquarium.

A day at the beach doesn't have to leave you water-logged or sandy-soled if you plan to spend it at the waterfront New York Aquarium in Brooklyn. The 14-acre park on the action-packed Coney Island boardwalk is home to more than 500 species and is the oldest, continually operating aquarium in the United States, having opened its doors at Lower Manhattan's Castle Clinton in 1896.

Read on for our favorite things to do and see at the New York Aquarium with kids, and find more fun destinations for an animal encounter in this post on the best zoos and aquariums in New York City.

Visiting Adventureland on Long Island With Kids: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Enjoy a thrilling ride on the twisty Turbulence roller coaster at Adventureland in Farmingdale. Photo courtesy of the amusement park

Whether you love to get your adrenaline pumping with high-speed roller coasters or take things slow with train rides and antique cars, Adventureland on Long Island is a fun, family-friendly destination. The amusement park's rides and attractions have created smiles for 60 years, and Adventureland is still a great place to spend a day with the family.

Here are our favorite things to do at Adventureland, plus the six attractions you can’t miss at this Long Island amusement park. Read our tips for visiting before putting on your comfortable shoes and heading out the door. You'll find more thrilling amusement parks nearby in our Guide to Amuseument Parks and Water Parks.

Visit Boston's Museum of Science Like a Local: Inside Tips for a Visit with Kids

Kids will love the familiar faces in the new temporary exhibit, Emotions at Play, based on Pixar's film, Inside Out.  Photo courtesy of the Museum

As one of the largest science centers in the world, Boston’s Museum of Science is a essential trip for curious minds of all ages. The MoS is an awesome family destination, as it assembles permanent and rotating exhibits that engage and enchant toddlers, teens, and grown-ups alike. Whether you are bringing your family for the 30th time, or it’s your first jaunt to this famous location, visitors always experience something new at the Museum of Science! 

For more family-friendly attractions, see our guide to Boston Zoos: There's More Than Just the Franklin Park Zoo. Our ideas for Fun Things to Do on Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway with Kids can help you fill out a day around the city. And check out Museum of Fine Arts Day Trip: Exploring the MFA with Kids for tips on exploring another great Boston museum.

Family-Friendly Spa Resorts Near NYC

You don't have to stray far to find a family-friendly spa resort near NYC. Mohonk Mountain house offers a beautiful, serene lakeside location and full spa menu for adults in New Paltz.

We're always on the lookout for a family-friendly resort where kid-friendly fun takes center stage, but sometimes mom and dad need something a little extra from a weekend getaway. Enter these family-friendly spa resorts near NYC. At these local spa resorts, you'll find plenty of kid comforts, family-friendly hotel rooms, and parent-friendly perks that range from couples massages to facials and meditation classes CBD pedicures, and more indulgent treatments.

It turns out you can have it all—a fun escape for kids combined with a relaxing spa experience for parents. Treat yourself at these spa resorts in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, and consider it a mini-vacation from your vacation.

Find more fun, family-friendly getaways near NYC in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

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