A Guide to Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary in the US with Kids (2026)

Submitted by Nicole O'Donnell on

America turns 250 this year and there are extra-big celebrations all across the country! Photo by Kent Miller for Macy's Inc.

The upcoming year will be a big one for America—the country is celebrating America 250, its semiquincentennial (say that five times fast!). In easier-to-pronounce words, it's the US's 250th birthday—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And there are so many ways to celebrate the America 250 anniversary 2026.

America's 250th celebration events will take place in all 50 states. Everywhere from big cities to small towns will host festivals, parades, special museum exhibits, some seriously next-level July 4th celebrations, and other amazing America 250 events. That means 2026 is the perfect year to take a family vacation packed with history, learning, and fun!

Read on for our ultimate America 250 travel guide for families, including the best places to celebrate America 250, handy travel tips, and answers to your biggest questions about this major milestone. And if you want to make America 250 part of a larger family vacay, our Family Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect patriotic trip!

23 Fun Winter Day Trips from NYC

Submitted by Fiona Taylor on

Hit the ice at the scenic Mohonk Mountan House, which offers winter day passes to enjoy its spectacular resort amenities. Photo courtesy of the venue

Winter is officially here, and this list of winter day trips from New York City will undoubtedly come in handy. Whether you prefer spending the winter months snuggling on the couch or frolicking in the snow, sometimes you just need to get out of town for a change of pace.

We've pulled together this list of family-friendly, fun-filled winter day trips near NYC that appeal to all interests, from budding artists to full-fledged ski bunnies. Best of all, these destinations are all two hours or less from New York City by car, and we think they're all worth the trip.

Find more winter day trips from NYC in our Day Trip and Weekend Getaways Guide and our Guide to Winter Fun, which is filled with more fun ways to embrace the season, like snow tubing day trips, our favorite ski slopes, and more.

The 131 Most-Loved (Best) Kids’ Books: Parent-Tested, Kid-Approved

Submitted by Ally Noel on

Find a new children's book to read today. Photo by Jody Mercier

There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in the pages of a good book, and you truly can’t start too young! This is a list of the best books for kids that are all picked to instill a lifetime long love of reading. These aren’t classics kids should read. These are books kids will beg to read. (Or have read aloud to them!) We talked to parents who see what their kids are actually devouring. These books are beloved, re-read, dog-eared, and passed to siblings. 

They are all books that we see our kids reading over and over. That we read aloud until we got so sick of the books we hid them for a while. There are classics we read as kids ourselves, and new books we discovered with our kids. 

Discover your next favorite family bedtime read aloud, your kid’s next favorite book, or a great book to get your reluctant reader reading. Find even more great books in our guide to children's books and literature, including the Best Board Books for Babies and Toddlers You’ll Love to Read Over and Over, for your pre-readers!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in New Jersey: Light Shows, Santa Visits, and More Things to Do

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Palmer Square is centerstage for a Christmas Eve Sing-A-Long. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey over Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

It's a holly jolly Christmas weekend, and we've found plenty of fun things to do in New Jersey to celebrate! Kick off the festivities on Christmas Eve with music and a visit from Santa at Christmas Eve Sing-A-Long in Palmer Square. Then, step back into prehistoric times this weekend at Jurassic Quest at the NJ Convention and Exposition Center, boasting more than 100 life-sized dinosaurs. 

Plus, the holiday weekend is the perfect time to experience seasonal spectaculars you may have missed, including PNC Bank Arts Center Magic of Lights and Historic Smithville Holiday Light Show, both of which are open Christmas Day.

Read on for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in NYC Top Things To Do: Caroling, Kwanzaa, and More

Drew Kristofik's picture Submitted by Drew Kristofik on

The eye-popping displays of the Dyker Lights are a holiday must-see in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

You may still have gifts to wrap (or—gulp—shop for) and stockings to hang, but there's festive fun to be had all weekend and beyond. Some of my annual Christmas favorites include singing carols under the Washington Square Arch, catching a holiday show, and checking out the Dyker Lights.

Plus, families can celebrate Kwanzaa at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, have an intergalactic Space Glide at NYSCI, or catch the Nefesh Mountain Family Concert at the Jewish Museum.

No matter how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the Mommy Poppins team!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in DC Top Things To Do: Christmas Lights, Holiday Theater, and More

Submitted by Stephanie Shipman on

Wave to waterskiing Santa on Christmas Eve! Photo by Toni Genburg

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Christmas weekend? Here are some awesome events and activities to add to your list for Christmas 2025.

Santa Claus is coming to town, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate all weekend long! Start by seeing Waterskiing Santa at the Alexandria waterfront on Christmas Eve, and keep the spirit alive Friday - Sunday with Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical at Capital One Hall. If you're looking for things to do on Christmas itself, check out our list of what is open on Christmas Day in DC.

The Winter Skate Spectacular kicks off in the National Building Museum this Saturday. If you prefer skating in the fresh air, our list of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC has plenty of fun options.

And if you want to get a jump on New Year's celebrations, there's a New Year's Tea at the B&O Railroad Museum on Sunday. Whatever you do, happy holidays from your friends at Mommy Poppins!

Christmas Weekend 2025 in Dallas-Fort Worth Top Things To Do: Cirque Musica, Beauty and the Beast, and More

Submitted by Gabby Cullen on

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland returns to Frisco, Photo courtesy of TCG Entertainment

Looking for the best things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

The gifts are unwrapped, the holiday dinner is over, and the kids are starting to get a little antsy; it's time to find things to do for Christmas weekend in the metroplex. If you want to catch one last holiday light display, head to the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano or Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie. If you want to see a show, Beauty and the Beast is playing at Fair Park, or the Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland is in Frisco for just this weekend. Plus, there are Kwanzaa celebrations in Fort Worth at The Dock and the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas! 

Have an amazing Christmas holiday, ya'll! 

Christmas Weekend 2025 in Orlando Top Things To Do: Theme Park Festivals, Holiday Lights, and More

Submitted by Charlotte B on

Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island is back with a supersized Christmas tree, snow flurries, Christmas lights, Santa, and more! Photo courtesy Wekiva Island

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

Christmas weekend is here— hopefully the tree is decorated, presents are wrapped, and holiday plans are finalized. Assuming you're looking to get out of the house on Christmas weekend, Orlando is brimming with things to do. Celebrate Christmas in Orlando at SeaWorld, Epcot, Universal, or any of the other Central Florida theme parks open during the holiday weekend. Looking for Christmas lights? Check out amazing displays at Daytona International Speedway and Leu Gardens.

We've also rounded up the best Orlando Restaurants Open on Christmas Day as well as What's Open on Christmas Day in Orlando. Whatever your plans this weekend, have a very happy holiday from your friends at Mommy Poppins!