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The Saguaro in Palm Springs, California, beckons families with its pool and more.
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Belize is the perfect tropical vacation destination for families.
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Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.
Best First Birthday Gifts: Toys and More for 1-Year-Olds
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Skip the candy and the plastic that ends up in a landfill with these creative goody bag and party favor ideas. Photo courtesy of Hannah Rodrigo/Unsplash
Unique Goody Bag and Party Favor Ideas for Kids' Birthday Parties
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Preparing for Fatherhood: Parenting Tips From Our Favorite Dads
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Crafts & Games Guide: 100s of Activities for Kids
Kids can play these daily word games alone or with a friend. Photo by Sara Marentette
7 Games Like Wordle for Kids: Daily Word Games Online
Sea otters really don't want to get lost! Photo courtesy Joe Robertson/CC BY 2.0
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These questions to ask grandparents help kids get to know their favorite people a little better.
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It's time to plan the ultimate Bluey birthday party!
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Adorable? Yes. Useful? No way. Babies don't need shoes.
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Starface's star-shaped pimple patches make kids look and feel awesome while dealing with pimples.
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Kudos diapers use four times more plant-based materials than competing brands. Photo courtesy of Shark Tank Products
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There are so many fun ways to reuse your Imperfect Foods boxes. Photo courtesy of Imperfect Foods
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Grab your list and head out for a scavenger hunt with the kids!
Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids - Plus Cute Printables!
Now we can send you articles about things to do in your neighborhood that match your interests!
Mommy Poppins' New Web App and Notifications Are the Easiest Way To Find Fun Things To Do
Walking, talking, grabbing, holding, smiling, laughing... it's all coming. But when? Photo by Tatiana Syrikova, via Pexels
Developmental Milestones for Babies in the First Year
One top tip is getting kids involved from the planning stage, and they'll want to help cook! Photo by Brooke Lark, via Pexels
Family Dinner Secrets from Savvy Parents: Weekly Menu Planners and Meal Planning Made Easy
Just one kid composting can save 400 pounds of food waste a year. So yes, one kid can make a difference! Photo by Maureen Wilkey
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When kids are bored, bored, bored, it's handy to have a whole list of fun things to do. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Disney turns 100 and there will be celebrations from coast to coast. Photo courtesy of Disneyland
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It's easier than you'd think to turn a simple paper lunch bag into a festive piñata!
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Learn some random fun facts that will leave your kids laughing. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Trader Joe's how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: for being inexpensive, gourmet and friendly.
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Snuggle up with one of these beloved bedtime stories for kids. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Screen time doesn't have to be a solo activity with these fun, free online games for kids to play with friends.
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Take a spin around the lazy river at Mandalay Bay.
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SingleCare offers major savings on more than 10,000 prescription drugs through its free app.
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The outdoors are a natural playground for curious kids.
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Are you brave enough for some of these spooky ghost stories?
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A perfectly packed lunchbox helps kick the school blues. Photo courtesy of www.YumboxLunch.com
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Revel in the dirty hands! Outdoor activities help kids sleep better and jumpstarts their imaginations.
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Rent a gorgeous backyard pool like this for your family for an hour or a day. Photo courtesy of Swimply
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Alphabet Soup. Photo courtesy of foodwithfeeling
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Gather 'round the campfire and sing some fun songs. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
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These funny jokes for kids will have them laughing in no time!
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Things like having a children's museum with a view like this make it easy to leave your heart in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the Bay Area Discovery Museum
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Kids can give parents tickets if they forget to turn off the water to soap hands or brush teeth!
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A zip line and more await at Portland's Eagle's Nest Treehouse. Photo courtesy of julian@hipcamp
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Did you know a pillow fight is a great way to get proprioceptive input? Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Find a bare patch of soil to place your seed bomb. Spread them far and wide! Photo by the author
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The Outdoor Play Plaza at Greensboro Children's Museum in North Carolina.
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Enjoy stunning views of the Thames River.
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Taco Tuesday makes meal planning easy and dinner kid-pleasing.
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Enjoy the clear turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos.
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Our guide to living a more earth-friendly life.
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Plan the perfect at-home kids' birthday party with these ideas and tips. Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels
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A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.
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We found plenty of things to do in Paris to fill our days and nights!
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Children are natural advocates for the planet and our actions truly can make a difference.
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Abracadabra! These videos teach kids how to do magic at home! Photo by Amina Filkins/Pexels
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Try wrapping your tongue around a few of these tantalizing twisters! Photo courtesy of Saeed Karimi via Unsplash
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Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
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Science experiments and STEM activities for kids entrance children with their
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The outdoors are a natural playground for curious kids.
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girl making apple pie courtesy of canva
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Need a kids' music playlist that will get you dancing, eating, and even learning state capitals? We found a playlist for every occasion.
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Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
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Weekly Wrap Up: Summer Festivals, Free Movies, Bastille Day

7/7/11 - By Raven Snook

Summer is in full swing: Temperatures keep hitting 90, playground sprinklers are always on and campers seem to be taking over the city. (Central Park is full of them chanting at the top of their lungs!)

If you have the luxury of spending the entire season with your family, there are plenty of ways to have fun. We've compiled 100 free things to do this summer with ideas for every single day, as well as some anytime activities.

If you only get to hang out on Saturdays and Sundays, there's still a lot to do. This weekend you've got SummerStage's Family Day in Central Park and a big Bastille Day bash, both free.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

New York City

Get your calendar out! We've got the scoop on 12 cool summer festivals.

Here's a great way to beat the heat: Catch a free (or really cheap) indoor movie.

Another great place to cool off: Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain, a tasty Carroll Gardens destination set in a renovated apothecary.

Before you splurge on tickets to Cirque du Soleil's new spectacle Zarkana, read our review to find out whether it's good for kids.

Looking for a great family vacation destination? Consider Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a lovely waterside town that really comes alive in summer.

Even though Bastille Day is July 14, you can celebrate this weekend at these French-infused fetes.

Other best bets for the weekend include SummerStage's Family Day in Central Park and the Children's Museum of the Arts Family Art Festival in the West Village.


New Jersey

Ready, set, scream! We've rounded up the coolest coasters in (or near) the Garden State, complete with height requirements.

A mom of two children on the autism spectrum highlights the best Facebook pages for special needs families.

Weekend highlights include the New Jersey State Barbeque Championship in North Wildwood and a big Beachstock party in Margate.

Long Island

Over on the isle, we're got a roundup of free outdoor movie screenings throughout the summer.

Things to do this weekend include a Beach Bonanza at Nissequogue River State Park and an outdoor production of The Wizard of Oz at Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park.

Connecticut

A mom recounts her awesome day at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.

Weekend events include the Danbury City Fair and Riverfest 2011 at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.

Cool Deals

We're running a really amazing deal at Poppins Perks: Our Summer Hot List, with $1,000 in savings on the best things to do in NYC this summer, including discounts to the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, the Art Farm, nearby water parks and more! Best of all: 100% of the profits will benefit NYC public schools.