Pick Your Own Blueberries and More at These Hudson Valley Farms

Even the littlest visitors can pick their own blueberries. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner

Strawberry-picking season may be coming to an end, but never fear: we've got the scoop on Hudson Valley farms and orchards where you can pick your own blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and more all summer long.

Here are a few of our favorite places to go berry picking in the lower Hudson Valley, whether you decide to go for the morning or to make an entire day of it. Either way, be sure to call ahead to make sure the farm has berries on hand.

Looking for even more outdoor fun? Check out our Summer Activity Guide for Westchester Kids.

Huge New Spray Park in Union County Is a Water-ful Wonderland

Splash around with a friendly sea serpent at the new sprayground in Linden, NJ.

Linden is now home to Union County's largest sprayground, and boy, is it worth a visit! Located in John Russell Wheeler Park, this 11,000-square-foot water playground, which opened in May 2019, boasts 33 kid-pleasing attractions and water features, including slides, sprinklers, sprayers, a dumping bucket, waterfall, pirate ship, and a giant water serpent. 

One caveat: It gets crowded! So before you pack up the kids and head down the Route 1 corridor, check out this must-have info to help you plan your visit. 

A Special Offer on Summer Family Vacations at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Vermont

Say "Hello" to summer family time at Smugglers' Notch Resort. Photo by Ally Noel

You may think of this top Vermont ski resort as a winter vacation spot, but with 8 pools, 4 water slides, and 2 natural reservoirs, Smugglers' Notch Resort makes a terrific summer family vacation destination. And, right now, Mommy Poppins readers can save $350 on a Summer Family Vacation Package. We made a trip to the resort ourselves so we could give you the inside scoop on this family-friendly find and get more details on this great deal.

Houston Has a New Animal & Aquarium Adventure Coming to Town

Hands-on animal fun at the upcoming Houston Aquarium and Animal Adventure.

There's a new interactive animal experience, zoo and aquarium coming to Houston, and it's promising to be a wild ride for animal lovers of all ages. Houston Aquarium and Animal Adventure isn't just an animal sanctuary, it's a hands-on animal encounter opening plus inflatable play land plus obstacle course adventure opening in northeast Houston that will have you coming back repeatedly for more.

Basketball Classes and Lessons for NYC Kids

Chelsea Piers Field House basketball clinic teaches fundamentals in a fun environment.

Baseball may be our national pastime, but drop by any of NYC's parks and it seems like basketball is the local favorite.

In New York City, there are many basketball programs that teach kids the basics in friendly, non-competitive environments. They differ from basketball leagues, which assume players are ready for full-on competition. With these intro-to-basketball classes, kids learn the rules and fundamentals, and work up to one-on-one or small-team play.

Here are 15 basketball programs for kids in NYC, along with info on where to find FREE one-off clinics. You can find more posts about kids' sports classes in our Classes Guide and class directory

Weekend Fun for Chicago Kids: Taste of Chicago, Bug Encounters, Irish Fest, Street Fests

Fantastic Bug Encounters! invites you to take a closer look at the beauty, diversity, and amazing abilities of these resourceful creatures. Photo courtesy of the Field Museum

If your kids like food, music, and activities, we've got good news, and more good news. First off, this weekend brings a tiny little thing called the Taste of Chicago to Grant Park (and a smaller Taste fest to Westmont if you don't want to head downtown). But if you're looking for more opportunities to chow down and get down, there's no shortage of street fairs and festivals. Sample burgers at the Roscoe Village Burger Fest, or hit the Square Roots Fest in Lincoln Square for family performances, a petting zoo, and an art tent. The Southport Art Festival offers kids' activities and free cartoon screenings, while the massive Irish Fest at the Irish Heritage Festival crowds over 100 music and dance performances into two days. The annual Railroad Days festival in Pioneer Park has a carnival, sports, music, and a beer garden, and Westchester Fest is a classic summer street fair for west suburban families.

Still not sure what to do this weekend? Fortunately, there are events lined up for every family interest. Art-loving families won't want to miss the free interactive collaborative arts event Figment Chicago on Saturday. Nature-loving kids should be excited to get up close with creepy-crawlies at the just-opened Fantastic Bug Encounters exhibit at the Field Museum. Music-loving families won't want to miss the day-long music fest Jazz Up Glen Ellyn. The comic-book-obsessed will love FanCon in Arlington Heights. And Naperville Plays brings together nature, storytelling, and history at Knoch Knolls Park.

Believe it or not, those are just the highlights of this jam-packed weekend. For more ideas, see our event calendar, our lineup of Summer Street Fairs and Festivals, and our ever-growing list of FREE things to do with Chicago kids this summer.

 

16 Touristy Things Even Boston Kids Love to Do

Kids can run the bases on select days at Fenway Park. Photo courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

When out-of-towners visit Boston, they have many boxes to check off their must-see list. But kids are notoriously reluctant tourists, and may not have the stamina to do every stop on the Freedom Trail or spend hours inside a museum. Here's our carefully curated list of specific, unique-to-Boston activities that even local kids love to do again and again. 

45 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Long Island City, Queens

Play under the  iconic Pepsi Cola sign. Photo by Sidney Ng

About 15 years ago, a friend told me Long Island City and Hunter’s Point were the up and coming places to be. At the time, the area seemed too industrial to be the next hot spot, but the subsequent years have proved my friend right. Who would have thought former warehouses would be renovated to become restaurants and boutiques and LIC would be full of young families, eager to enjoy the amazing waterfront parks and amenities? Apparently, not me.

The change is evident. Glass-enclosed condos have remade the shoreline skyline and new amenities seemingly pop up daily. There's so much to see and do in this family-friendly neighborhood. Here's our list of 45 fun things to do in Long Island City with kids. Now, go forth and explore!

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