Top 10 Things to Do on a Day Trip to Bear Mountain State Park With Kids

The view from Perkins Memorial Tower. Photo by Katherine Dhurandar.

Heading to Bear Mountain State Park with kids makes for a great day trip now that school's almost out and schedules are a little looser. The Rockland County park, which is nestled against the Hudson River and offers something for kids of all ages, is one place our family has returned to each year.

With hiking, paddleboat rentals, a large playground, ample room for picnicking, and even a zoo, the park has plenty of options to fill an entire day. Our summer readers will be especially happy to learn the swimming pool opens for the 2022 season on Saturday, June 18. We recently visited the park and can fill you in on what you need to know about this year-round destination, including our top 10 favorite things to do.

If you're looking for other great activities in nearby parks, check out our rundown of easy New York State Park hikes or our look at Westchester's top destination parks. For even more on local parks, check out our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester

21 Rainbow Crafts for Kids: Colorful Crafts and Rainbow Activities for Toddlers to Big Kids

Rainbow crafts for kids will add color to your world.

Looking for some fun and easy rainbow crafts for kids? I am always on the lookout! As a child of the 80s, rainbows have been part of my psyche since my very first Rainbow Brite episode. Long before the Home Edit was a thing, I arranged all my stuff in rainbow-colored order. Even my bridesmaids wore different-colored dresses and lined up in ROY-G-BIV order. So when it comes to crafts for kids, you guessed it—I'm all about the rainbows.

Whether you're exploring color theory with your littles, looking for a vibrant STEM experiment, celebrating Pride, or just like all things rainbow, here are 21 rainbow crafts for kids and rainbow activities for toddlers to help you add a little color to your world.

12 Things to Do With Kids on a Day Trip to Van Saun Park

Enjoy the massive playground and splash pad at Van Saun Park. Photo courtesy of the park

A day trip to Van Saun Park in Bergen County will give you and your family an outdoor play adventure beyond the local playground. My own family makes this hour-away journey a few times a year, and it never disappoints. With its massive playground, splash pad, carousel, and train rides–plus a zoo–a trip to Van Saun Park almost feels like a free theme park. The playground and zoo are open year-round, while some of the activities, such as the rides, are open seasonally from April through October. A little tip–there’s plenty of parking, but weekends get pretty crowded– you may want to arrive early. Please note that admission to Van Saun Park is free, including the playground and splash pad, but some features do require an additional fee, as noted. Here are 12 awesome things to do on your next Van Saun Park adventure.

If you're looking for other rec areas worth visiting, read out our rundown of the best NJ playgrounds worth driving to or our look at Garden State playgrounds that big kids will enjoy. For even more on parks and playgrounds, check out our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in New Jersey

Hana Field is an Urban Secret Garden for Pick Your Own Flowers

Flowers always bring smiles to little faces!

Sandwiched between two freeways, adjacent to a hub for rental cars, and below wires buzzing from the electricity pulsing through them, you’ll find a special sort of secret garden. Giant sunflowers and rows of zinnias & snapdragons make you forget that you're actually still very much in an urban jungle. Hana Field, which is the name of this secret garden, is part of the better-known Tanaka Farms in Irvine, about ten minutes away. Tanaka has long been a staple for hayrides, pumpkin patches, veggie-picking, and their awesome produce stand, but this flower field (where you can wander, take Instagram-worthy pics, and even pick your own flowers) is well worth a visit all its own this summer.

For more flower adventures in the summer in Los Angeles, when the spring wildflower blooms have finished for the year, visit the lavender fields at 123 Farm.

The Rocky Mountains with Kids: 30 Best Things To Do in Boulder, CO

ABC Kids Climbing offers outdoor adventures for the youngest climbers.

The Colorado Rocky Mountains are an ideal destination for a family vacation in any season with tons of breathtaking hiking trails, awesome skiing slopes, abundant wildlife, and more. And at the heart of it all is Boulder, which offers great museums, delicious restaurants, and many family-friendly hotels.

Traveling to Colorado has been a treasured adventure for my family for years. With so many things to do in Boulder and the Rocky Mountains, it can be hard to narrow down the best choices. Here are 30 great things to do (many of them free) in Boulder and the Rocky Mountains with kids, including kid-friendly Boulder restaurants and great Boulder hotels.

For more tips on visiting Colorado with kids, check out our Denver Family Travel Guide which includes 40 Things To Do in Denver with Kids and so much more.

Fun Toddler Birthday Party Places in Orlando

Toddler birthday party places in Orlando, like My Little Town, are fun, safe spots to celebrate your tiny tot.

Toddler birthday party places offer that magical combination of nonstop fun for little kiddos and easy clean-up and supervision for parents. Whatever the theme or interest of a toddler birthday party, these Orlando birthday places offer an afternoon (or morning) of uninterrupted excitement that any child will love. The best part about these toddler birthday party venues is that mom and dad actually get to enjoy the birthday party, instead of worrying about neverending logistics.

There are many wonderful Orlando birthday party ideas for toddlers and preschoolers so take a look at a few of our favorites. Have older children? Make sure to check out our Top Kids' Birthday Party Venues in Orlando for more great ideas. Better yet, take a deep dive into our Birthday Party Guide for even more helpful information about throwing the ultimate Orlando birthday party.

Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlors in Long Island That Kids Will Love

Coyle’s serves a side of nostalgia along with its sweet treats. Photo courtesy of Coyle’s Homemade Ice Cream

There's never a bad time to enjoy a creamy serving of ice cream and there are tons of ice cream parlors in Long Island where local families can enjoy a scoop—or two—of the sweet stuff.

We’ve rounded up some the best ice cream parlors in Long Island for a family-friendly treat. These destinations create yummy flavors from scratch and have a nostalgic feel that makes the experience extra special.

If ice cream is not your thing, check out our roundup of other decadent desserts on Long Island, and bookmark our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants on Long Island for more dining inspiration.

Go Bouldering With Kids at The Cliffs at Gowanus, NYC's Newest Rock Climbing Gym

The Cliffs at Gowanus offers three floors of bouldering fun with kid-friendly classes, summer camps, and more family-friendly fun.

Families now have another great place in Brooklyn to go bouldering with kids: The Cliffs at Gowanus is open, offering tons of action-packed, family-friendly fun, including rope climbing, yoga classes, a gym, and more.

My 11 year old and I recently went on a tour of The Cliffs Gowanus and tried rope climbing. Read on for all the details of this new gym, where you can go bouldering with kids, and what you need to know about NYC's newest and largest kid-friendly rock climbing gym.

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