15 Awesome Things to Do in Boston this Weekend: Baby Goats, Mother's Day Crafts, Flower Festival

Picnic at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. Photo by Brooks Canaday

What do baby goats, Mother's Day craft projects, and blooming spring flowers all have in common? They're all part of things you can do this weekend in Boston! Take your little animal lovers to cuddle with baby goats in Southborough or stop and smell the tulips and daffodils at the Spring Bloomfest in North Andover. Hoping to wow mom this Mother's Day? Create a one-of-a-kind jewelry dish at a workshop in Lowell, make sweet sounds with a spring chime craft in Lincoln, or build the suspense with a surprise gift class in Billerica. And don't forget to book your Mother's Day brunch ahead of time—these hot restaurants fill up fast! 

As always, keep tabs on our Boston events calendar for daily updates on the best local and virtual happenings. And don't forget to get booking those summer camps—spots are filling up fast for the 2021 season. Learn more about local and virtual summer camps at our upcoming Online Camp Fair. Visit virtual booths and watch live camp demos.

See The GREEN Transform Lincoln Center's Famed Plaza

The GREEN is meant to transform Josie Robertson Plaza into an inviting, 14,000-square-foot space to visit, linger, and enjoy live entertainment and passive recreation.

Green spaces have been a godsend during the pandemic, and now, Lincoln Center is introducing an innovative new one to the mix. The iconic Josie Robertson Plaza is set to become an expansive park space dubbed The GREEN on Monday, May 10.

The plaza's transformation acts as the centerpiece of Lincoln Center's sprawling transformation into an outdoor arts venue, dubbed Restart Stages, this spring, summer, and fall.

11 Fun and Easy Star Wars Day Activities for Kids

Young Jedi in the heat of battle.

May 4 is designated as Star Wars Day by legions of fans across the globe. Whether your kids are die-hard Star Wars devotees, or just think Baby Yoda is kinda cute, we’ve got some fun and easy crafts, activities, and snacks to help kids celebrate. Luckily, you don’t have to be a Jedi master to make these ideas come to life. Just gather up your crafting supplies and ingredients—and May the 4th be with you!

So dig out those original Episode 4 DVDs (you know you have them!). Kids can watch while wearing Baby Yoda ears, drinking Bantha Blue Milk, and snacking on Princess Leia Cupcakes; all found in our Star Wars craft and snack ideas below.

You can find even more crafts and treats for any day of the year in our At-Home Guide for Families.

25+ Things to Do With Kids in Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights is well-loved by local families for its abundance of green space, kid-friendly eats, and historic charm.

Affectionately known as America's first suburb, Brooklyn Heights is a historic enclave with lots of kid-friendly things to do, see, and eat. The classic architecture and warm neighborhood vibe attract young families to the area, and the beautiful waterfront parks—notably the Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park—make Brooklyn Heights well worth a visit.

While so many parts of Brooklyn seem to be rapidly modernizing and changing, Brooklyn Heights has managed to maintain much of its original historic charm. The Brooklyn Heights Historic District is one of the first designated historic districts in the city and includes homes that have been around since the 1820s. Here are the best places to eat, shop, play, and learn with kids in Brooklyn Heights.

Where To Go Axe-Throwing With Kids on Long Island

The trained NY Axe coaches give you a safety lesson before you're set loose on the range. Photo by the author

If you've got an axe to grind, consider a visit to one of these Long Island axe-throwing spots, which boast plenty of action-packed fun—and target practice—with their namesake weapon, plus archery, football, bowling, and more. An outing at one of these venues makes an ideal adventure for active, competitive families with big kids who have outgrown more traditional play spaces.

Best for teens and tweens, read on for details on our recent visit to NY Axe, plus two other local axe-throwing spots, plus learn about the safety and training you can expect that will have you wielding and tossing an axe like a legit lumberjack (or lumberjill!). Find more fun places for the family to play together in our Guide to Sports Centers and Fun Zones for LI Families.

Now Scooping: Ginger’s Divine Ice Creams Opens in Mid-City

Ice cream pops, drumsticks, ice cream sandwiches, and giant scoops of deliciousness.

For a long time in LA, ice cream cones meant a $1 Thrifty cone in a weird shape at the local Rite Aid. I’m not knocking it—people who grew up here love them, and now as a mom, I appreciate the ubiquitousness and price. But gourmet, it isn’t. Then good ice cream began to appear; imports like Salt & Straw and Jeni’s, and homegrown favorites like McConnell’s and Sweet Rose. Some of the very best of the local shops are small-batch and freshly churned (or soft-served) mom-and-pop stores. So, if you wanted to try, say the fabulousness that is Ginger’s Divine Ice Creams, you had to trek to their sole location in Culver City.

No more! Ginger’s heard the pleas from the east, and just this month opened a new spot Mid-City. It’s long been a favorite of mine, and I couldn’t wait to check out the new store, and see if it’s just as good as the original. My kids came along to play taste testers. Here’s what we found...

Day Trip: Travel Back In Time at The Dinosaur Place

Put a really big smile on their faces by taking the kids to visit the Dinosaur Place at Nature's  Art Village in Connecticut!

We recently traveled back in time to wilds of Eastern Connecticut to spend the day at The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village, where kids can explore a family-friendly Jurassic attraction. Encounter over sixty life-sized cretaceous creatures while trekking the wooded nature trails around Raptor Bay, a seven acre lake complete with its own erupting volcano. A giant playground, an amazing maze, a super cool water play area, a giant maze, and mini-golf round out the offerings. Dinosaur Place is minutes away from Mystic, Connecticut and Rhode Island's beaches making for a perfect day trip destination or part of a weekend away. Here’s the inside scoop on this fun prehistoric park, and tips to make the most of your time there.

20 Houston Parks with Lots of Shade on a Hot Summer Day

Feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park

Being outside pretty much tops our to-do list every day, and we're constantly going from one activity to the next, be it to a neighborhood splashpad, a nearby playground, or a park with plenty of trails for biking. Basically, staying inside all day isn't an option; we would all go stir crazy! With summer and hot sun upon us, I am more aware of which places offer some shade so we can get outside and still beat the heat... even if only for a few minutes. Here are some great parks in Houston that offer at least a moderate respite from the brutal summer temps.

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