Jamaica with Kids: Best Things to Do on a Family Vacation in Negril, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on

Jamaica is a near-perfect family vacation destination.  Hotels and all-inclusive resorts have extensive facilities to enchant and entertain the entire family. We've reviewed several Jamaican resorts, including Beaches Negril, Hotel Rui Palace Tropical Bay and the Grand Palladium. With their sparkling swimming pools and glorious beaches, it’s easy to see why many vacationers never leave their resort’s cushy confines. 

But Jamaica is a lot more than beautiful beaches. Pull yourself out of the salty sea and venture outside of the hotel’s gates, because this intriguing country merits exploration. Jamaica is a land full of history and culture, as well as tons of active vacation activities.  

As many family travelers utilize the tourist towns of Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios as a base, our guide will focus on these areas.  Most hotels will gladly help you arrange off-site transportation. Here’s our list of the best activities worth shaking the sand off for. Let’s go!

What To Do on Thanksgiving Day (Besides the Obvious) in Connecticut - Fairfield County 2014

Submitted by Katie McKnight on

Sometimes, there is nothing better than having your whole family over to your home for Thanksgiving dinner.  And sometimes, there is nothing better than shipping your whole family to your sister’s house across town for Thanksgiving dinner!  Let’s face it; peeling, prepping and cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal can be exhausting.  But should you find yourself not chained to your oven over the holidays, you may have some time on your hands.  Lucky you - there are some fabulous CT Thanksgiving traditions in Fairfield County to get out and enjoy with or without your kids!

This Week: Behind the Scenes at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Holiday Shows for NYC Kids, Best Holiday Light Displays in the Tri-State Area

Raven Snook's picture Submitted by Raven Snook on

Are your kids giddily crossing out the days on your wall calendar like mine? She can't wait until Thanksgiving arrives because she loves Macy's big Parade, plus she knows that means the other holidays aren't far behind (we do Christmas and Hanukkah in this house).

Already, our regional sites are posting about the most spectacular holiday houses on Long Island and in New Jersey, along with only-in-the-suburbs seasonal experiences like Santa train rides.

In addition to being excited for next week's festivities, we're psyched about this Saturday's Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater. We're hosting a special performance of 360 Allstars, a high-octane spectacle featuring BMX bike tricks, battling break-dancers, acrobats, athletes and a live beat boxer. Mommy Poppins readers save 20% on tickets to the 7pm performance on November 22 and enjoy cookie decorating after the show (and get to meet a few of us bloggers since we'll be there with our kids, too).

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Make a Virtual Volcano & See the Impact of Hurricane Sandy at the American Museum of Natural History's New Nature's Fury Installation

Submitted by Noreen Muhib on

With all the heated talk about climate change on the news, in school and at home, chances are your children have heard about this environmental crisis, but that doesn't mean they get what it is. While many families participated in NYC's recent People's Climate March, and Hurricane Sandy had a tremendous impact on the tri-state area, the concept of climate change and its connection to natural disasters may still be hard for kids to grasp.

That's why the American Museum of Natural History's brand-new exhibit, Nature's Fury: The Science of Natural Disasters, is so important. In addition to being fun and engaging (you can make your own virtual volcano!), it explains some very complicated phenomena in ways school-age kids can understand via high-tech interactive displays about volcanoes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Of course these are some pretty scary subjects, so how did my two young children fare?

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with Westchester Kids: Turkey Run, Parades, Giving Thanks & More, Nov. 22 & 23

Submitted by Susan Miele on

As we reach the final weekend before Thanksgiving, a few provocative events in Westchester are worth noting. Gospel Concert: Giving Thanks is a FREE performance sure to step up gratitude. And, as Thanksgiving is as much about Native Americans as it is pilgrims, The Lenape of Westchester will enlighten attendees about this tribe that used to inhabit our area. Another top pick is Turkey Run Peekskill, which combines both charity and comedy (and even calorie-burning). Also be sure to check out our roundup of other upcoming turkey trots in Westchester. If you’re ready to gear up for Christmas too, there’s the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Cross County Shopping Center.

Unrelated to holidays, there are two noteworthy performances taking place this weekend: Lily's Purple Plastic Purse and An Arabian Adventure: A Puppet Show. For a heads-up on upcoming holiday performances in Westchester, check out our roundup of some highlights.

Heading to NYC? Check out our exclusive Mommy Poppins reader event this Saturday night at the New Victory Theater.  Readers get to enjoy a performance of 360 Allstars, a thrilling athletic spectacle, a post-show cookie decorating activity and save 20% on their ticket by using MommyPoppins1 at checkout. 

Read on for more details about these activities and be sure to consult our Event Calendar for daily activities and the abundance of holiday events!

Long Island Kids' Activities November 22-23: Holiday Lights Spectacular Kicks Off, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Pumpkin Drop & More

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Bundle up and get in the Thanksgiving mood with a Holiday Lights Spectacular at Jones Beach. Or you can hunker down inside at a live showing of Peter Pan or The Snow Queen. For more fun things happening this season, check out our Long Island Holiday Guide.

Heading to NYC?  Check out our exclusive Mommy Poppins reader event next Saturday night at the New Victory Theater.  Readers get to enjoy a performance of 360 Allstars, a thrilling athletic spectacle, a post-show cookie decorating activity and save 20% on their ticket by using MommyPoppins1 at checkout. 

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter.

Weekend Fun for Boston Kids November 22-23: Frog Pond Skating, Silly Sally's Bubble Show & More

Kip Wilson Rechea's picture Submitted by Kip Wilson Rechea on

On this last weekend before Thanksgiving, activities galore can help get your family into the holiday spirit! Josh and the Jamtones jazz out at their Thanksgiving Concert in Newton, and Faneuil Hall brightens up with a day of festivities culminating in the opening of the Blink! light show and Faneuil Hall's tree lighting spectacular. Events to encourage kids to give back to the community include the Fresh Pond Great Gobble Give Back, the Jingle Bell Walk/Run for Arthritis, and the annual Candyland Tournament to benefit Pitching In for Kids.  Other fun options that make the most of the chilly temperatures include the Opening Day of Skating at Boston's Frog Pond and the Dog Sled Fun Run in Milton.

In performances this weekend, some great choices for younger kids are Silly Sally's Bubble Show at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, The Yankee Peddler at the Puppet Showplace Theatre, or Jack and the Beanstalk at the Center for Arts in Natick. Indoor activities for older children include a Family Portraiture workshop in Newton or a Theatre Games Workshop in Arlington.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full events events calendar!

Mostly Free and Fun Things to do With Kids in CT This Weekend, November 22-23: Enchanted Forest, Thanksgiving Prep, and a Holiday Parade

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on

Brrrr! The winter chill has arrived. If you're looking for activities to keep the little ones occupied indoors, check out our Thanksgiving Kids Craft: Acorn Napkin Rings, which will entertain them and provide a little personality to your holiday table.

Have you sorted out your Thanksgiving plans? Be sure to peek at at our guide to Thanksgiving Break Activities in Hartford County, which has fabulous suggestions for Turkey Day and beyond, as well as our guides to Turkey Trots and Thanksgiving Day Races and (for after you've worked up an appetite) Where to Buy Local, Farm Fresh Turkeys. If the dinner specialty of your house is reservations, we have some terrific suggestions for a stress-free holiday meal in the form of Thanksgiving Day: Dinner Out Anyone? If you're traveling, don't miss our guide to Great Family Pit Stops Along the Merritt Parkway.

Our Holiday Fun Guide, November CT Go List, and events calendar are up-to-date resources that will help with all your holiday planning for the coming week and beyond. Without further ado, here are our suggestions for maximum fun this weekend! 

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