Presidents Day Weekend 2024: Fun Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

Check out a performance by Flip Circus at the Garden State Plaza this weekend. Photo courtesy of Alan Miller Public Relations

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Presidents Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the long holiday weekend.

Happy birthday, George and Abe! It's Presidents Day weekend, and you can honor our nation's first president at George Washington's Birthday Celebration. Plus, make the long weekend a sweet one with maple sugaring activities included in February Festivities at Trailside and Maple Sugaring at Howell Living History Farm.

Find more fun to fill the long weekend, and any additional days off, on our list of 25 things to do over the February Winter Break.

Presidents Day Weekend 2024 Things To Do in Philly: Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year, Ringling Bros, and More

 The whole family can join the party at the Sesame Street Mardi Gras parade! Photo courtesy of Sesame Place

Looking for the best things to do in Philly this Presidents Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

Experience the magic of Mardi Gras with your favorite Sesame Street characters, witness the wonder of the circus, and honor past presidents all in one weekend! Sesame Place kicks off their Mardi Gras celebrations this weekend, and NINJAGO Dragon Rising lands at LEGOland Discovery Center. Celebrate our Presidents at the Museum of American Revolution and enjoy free admission to the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Lunar New Year is being celebrated throughout the city, including events at Franklin Square and Dilworth Park.

If the kids need to burn some energy with an extra day or two off from school, check out the Best Indoor Play Spaces and Playgrounds near Philly. We've also made our picks for the coolest things to see and do all month on the Best Things to Do in Philly in February with Kids

Gen Z Slang Translator for Parents to Vibe with Teens (and Coworkers)

Understanding gen z slang can be more difficult than learning a new language.

Bruh... if it feels like your tweens and teens speak a different language, it's time to brush up on your gen z slang. Trust us, you're not alone: When we asked readers and fellow parents to share which teen slang words and phrases baffle them, we seemed to have hit a nerve. Moms and dads across the country bombarded us with gen z slang words and terms they just don't understand, from "bet" and "bussin'" to "drip" and "no cap."

And, NGL: Texting your teen can get you even more shook, FR. Mind-boggling acronyms have made deciphering teens' text messages similar to solving a puzzle, TBH. IYKYK.

We're here to help with our list of 50 common gen z slang words and text acronyms to help you understand your teens. Once you've mastered the lingo, score even more cool points with our teen and tween gift guide and our list of over 100 ideas for college care packages. Will your teens appreciate it? Bet!

Best Inexpensive Drop-in Play Spaces in NYC for Kids

Hit the supermarket at the imaginative Twinkle play space in Williamsburg. Photo courtesy of the venue

New York City is packed with fun indoor play spaces to keep kids active all year. From indoor playgrounds to kid-centric museums, there is no shortage of fun activities perfect for bad-weather days or just because. But, keeping kids entertained can cost a pretty penny. So, we've rounded up 16 affordable indoor play spaces in NYC offering drop-in play for $20 or less a visit, and a few of these indoor playgrounds in NYC are significantly cheaper!

Read on for our picks for budget-friendly play spaces in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx, and find more fun places to play in our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Activities.

Indoor Pools with Day Passes in NJ

Kids and parents will love the pool at Goldfish Swim School, which is heated to 90 degrees and open several times a week for family swim.

New Jersey is chock-full of indoor swimming pools where kids can splash around all year long—and that's good news when your little fishies need an aquatic fix to work out the winter wiggles. We've rounded up some of New Jersey's most family-friendly indoor pools where you can either drop in for the day or sign up for an affordable membership.

If you'd rather make a night or weekend of it, you can’t go wrong with any of New Jersey's awesome local indoor water parks—think water slides and wave pools! But if a quick dip in some warm water sounds like the perfect way to spend a chilly day, grab your swimsuits and goggles and scroll down for a list of the best indoor swimming pools in NJ. And when it's summertime, spend a little time in the sun at an outdoor pool that offers day passes.

Find more cold-weather playtime ideas in our Winter Fun Guide.

New Orleans Mardi Gras with Kids 3-Day Itinerary

<i>Kids absolutely love catching Mardi Gras beads.</i>

Is Mardi Gras kid-friendly? If you think of Mardi Gras as a raucous, bawdy, booze-fest, you might not think it’s a very family-friendly event. But, for locals, Mardi Gras is for families.  

I took my nephew to New Orleans for Mardi Gras to celebrate his tenth birthday and I think it’s safe to say that he had the best 10th birthday weekend imaginable. Everywhere we went, we were surrounded by other families and saw first-hand how much people cater to kids at Mardi Gras to make sure they have a great time. Not only did we see anything “adult”, but it was actually an educational trip where we learned a lot about New Orleans and the history and culture of Mardi Gras. 

If you want to plan a Mardi Gras vacation for your family, I’ve created a three-day itinerary that will give you the best of kid-friendly Mardi Gras, plus many other kid-friendly activities to explore New Orleans and its history and culture.  For more New Orleans fun, check our other article, The Best Things To Do in New Orleans With Kids.

Brand-New Brooklyn Museum Education Center Invites Families to Get Hands-on with Art

Creative kids can add to the artwork at the Brooklyn Museum's brand new education center.

At the newly opened Brooklyn Museum education center, kids don't just look at art—they actually become the artists. Named the Toby Devan Lewis Education Center, this large welcoming space invites kids of all ages—and their adults—to get hands-on and contribute to the museum's exhibit.

Guided by friendly museum workers, kids can try their little hands at everything from crafting with clay to making their own zines. Check out what the Brooklyn Museum's new education center has to offer visitors, and start planning your trip to the Brooklyn Museum to explore this newly renovated space.

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