Whether your child is a natural ham or a kid with a great imagination who feels a little shy, a theater class on Long Island is a fun way for children to build confidence. Experience in the performing arts improves verbal skills, which are especially valuable when kids present oral reports in school. Those with theater backgrounds find themselves drawing on skills they developed in all kinds of ways. When it's time for college entrance and job interviews later in life, kids with performing arts experience can have an edge. 

We are lucky to have many theaters and programs that host acting classes for children here on Long Island. Read on for our picks for budding thespians.

For additional class suggestions, see our Classes and Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

Whether you're a Disneyland passholder who can collect Lightning Lane passes in your sleep or a hanger back who hasn't visited the park since you were a tot yourself, there's always more you can learn about making the Happiest Place on Earth easier to navigate. And speaking of the good old days, Disneyland nostalgia buffs will definitely want to plan a visit in 2023 when Disney celebrates a century of smiles with special events, openings, and nighttime displays at Disney100 in Disneyland, part of Disney's celebration of its 100th anniversary.

It's a lot easier to smile, of course, when you have a game plan, so here are a dozen tips you might not know that can make a day in Disney a whole lot happier. And if you're looking to eat outside the park, check out these 8 restaurants near Disneyland, but not in it.

Known as the Mile High City, Denver, Colorado, is a charming all-seasons destination for a family vacation. You'll find big-city attractions like Denver art museums and animal sanctuaries, including the Denver Zoo and Denver Aquarium, but its outdoor scene is also unparalleled—and don't let the weather scare you: Locals will tell you if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. Another commonly cited fact: Colorado enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. In fact, it's quite easy to get sunburned on its famous ski slopes!

Born and raised in the Denver area, I now enjoy it with my three kids as a tourist on our annual family visits. When we're not in the mountains, there's a good bet you can find us enjoying one of these 40 family-friendly things to do in Denver. Find more of our favorite destinations in our City Travel Guides, including our local guide to Exploring the Rocky Mountains: The Best Things To Do in Boulder, CO with Kids.

Whether you’re in town for a day or a week, there are plenty of things to do in River North and Gold Coast, two of Chicago's most-visited neighborhoods. Out of town visitors and Chicago locals looking for a fun family staycation, will find it all here. To help you plan the ultimate day or weekend in River North and the Gold Coast, we’ve rounded up our favorite things to do with kids in those neighborhoods. Plus, we have the most kid-friendly places to eat and stay in Chicago.

From amazing hotel pools and in-room ice cream service to shopping and sightseeing, this is your go-to guide to visiting River North and the Gold Coast with kids. Let’s get started planning your big Chicago trip. 

If you want to venture into other Chicago neighborhoods, check out our 100 Things To Do in Chicago with Kids post. For more neighborhood guides, day trip ideas, and things to do with kids, check out the Mommy Poppins Travel Section.

For fall fun, nothing neats a hayride. And while the pandemic has whittled down our list down of participating farms a bit, these eight great Westchester and Hudson Valley farms offer great seasonal entertainment in 2021.  

Pair a visit to one or more of these farms with other traditional autumn activities, including apple picking and corn mazes.

After 18 years—and then another 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic—Washington, DC has finally gotten a children’s museum! The National Children’s Museum reopened to the public on September 2, 2021 after being open for only 18 days at the start of the pandemic. The National Children's Museum combines the feel of a science center and a children’s museum to create an interactive, fun place for kids ages 0-12 to explore.

I recently got the opportunity to investigate the National Children's Museum with my 3-year-old son on a sneak-peek tour. For a kid who has only gotten to experience museums through Blippi videos due to the pandemic, a museum visit was long overdue, and he had a fantastic time.

Below is my review of the National Children's Museum. You can also check out our list of free museums in DC for more fun museums to visit with kids!

Atlanta’s long-awaited Westside Park recently opened (first phase) and it’s ready to be explored. The gigantic park, located west of Midtown, has been in the works for over 15 years at a cost of $44 million. The true beauty of the park, eventually spanning 280 acres, is the former Bellwood Quarry, now a reservoir set to hold 2.4 billion gallons of water, which contains the emergency drinking water supply for the city.

Larger than Chastain Memorial Park in Buckhead and Piedmont Park in Midtown, Westside Park is open 6 am-11 pm daily. Westside Park features amenities parents will enjoy: playground, stroller-friendly trails, free parking, and plenty of restroom facilities. Note: Though Phase 1 of Westside Park is complete, the public space is not completely finished and thus, some attractions, park hours, and other details could change as the project nears completion. Read our guide below and be one of the first to enjoy this urban oasis!

Did you know that there are an estimated 500,000 or more alligators in Texas? And did you know that alligators love fruit and can climb trees? Your kids can learn these facts and more about alligators at several fun gator experiences and organized alligator attractions in Houston and beyond. Getting up close with an alligator is definitely a jaw-dropping activity that will WOW your kids, so we've included gator activities for every budget—from the local Brazos Bend State Park to Gator Country Adventure Park to a Louisiana gator roadtrip.