Family-Friendly Spa Resorts Near NYC

You don't have to stray far to find a family-friendly spa resort near NYC. Mohonk Mountain house offers a beautiful, serene lakeside location and full spa menu for adults in New Paltz.

We're always on the lookout for a family-friendly resort where kid-friendly fun takes center stage, but sometimes mom and dad need something a little extra from a weekend getaway. Enter these family-friendly spa resorts near NYC. At these local spa resorts, you'll find plenty of kid comforts, family-friendly hotel rooms, and parent-friendly perks that range from couples massages to facials and meditation classes CBD pedicures, and more indulgent treatments.

It turns out you can have it all—a fun escape for kids combined with a relaxing spa experience for parents. Treat yourself at these spa resorts in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, and consider it a mini-vacation from your vacation.

Find more fun, family-friendly getaways near NYC in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

10 Best Centers and Arcades for Virtual Reality in Los Angeles

Ready for battle! Photo courtesy of Battleground VR

If you're intrigued about the high-tech centers and arcades for virtual reality in Los Angeles that are popping up everywhere, but your own video game experience comes from the era of Atari or Nintendo, fear not. These new virtual reality games are really easy to get the hang of. Just put on your headset and jump into a virtual world where anything is possible—you can travel back in time, be an astronaut, or get stranded on a deserted island. These fully immersive centers for virtual reality in Los Angeles offer adventures for all ages and interests and are perfect for family outings, gaming afternoons with friends, and even birthday parties.

If you're looking for more family fun for all ages, check out our roundup of the Best Escape Rooms in Los Angeles. For even more ideas that will appeal to your bigger kids, we made a list of 20 Things To Do in Los Angeles with Tweens and Teens That They'll Actually Enjoy. Now go have some actual virtual fun.

Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds near DC

Buzz over to the Me and the Bee playground at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Photo courtesy of nationalzoo.si.edu

Anyone who's ever taken their toddler to the playground when older children are there knows it can be stressful for the grown-ups, frustrating for the big kids, and downright dangerous for the littles. But bringing the under-5 set to a playground designed just for them (i.e. a tot lot or a toddler playground) allows for a safe, fun, and (mostly) stress-free day of play for everyone. Here are 12 tot lots and toddler playgrounds near DC that are perfect for new walkers and younger kids.

Most of these toddler playgrounds and tot lots near DC are part of larger parks that also have great play structures for older kids. So, if you've got children of different ages, everyone will have a fun and safe place to play.

For more playground fun, check out our lists of destination playgrounds near DC and DC-area playgrounds that received upgrades in the past two years.

Lincoln Center's Summer for the City Brings Free Concerts and Giant Dance Floor to the Campus

Dance on the larger-than-life disco floor dubbed The Oasis at Lincoln Center starting Saturday, May 14 as part of its Summer for the City festival. Illustration by Ali Kashfi/courtesy of Lincoln Center

Strike up the choirs, dancers, and artists, and let the celebration commence! Lincoln Center is gearing up for a summer of FREE family-friendly programming with its season-long performance festival, Summer for the City.

For three full months—running from Saturday, May 14-Sunday, August 14—Lincoln Center comes alive with more than 300 FREE events at 10 outdoor stages, including The Oasis, which transforms Josie Robertson Plaza into the city's largest outdoor dance floor complete with a 10-foot disco ball.

Read on for more details on this family-friendly performance festival, and find more fun anytime on our list of the best things to do at Lincoln Center with kids.

Great Stroller Walks and Stroller Hikes near Philly

Both babies and dogs love stroller walks for some fresh air. Photo courtesy of Gina Massaro for Mommy Poppins

There's a time in parenthood when the stroller becomes your ride or die. Baby only nap on the move? Strap 'em in and walk. Need to workout with a tiny human in tow? Make that stroller push your strength workout. Maybe you need a walk-and-talk mom date or a self-care solo stroll outside. Whatever your strolling needs, we've rounded up the best stroller hikes near Philly to give parents and tots some much-needed fresh air. 

These stroller walks near Philadelphia feature paved hiking trails for the excursion-inclined, wide-open gallery spaces to engage your tired yet creative mind, and simple but scenic jaunts that will add some Vitamin D to your caffeine high. For more great ideas to get out and about with little ones, don't miss our guide to Playgrounds and Parks in Philadelphia

The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut

A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures

Imagine this scene: the kids are anticipating a trip to a new playground and you're anticipating a few moments of peace and quiet, only to pull into the parking lot and see old swings, steep climbing towers, and unprotected play areas. Finding a great playground isn't always easy, and preschoolers need play spaces that are fun, safe, and age-appropriate. With that in mind, here's a list of the best toddler playgrounds in Connecticut for little ones to explore.

From castles and fire trucks to music installations and more, preschoolers will have a blast at these Connecticut tot lots. For more great outdoor spaces for kids, visit our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in Connecticut.

Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Chicago

Maplewood Park in Bucktown is made entirely for little ones.  Photo courtesy of the author

There are many amazing parks and toddler playgrounds in Chicago for kids. If you have a little one, however, a visit to a park with 15-foot slides and climbing walls can be stressful. Watching your toddler try to follow a 10-year old up a rock wall is anything but a walk in the park for parents and caregivers. This is why we’ve rounded up our favorite tot lots and toddler playgrounds in Chicago that are made just for little fun-seekers. 

For more playground fun, check out our list for the top destination playgrounds in Chicago that are worth the trip.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week 2024: Teacher Appreciation Gifts They’ll Love

Teachers have found inspiring ways to be there for our kids. Here are some ways to show our appreciation. Photo by Yan Krukov, Pexels

Year after year, teachers continue to prove how amazing they are! Teacher Appreciation Week 2024 is the time to show teachers how much we care, what a massive impact they have on our kids' lives, and how truly deserving they are of our appreciation.

We surveyed a whole bunch of teachers and found out the gifts they really want for Teacher Appreciation Week. Their answers are simpler than you might think—a heartfelt thank-you, the realization that students have listened to them, and coffee!

Read on for our top ideas for teacher appreciation gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week 2024. You can also find more inspiration for homemade gifts in our roundup of 100 Crafts for Kids.

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