Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Nov 16-17: Fall Foliage Walk, Thanksgiving Craft, Story Pirates & More!

Submitted by Sasha Muzzarelli on

These beautiful autumn days filled with outdoor activities and colorful leaves won’t last much longer. So get out there Jersey, and spend the last couple of weekends before Thanksgiving in the fresh air, whether you go for a Fall Foliage Walk at Liberty State Park or get in one last pumpkin patch romp at Alstede Farms. Looking for a little entertainment? Check out the always popular Milk & Cookies interactive rock-concert or the lively Story Pirates at the Shea Performing Arts Center. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

News: New Ice Rink at South Street Seaport, Free NYPL After-school Programs, Kindergarten Not So Mandatory, Meet the Menurkey

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The whole city seems to be gearing up for the holidays so it's no wonder our news post is filled with all kinds of seasonal tidbits. We've got the scoop on a new outdoor ice-skating rink at the South Street Seaport, a one-of-a-kind holiday illumination courtesy of the Museum of Mathematics and a clever Manhattan boy's new invention: the Menurkey. Plus, new FREE after-school programs at the New York Public Library, a big amendment to the mandatory kindergarten law, Cirque du Soleil's new girl-power spectacle and more.

 

Eating with Kids in Brooklyn Heights: Old-school Diners, Places to Eat and Play, & Other Family-Friendly Restraurants

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Since Brooklyn Heights is famous for being an extremely family-friendly neighborhood, it's no surprise that most of its restaurants happily accommodate children. But there are many local eateries that actually cater to families, like restaurant/play space The Moxie Spot, or longtime ma-and-pa eateries like Clark's, Teresa's and the Grand Canyon Restaurant nestled on Montague and Henry Streets. And did we mention all those delicious Middle Eastern joints on Atlantic Avenue?

Our month-long focus on Brooklyn Heights continues with a roundup of our top ten family-friendly restaurants in the area (though in truth we could have chosen twice as many). Our picks run the gamut from places to grab a quick and casual nosh before or after a stroll on the Brooklyn Promenade to more upscale sit-down dining.

Prospect Park's New Natural Play Area: Climb Trees, Sit on Trunks & Commune with Nature

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New York City is filled with fun and unique playgrounds and parks. But as you can see from our slide show, there's nothing quite like Prospect Park's brand-new nature-based play space: the Donald & Barbara Zucker Natural Exploration Area. You won't find any swings, monkey bars, sprinklers or any other traditional play equipment here. All of the attractions at this one-of-a-kind romping spot are made from trees that were downed during storms and other recycled natural materials collected in the park.

From a distance, the Natural Exploration Area just looks like a bunch of random, twisted trees. What's so impressive about that? But once you arrive, you realize that there are plenty of things for children to climb, explore and manipulate. For city kids, this fenceless, wooded environment feels like playing in a forest and encourages all kinds of imaginative play. Apparently they like that—the place was hopping when my family and I visited.

Poconos with Kids: 50 Best Things To Do on a Poconos PA Family Vacation

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If you grew up in the NYC region, your impression of Pennsylvania's Poconos may come primarily from the commercials for "Beautiful Mount Airy Lodge" with its heart-shaped hot tubs and, therefore, may think of the area as a cheesy vacation spot with strip malls and go-kart tracks. If so, it's time to update your view.

Just two hours from NYC or Philadelphia, the Poconos offer pristine natural beauty mixed with enough family friendly activities to fill a weekend getaway or an entire summer vacation. Truly a four season resort area, during the winter people flock to the region for skiing and other winter sports, and the cool lake-dotted mountains draw families for swimming, hiking, boating, horseback riding and more in the summer.

My family has been to the Poconos a few times, but this summer we visited the area for several weeks, checking out as many activities as we could to create our Poconos Family Vacation Guide and compile this list of the best 50 things to do with kids in the Poconos.

Since it's a fairly large region I've separated the list by area to make it easier to find what's near you if you're only there for a weekend. For a longer stay, it's definitely worth exploring all the great attractions across the Poconos.

A Far Cry: A Fun Introduction to Classical Music for Boston Families

Submitted by Rachel Becker on

If you frequent Jamaica Plain, you already know about the many awesome places to make music with your kids. But you might not know that Jamaica Plain is also home to one of the most unique and critically acclaimed up-and-coming chamber music groups in the country, the conductor-less string orchestra, A Far Cry.  This group -- they call themselves Criers -- invites a new generation of young people to embrace classical music by making their concerts participatory, varied, and inexpensive. And they have afternoon recitals, perfect for the younger, post-nap set.

Scarsdale with Kids: 25 Things to Do for Westchester Families

Submitted by Judith Frost on

Scarsdale’s first population count in 1790 was a whopping 281 inhabitants. The town now has nearly 18,000 residents and with its close proximity to New York City (30 minute express train ride to Grand Central), excellent public school system, several parks and pools plus family friendly restaurants, shops and events, the town continues to attract a perpetual stream of new families from Manhattan and beyond. 

In November we'll be focusing on everything Scarsdale has to offer families, including our favorite places to eat, play and shop. Read on for our top things to do in Scarsdale with kids! 

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