| Page 1395 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Off the Beaten Path - Unique Nantucket with Kids

Submitted by NantucketBucket on Mon, 07/29/2013 - 4:00am

Mommy Poppins Boston and Nantucket Bucket are pleased to offer a series of guest blog posts about things for families to do on Nantucket. Nantucket Bucket is the premier online resource for all things child-friendly on Nantucket - events, activities, camps, classes and more. Happy travels!

When visiting an island with a population that swells from 12,000 to 60,000 in the summer months, one naturally wonders if there are any off-the-beaten-path destinations or activities that can help families escape the crowds and avoid the lines (Note: Juice Bar Ice Cream is ALWAYS worth the line). Well, there are! And below is a list of our 10 favorites. For those looking to check off a few items on their Nantucket Bucket List, check out our previous post.

3 New NYC Outdoor Markets with Food and Fun for Kids

Submitted by Kelly O on Sun, 07/28/2013 - 4:00pm

Shopping with kids in NYC doesn't have to be a chore. In fact, with all the awesome stores with cool interactive activities it can actually feel like fun. And during the summer, the city's many pop-up outdoor markets make for more destination family shopping. You get to enjoy the nice weather as you peruse a wide variety of locally made goods. Plus most markets are located in or near parks and playgrounds, so you can plan a day-long outing around them.

While most people already know about long-running markets like the Brooklyn Flea, there are three new ones this season you may not have heard of featuring eclectic eats, handmade wares and even special kids' activities. From a brand-new bigger location for an old Williamsburg favorite, to a fresh Long Island City flea to a new outdoor shopping spot at the South Street Seaport, here are three cool new NYC markets to hit with the kids.

Washington Heights & Inwood Family-Friendly Restaurants: 12 Places to Eat with Kids in Upper Manhattan

Submitted by Sarah G on Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:00am

We continue our month-long focus on Washington Heights and Inwood with a look at our favorite places to eat with kids in the area. While both neighborhoods are known for their hundreds of acres of parkland and fun things to do with kids, neither is considered a culinary hot spot. But there are some delicious kid-friendly restaurants if you know where to look, and many are owned and operated by local families. From a new soda fountain serving up retro treats, to a 24-hour Dominican mainstay to fine-dining with incredible views in Fort Tryon Park, here are a dozen family-friendly restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood.

Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake: Lakeside Luxury in Maine

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/27/2013 - 2:33pm

I love summer camp. And, now that I'm all grown up, one of my favorite ways to getaway with my family is to go to a family camp so that I can experience all that summer fun with my own kids. We've spent fun long weekends at Club Getaway which offers tons of activities that grow-ups don't usually get to do once they outgrow the camp bunk. We were invited to visit Migis Lodge, a family camp in Southern Maine that is completely different, so we jumped in our loaner 2014 Subaru Forester (more on that later) to go check it out.

Top Ten Candy Stores In The Hamptons & North Fork

Submitted by Natalie Silverstein on Sat, 07/27/2013 - 1:27pm

When drug stores and supermarkets start selling sweets right at the checkout counter, an honored American tradition starts to die - the local candy shop. Luckily, the geographical pockets of the Hamptons that cling to nostalgia still boast small, independently owned stores. Jars of colorful penny candy and homemade fudge are available. Nothing says summer like a little bag of sweets after dinner. Here are our picks for the best candy shops in the Hamptons and North Fork to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Getting from Here to There Safely: Test Driving the New 2014 Subaru Forester

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/27/2013 - 7:24am

#subaruforester
In the 90s my father was in a fender bender on the Henry Hudson Highway. His little car was totalled, but the SUV that rear ended him was completely fine. My dad wanted to be the SUV guy next time, so he went and got a Subaru Forester. We loved our boxy Forester and when it died my stepmother got another one that was exactly the same. So, when I was offered a brand new 2014 Subaru to test drive, I was thrilled to check out the complete makeover of our beloved Foresters. Would I love it even more or would the new fangled Subaru Forester not live up to my loving memories?

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do This Weekend in Westchester: Legoland, Jazz Festival, Science Fun July 27 & 28

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 07/25/2013 - 11:49pm

This weekend has lots of fun in store with music and cultural festivals, a pop concert, family science fun and Legos! Peekskill hosts their annual Jazz & Blues Festival this weekend and Legoland Discovery Center's Lego Legends of Chima event is going on all weekend. On Saturday, Gate Hill Day Camp opens its doors to give you a taste of their camp experience and Rye Playland continues their concert series with pop band R5. On Sunday, Hudson River Museum hosts their Family Sunday series with Spin, Pop...Boom! science demonstration and the annual Jewish Heritage Festival is happening at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

If you see an event that piques your interest, be sure to click through to our calendar of events for all the details. And remember, our event calendar has info on lots more happening this weekend.

This Week: Join Mommy Poppins on Our Special Family Cruise Series, NYC Restaurants with Backyards, Best Summer Shows for Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 07/25/2013 - 1:00pm

The big news this week (besides the fact that we no longer feel like we're melting) is the announcement of our new series of Mommy Poppins Family Cruises—and we have you to thank for it! Back in June, we hosted an outing in New York Harbor on Manhattan by Sail's Clipper City Tall Ship. Tickets sold out quickly and many readers were disappointed they got shut out. That inspired us to organize four additional fun-filled family cruises, each with a unique theme and enriching kids' activities. Check our post for more info and if a sail piques your interest, book your tickets so you don't miss out this time around.

Summer fun continues to be our primary focus on all of our sites. In NYC, we rounded up restaurants with backyards where kids can play. New Jersey's got a list of natural swimming holes and a post about this weekend's awesome-sounding hot-air balloon festival (both things you can't find in NYC). Our Boston site has a parent review of DreamWorks' new animated flick Turbo, and if you're off to the Hamptons, our Long Island site has lots of great weekend event picks as well as the best places to catch family theater in the area.

Since the big vacation month of August is coming up, be sure to check our Travel site for inspiration. We just posted about the fabulous Fairmont Southhampton family resort in Bermuda. If you can't get there for summer break, there's always the holidays.