Legoland Discovery Center in Westchester: 15 Things to Do

Stephanie Ogozalek's picture Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on

New York City may have the Lego Store in Rockefeller Center, but if your kids are as obsessed with Legos as my eight-year-old son, it's worth taking a trip north to the brand-new Legoland Discovery Center, which opened a few weeks back in nearby Yonkers. When we set out to visit over spring break, I worried that it would just be a glorified Lego Store and not worth the schlep to Westchester's Ridge Hill mall. But I'm happy to report that the Legoland Discovery Center is a super-fun play space that has a lot more to offer than just building ith Legos.

The only Legoland Discovery Center on the entire East Coast, this new family attraction offers hours of indoor fun, including rides, interactive stations and a massive play structure to explore. Your kids don't need to be Lego nuts to enjoy themselves here: Even though there were literally hundreds of thousands of Lego pieces at my son's disposal, he didn't stick one pair of plastic bricks together during our visit. He figured why waste time on something he could do at home when there were so many unique Legoland Discovery Center experiences to try.

Of course as cool as the new Legoland Discovery Center is, there are some important things to know before you go to help you make the most of your visit. So here are my top 15 things to do at Westchester's Legoland Discovery Center as well as my insider tips as a mom who's been there, done that.

NYC Restaurants Where Kids Can Make Their Own Food

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When you have four kids like I do, eating out can be more of a chore than just staying in and cooking. A "kid-friendly" restaurant isn't going to cut it; we need a place where our brood will be truly engaged. That's why I'm always on the lookout for interactive restaurant experiences so eating out feels like a fun activity, not just another meal.

In the past, we've covered New York City restaurants where kids can play and eateries with family entertainment. But there are also a handful of local restaurants that offer make-your-own-food activities. My family has tried a few of them, and they're worth seeking out. Where else can you encourage your kids to play with their food and mean it?

Legendarium: Big Apple Circus Wows Boston Families

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Walking into the Big Apple Circus was like taking a giant step back into my childhood. The aromatic mixture of popcorn, costume makeup, manure, and hay will do it to you every time. We took our two-year-old to the 4:30pm showing under the Big Top in Government Center. When we approached the entrance, I thought to myself how lucky Bostonians are to have this opportunity right in the middle of their city. The circuses of my childhood were all out in no man’s land. We had to trudge through fields of mud for what seemed like miles. With no shoes. (OK, that part isn’t true.)

Best Museum Exhibits for NYC Kids Spring 2013: 7 Great New Installations

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While spring brings outdoor festivals and fairs, and long days at NYC's playgrounds, it's also a great season for new museum exhibits. Alfresco sculpture installations at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden, hands-on math and science fun at the New York Hall of Science, children's artwork at the Guggenheim, the Cloister's 75th anniversary and old-school music videos at the Museum of the Moving Image are just some of what's on tap this spring. Here are the top seven museum exhibits for families making their debuts this spring in New York City.

New Brooklyn Play Space: Community-based It Takes A Village in Crown Heights

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Sadly this community play space closed in October 2013. However, some of the members started a similar play spot nearby called The Stomping Ground in March, 2014. Funky new play spaces always seem to be opening in NYC, but It Takes a Village really stands out from the rest. At first glance, it looks fairly ordinary: A bright playroom chock-full of toys for preschoolers and tots, with a backyard. However, what sets it apart from other play spaces isn't its facility but its membership structure.

Unlike many commercial play spaces that charge pricey monthly or annual fees, It Takes a Village is a nonprofit organization where its members collectively pay its expenses, including rent, and are directly involved in its upkeep, helping to clean and stock necessary supplies. Consequently, the spot feels really homey and casual, like a living room away from home. And since It Takes a Village is located on the cusp of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, it brings families from different areas together. A visit here feels like a big community playdate.

Patty Lennon, CT Mom and Coach, Discusses her Upcoming Mom Gets a Biz Conference

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Patty Lennon is the CEO and Founder of Mom Gets a Life & Mom Gets A Business. She is a mom advocate, coach, writer and speaker based here in CT. Patty thinks it is important for moms to care for their own needs while raising their children. She speaks with hundreds and hundreds of women across the country each year and inevitably what she hears is that moms know exactly what they need to make their lives better… they just don’t have the money to make it happen.

New York State Parks in Suffolk County

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It’s hard to believe it, but spring is finally here!  What better way to bring in the new season, than a trip to a state park.  Suffolk County is filled with them! With so many activities to choose from, you might want to make a list of your favorites and then work your way through all of them.

Get Cultured! Spring Exhibits at New Jersey Museums

Submitted by Sasha Muzzarelli on

We all want to raise cultured, engaged children and luckily for us NJ parents, many local museums are willing to lend a hand. Several museums have spring exhibits that include intricately crafted fine art and options for your young scientist. The observations and conversations that can strike up on a museum stroll are a welcome breather from the constant activity of daily life. So pick a rainy day and head to one of these wonderful spots for some hands-on discovery.

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