Dinos Alive: Immersive Experience Brings Dinosaurs Roaring Into Washington, DC

Come face-to-face with over 80 lifelike dinosaurs at Dinos Alive. Photo by the author

Dino lovers, take note: Dinosaurs have taken over the Rhode Island Center in Washington, DC with the Dinos Alive: Immersive Experience! In this museum-like exhibition, visitors are surrounded by over 80 life-sized, robotic dinosaurs as they walk through a prehistoric jungle habitat, getting an exciting peek at the world as it was millions of years ago. Even kids (and grown-ups) who are not dinosaur fanatics will enjoy seeing the dinos and their surroundings in this interactive experience. The exhibit is in town through April 8, 2024.

My family recently got the opportunity to visit Dinos Alive. All three of my kids—ages 10, 8, and 4—really enjoyed it. Read on for my full review of the Dinos Alive: Immersive Experience, and be sure to purchase tickets before the exhibit roars out of town!

22 Best Things to Do in Orlando April 2023 with Kids

Have a 'berry' good time at the Mount Dora Blueberry Festival! Photo courtesy of the event

Easter, Passover, and Earth Day mean there's lots of fun for kids in Orlando this April!

April in Orlando has spring festivals galore, with fun outdoor events happening all over Central Florida. Visit Winter Garden for Spring Fever in the Garden, head to Lake Eola Park for Spring Fiesta in the Park, and enjoy carnival rides and fair foods at the Lake County Fair. Celebrate Earth Day with events in downtown Orlando, Oakland, and St. Cloud. Grab tickets to see the famous Harlem Globetrotters at Addition Financial Arena or monster truck action at Night of Destruction at Orlando Speed World. Plus so much more!

For all the best Easter happenings, check out Egg-citing Easter Egg Hunts in Orlando and Orlando Bunny Photo Spots and Bunny Brunches. And find more April fun with our Spring Fun Guide!

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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Hotel Xcaret Mexico: An All-Inclusive Adventure in Playa del Carmen

With lush reefs and crystal-clear waters,  Xcaret is a fabulous place to snorkel. Photo courtesy of Xcaret Parks

While my family has stayed at many great all-inclusive resorts, we were particularly impressed by our recent trip to Hotel Xcaret Mexico in Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya. Set between the Mayan rain forest and the Caribbean Sea, the five-diamond Hotel Xcaret (ISH-kah-rhett) offers stunning views and plenty of family fun. But what really sets it apart is its unique All Fun Inclusive concept, which gives guests access to all seven Grupo Xcaret parks.

The Grupo Xcaret parks offer all sorts of natural and cultural experiences such as zip lining, water adventures like snorkeling and whitewater rafting, cave tours, live entertainment, monster truck rides, a wacky town full of optical illusions, and so much more.

The thrill factor of my family's adventurous trip to Xcaret was off the charts, and I highly recommend Hotel Xcaret Mexico for your next warm and sunny family vacation. Read on to learn all about it, and check out our Mexican Family Travel Guide for more cool vacation spots in Mexico.

How to Celebrate Passover as a Family (and Make it Fun for Kids)

An illustrated Haggadah encourages kids to read the story of Passover and the Passover Seder. Photo by Melanie Preis

Passover 2023 is almost here—time to add some crunchy matzah to your shopping list of tasty spring treats. We're going into detail about the when, what, why, and more of this Jewish holiday, including its hallmark delicacy: matzah! Whether you're Jewish or not, you've probably seen boxes of these large, flat "crackers" lining the aisles of your local grocery store each spring. Read on to learn more about matzah, as well as how to celebrate Passover (also known as Pesach) as a family and make it fun for kids of all ages.

For more tips on celebrating Passover with children, check out our list of 10 ways to make Seders more fun for little kids.

Visiting NYSCI with Kids: Guide to the Best Things To Do and See

Connected Worlds mesmerizes children with its interactive features and fun animations.

The New York Hall of Science is one of Queens' most unique, kid-friendly museums, and as a mom to a teen, tween, and toddler, it's a relief to have a space that caters to all of them. For families looking for an intentional, captivating way to introduce children to STEM-focused concepts and activities, a visit to NYSCI is a must-do. I've got tons of tips for the best things to do and see while you're at one of our favorite local science museums in NYC.

Following devastating flooding from Hurricane Ida, NYSCI underwent extensive renovations and restoration, but it's fully open and functional again leading to rejoicing from families, students, teachers, and, indeed, science-loving New Yorkers of all ages.

Find more ways to get scientific with kids in our Guide to Science Experiments and STEM Activities for Kids and our NYC Museum Guide, which includes our top picks for space museums nearby plus more cool culture spots for families to visit no matter their interests.

Coolest Vintage and Thrift Stores for Teens in NYC

L Train Village offers a micro-chain of well-stocked and well-organized thrift stores in NYC. Photo by the author

These thrift stores in NYC are the perfect antidote to teens changing style whims. Seasoned parents can tell you that shopping for kids becomes a lot harder as they age. Teens are still trying to find their own unique style, so there's no need to spend a fortune on trendy items they will outgrow or that go out of style quickly. Kicks, rocker tees, jeans, funky bags, and accessories are all in high demand and easily found in multiple at vintage stores and thrift shops in NYC. Teens have a blast browsing racks hunting for that perfect T-shirt or pair of jeans.

NYC abounds with vintage and thrift shops. We've rounded up a selection of thrift stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx that offer a large and varied selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories for teens. Have some cash on hand and get ready for a vintage shopping spree. Find more age-appropriate activities and destinations in our NYC Tween and Teen Guide.

The Ultimate Guide to Philly Area Playgrounds for Toddlers

Explore the Children's Discovery Garden at Sister Cities Park. Photo courtesy of Matt Stanley

We found the best tot lots and toddler playgrounds in Philly where the little ones can let off their steam.

Like a lot of things in those early years, going to a playground with a toddler can feel treacherous. Everything is a little too big so you find yourself helicoptering your kid's every move. That's why tot lots are perfect for the smallest kiddos. With fun interactive areas, smaller steps and slides, and baby swings, these pint-sized playgrounds mean kids can have a little more independence while they play (and so can you!). If you’re looking for fun, safe playgrounds ideal for younger kids, we've got a list of some great tot lots in the Philadelphia area.

For more on Philly's best outdoor play spaces, visit our Guide to Playgrounds and Parks in Philadelphia. Need rainy day activities? Look no further than our favorite indoor play spaces and playgrounds.

Best STEM Summer Camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area for Kids

LEGO, Minecraft, and coding? Sign us up! Photo courtesy of TechKnowHow

STEM summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area are hugely popular, which makes sense because this is home to the technological hub of Silicon Valley. 

From LEGO camps to robotics, Minecraft, and space missions, the Bay Area knows how to do STEM. We probably don't need to tell you that the Bay Area is the birthplace of so many tech startups and pioneers, so who knowsSTEM summer camps might inspire your kiddo to be the next Steve Jobs. Kids can immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and they'll have so much fun at camp that they'll hardly realize they're attending an educational summer camp. Discover our favorite STEM summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area. 

We've got plenty more camp options for your budding scientist like free and cheap camps, sleepaway camps, and more in our San Francisco Summer Camp Guide. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.

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