Mazel Tov! 15 Fun Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Venues in Atlanta

Celebrate your child's step into adulthood with our guide of awesome bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah venues in Atlanta. Photo by author

A bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah are huge milestones in any Jewish child's life. Usually occurring around a child's 12th or 13th birthday, this momentous occasion celebrates the first steps into adulthood and the religious honors and responsibilities that come with it. And after the solemn service, it's all about an epic bar or bar mitzvah party! Check out some of our favorite venues in Atlanta to host the ultimate celebration for these hard-working kids!

Universal Studios Hollywood: Tips for a Perfect Day with Kids

Fun with the Minions! Photo by author Kylie Williams

Ahhh, Universal Studios Hollywood. Everyone knows that when you drive down the 101, you see LA’s beloved one-eyed Minion peeping at you from across the road. You notice Hogwarts, rising into the sky on a hill, and you may have asked yourself (probably countless times) “Should we take the kids there? Is it worth it?” As a local mom of four, I’m here to tell you, yes, Universal Studios Hollywood is absolutely worth a trip. 

We took our boys and a buddy, ages 5, 7, and 8, for a birthday celebration and had the most memorable day. We want to make your day memorable too, so read on for a local’s tips and tricks to maximize your day at Universal Studios Hollywood. 

 Be prepared to visit any LA-area theme park with this guide to all the best Los Angeles theme parks!

Galena, Illinois With Kids: 22 Top Things To Do in Galena

Hanging with Ulysses Grant. Photo by author Maureen Wilkey

Galena, Illinois, a city rich in history and charming surroundings, is less than three hours away from Chicago, making it a perfect getaway for families. Once a hub for commerce by way of the Mississippi River, its legacy is worth exploring. Grown-ups and kids will love everything from learning about its most famous resident—former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant—to the abundance of nature, shopping, and more. Here are 22 things you must do in Galena, Illinois with kids.

Looking for other fun adventures near Chicago? Check out everything to do in Napierville, Springfield, and Lake Geneva, WI

Giant Pandas are Returning to DC's National Zoo!

The countdown is on for the return of giant pandas to Smithsonian's National Zoo. Photo courtesy of the zoo

DC panda lovers have two giant reasons to celebrate! The Smithsonian National Zoo announced in May that it will welcome two new giant pandas from China by the end of 2024—Bao Li and Qing Bao. After saying goodbye to pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji in November 2023 during a series of events called Panda Palooza, this is welcome news for a city that has grown to cherish these animals.

Read on to learn all about the new giant pandas coming to DC. Then check out our guide to visiting DC's National Zoo with kids.

Best Summer Fairs and Street Festivals in NYC this August

The 12th annual Aarti Hindu Lamp Ceremony returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pebble Beach! Photo by Etienne Frossard

August ushers in the final round of summer festivals in NYC. This last gasp of summer celebrations includes some of our favorite summer festivals in NYC like Summer Streets, Brooklyn's gorgeous Hindu Lamp Ceremony, the Sand Sculpting Contest on Coney Island, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Fest, and, of course, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the US Open. We've found more than two dozen summer festivals in NYC this August and the best part: They're (almost) all FREE.

Best Indoor Batting Cages in Orlando for Kids and Teens

D-Bat has everything you need for a successful hitting session on your own. Photo by the author

Consider indoor batting cages with the summer heat in full swing (get it?!). Softball and baseball lovers and batting newbies alike will enjoy these awesome Orlando batting cages to cool off and hone their skills. Indoor batting cages are great ways for Orlando kids and teens to touch base with friends, parents, and even siblings! Cool off this summer and hit it out of the park with these awesome Orlando batting cages below.

Best Batting Cages in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

The batting cages at V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley are open to the public. Photo by the author

Batting cages in Westchester and the Hudson Valley let you experience the particular summertime joy of the sound and the feel of a bat hitting a ball. The fun is not limited to warm weather, either, as there are indoor and outdoor batting cages to keep the hits coming all year round.

Read on for the top batting cages in the region, and check out our Guide to Sports in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for more stories like this.

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