Mother's Day FREEBIES in Connecticut

Mom. Mommy. Mama. Mother. Her Royal and Omnipotent Shoe Finder Supreme. No matter what you call her, mom is a pretty special lady and she deserves to be celebrated. Whether that means pulling out all the stops for a truly indulgent brunch or spending a day doing stuff the whole family loves (because I'll be honest, my kids don't love brunch that much...) Mother's Day is a moment for moms, ALL MOMS, everywhere to take a little bow for the incredibly hard work we do all year (yep, I said it. We work hard and it's ok to crow about it a little sometimes). In honor of Mother's Day, here are some things moms can do FOR FREE with (or sometimes without...) the family.

25 Things To Do in New Jersey for Mother's Day

Grounds for Sculpture. Zack Teris for David Michael Howarth

Mothers should be appreciated every day of the year (of course), but it doesn’t hurt to have one special day to remind everyone just how wonderful you are. Round up your crew for a celebratory outing on Sunday, May 13, with one of these 25 fun activities that are perfect for the entire family. 

Whether you want to wine and dine at great brunch spots in northern NJ or down the shoresip tea with your littles, enjoy a scenic stroll in nature, or go for a free spin on amusement rides, we’ve got you covered with the best NJ Mother’s Day events happening this year. Check them out below and find your Mom Day match!

For even more fun events, visit our Spring Fun Guide and May Go List. Happy Mother’s Day,  NJ moms!

Lower East Side Food Crawl: Best Old School NYC Eats

Feel like a kid in a candy store at Economy Candy.

The Lower East Side is emblematic of everything we think of "Old New York," especially the hustle and bustle of a working class immigrant neighborhood. Although many immigrant populations called the neighborhood home, the Lower East Side became home base for New York City’s Jewish population. The Lower East Side is now much more hipster than Hebrew and most of the old establishments have been spruced up, but it’s still an amazing neighborhood to explore...and eat in. Oh my, can you eat!

From knishes to candy, pastrami to pickles, there’s so much good food on offer it’s hard to know where to begin. But most of all, it’s fun to eat in places with tons of history and "theater." Whether you want to do it as a food crawl with the kids or just go down for one family meal, we’ve covered the best old-school, mostly Jewish food spots on the Lower East Side.

6 Destinations for Train-Obsessed Kids on Long Island

Enjoy a ride on the historic G16 miniature train at the Railroad Museum of Long Island. Photo courtesy of the museum

All aboard! If your little one loves trains (and what kid doesn't?), you're in luck because Long Island is home to some of the coolest places for kids who want to explore everything about them. From model trains to small-scale rideable trains and even historic train cars, there's something for every enthusiast here. Kids young and old can get hands on and learn all about trains as well as the history of railroads on Long Island. For models and miniatures, check out some local model railroad clubs at FREE open house events held several times a year. 

Don't forget, you can always take a quick excursion on the Long Island Rail Road, where kids 4 and younger ride for FREE. Some sites below are open seasonally, so be sure to call or check the location's website before heading out.

And if your child loves learning, why not check out these historic sites on LI sure to delight children. Or visit an outdoor classroom, where natural history springs to life. For more fun in the area, check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

The Water Safety Skills That Could Save Your Child's Life This Summer

FACT: Most kids who drown were supervised. Let that sink in. While accidents do happen from babies being left alone in tubs or a toddler falling into an unattended pool, the most common way is while grown-ups are around, but not paying attention.

According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of injury death for children ages one to 14. It is the number one cause for children four and under! And thousands more are hospitalized for these incidents.

NYC Fun Zone Gives Upper East Side Toddlers a New Play Space

The Upper East Side is already packed with plenty to do for neighborhood families. It's almost made for kids, and we're told that the Yorkville neighborhood east of Third Avenue is booming with kid fun, too. In fact, the Manhattan nabe just got a brand-new play space that's steps from Carl Schurz Park, and it truly is a gem nestled among the shops on York Avenue.

The minute you enter NYC Fun Zone you notice its inviting, clean space for babies up to kindergarten-aged kids. Toddlers will feel right at home. Even my 5-year-old had a blast and didn't want to leave! 

Get all the details on the bright and fun new uptown venue below.

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