Presidents Day Weekend Events for Long Island Kids

Cheer on the Winter Olympics by participating in events all weekend long at the Children's Museum of the East End. Or engineer a bobsled run at the Maritime Explorium.

Interact with nature on Long Island over Presidents Day weekend. Head to Jones Beach for a winter seal walk, enjoy a winter celebration at Connetquot River State Park, engage in a winter search party at Garvies Point Museum.

Planning ahead for February school vacation week? Check out our guide to camps and workshops, or try these 30 fun things happening on February break.

For more activities to fill the weekend, pop over to our February GoList or Winter Fun Guide. And if you're keeping an eye on your wallet after the holidays, check out our list of free family activities in February.

Of course, our Event Calendar is loaded with fun, daily events for Long Island kids. Don't see a great event here? Add it to our calendar yourself

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Long Island City, Queens

Photo courtesy of Sugar Cube

Long Island City is a bustling, young, up-and-coming NYC neighborhood, with plenty of growing families and loads of kid-friendly restaurants. Whether you're hitting a destination playground, having a culturally rich excursion, or going heavy in the arts-and-crafts department, finding a spot to eat is easier than you think. You'll find everything from Thai to Italian, diners to fancy artisanal food, plus great dessert spots.

Since the area is quite spread out, we've also added a pair of restaurants near two of LIC's more out-of-the-way attractions: the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park.

Presidents Day Weekend for New Jersey Kids: Penguins, Legos, Nature

This weekend kicks off the mid-winter break for New Jersey schoolchildren, and there's plenty to keep the kiddos entertained. Enjoy a drama-filled weekend with a variety of theatrical performances, including Charlotte's Web Live, Beauty and the Beast, Gobsmacked!, and Mr. Popper's Penguins. Partake in a whole afternoon of kid-friendly games, crafts, and other activities on Saturday at Kidabaloo in Asbury Park. Or celebrate George Washington's birthday with Washington himself!

If you're looking for day-off entertainment on Presidents Day, head over to Morris Museum for Presidents Day activities, State Theatre New Jersey for Family Day, or Trailside Nature & Science Center for a Mad Science demonstration.

To find more fun for this weekend and beyond, check out our list of 30 things to do during the February break. And look to our February GoList  and  Winter Activity Guide for even more ideas. 

Roller Skating Rinks Are Still Great Spots for SoCal Family Fun

If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you probably have great memories of rockin' and rollin' at the roller rink. Birthday parties, end of year school trips, disco evenings, or just plain having fun inside on a hot or rainy day—roller rinks were the best. Even though inline skates are the outdoor skate of choice these days, we can still put on some quads at these LA- and OC-area roller rinks. Take the kids for a taste of your childhood. And, Mom and Dad, you can go ahead and skate too. It is great exercise and just as fun as you remember.

Dinosaurs Invade a Shopping Mall in Redondo Beach

Part museum, part play space, Wonder of Dinosaurs at the South Bay Galleria is a tantalizing collection of animatronic dinosaurs of all varieties, in the setting of a mini amusement-park-toy-shop combo that offers a full day of family friendly exploration (and shopping). Spanning two floors of retail storefront, this dino destination has such wow-worthy draws as Triceratops bouncies (some reserved for the many birthday parties being held on the premises) and a movable dinosaur with reigns for riding like a horse. This natural history museum of play gyms, Wonder of Dinosaurs is a welcome addition to the many kid-friendly places in Redondo Beach.

Reptiles, Glow-in-the-Dark, Mermaids, and More: Unique At-Home Birthday Parties for Boston Kids

Let the New England Reptile Show prove snakes can make fun party animals! Photo by author

Boston is packed with great indoor party places that cater to kids. But there are still plenty of parents—myself included—who really enjoy hosting a good, old-fashioned, at-home birthday party. The one catch: Coming up with ways to keep kids engaged that don't involve trashing the house. Recently, we rounded up some of our favorite musicians, magicians, clowns, and character actors who travel to homes to perform for Boston-area kids. But in the event you have a child who yearns for something a little different, we've scouted around for party entertainment that's a little outside the gift box, so to speak. Whether you have a kid who's into exotic creatures, cooking, or just romping around, you can count on one of these companies to create a one-of-a-kind party for your unique birthday boy or girl. Rates fluctuate by group size and sometimes seasonally, so be sure to ask details when you reach out for more information.

Retro Birthday Parties That Even Parents Will Love

Photo courtesy of Anders Ruff Design Co.

Whether it’s Throwback Thursday or you’re filled with nostalgia, hosting a kid's birthday has a whole new appeal. Reboots of ‘80s and ‘90s TV shows like Roseanne, Full House, and Will & Grace are gaining popularity and even kids are enjoying watching these blasts from the past. Instead of the traditional bounce houses, parents are enjoying going back in time with roller skating, laser tag and more. Check out these other unique birthday party ideas, too. 

Valentines Day, Year of the Dog, and a Star Party This Week

February is a month full of special celebrations: President's Day, Valentine's Day, Black History Month, and the Lunar New Year. This week you can make a card for your Valentine, enjoy a parade in New Haven celebrating the year of the Dog, and star gaze at White Memorial in Litchfield. Whatever you end up doing, have fun and come back to Mommy Poppins for all the best family fun info.

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