We know Westchester is one of the best places to raise a family, and our Mommy Poppins readers are the ones who help make it that way. We asked you to weigh in on the best enrichment programs, family fun and parenting resources in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley for our Bestie Awards. We presented an extremely competitive crop of choices, and the people have spoken!
 
A special thank you to our Bestie Sponsors, Great Wolf Lodge and Quassy Amusement Park and Water Park.

Without further ado, here is your guide to the best of family-friendly Westchester, the 2017 Westchester Besties!

Best Family Fun Winners | Best Enrichment Programs Winners

I have a love-hate relationship with children's art. On the one hand, I love decorating the house with my children's paintings, sculptures, and photographs; on the other hand, I just can't bear the mess of the creative process, especially when it involves glitter!

Here are some great places in Fairfield County where your young artists can create masterpieces without trashing your house: (and for more after-school ideas check out our guide.)

Summer is here! There’s nothing quite like celebrating the season with preschoolers—they approach each day with the curiosity that brings you back to your own childhood.

That said, preschoolers are busy, busy little people, and it gets hard trying to keep them occupied all summer long. Fear not, for we’ve come up with a list of more than two dozen things to do with them this summer in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley.  

Looking for even more activities? Consult our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook!

New Jersey families, you have spoken! We asked you all to weigh in on New Jersey's Besties—the best family businesses and resources in categories that range from best theme parks, restaurants, parties, activities, preschools, and more. With all the great family fun experiences and resources in New Jersey, it was hard to choose just 23, but you were up to the task! Each winner was selected from a competitive crop of 10 nominees in each category.

A special thank you to the Bestie Sponsors, and congratulations to the four lucky voters who were picked at random to enjoy some amazing prizes!

We've grouped the winners into three winning categories: Parenting Resources, Enrichment Programs, and Family Fun. 

Without further ado, here is your guide to the best of family-friendly New Jersey, the 2017 New Jersey Besties! 

Best Parenting Resources Winners | Best Family Fun Winners

New Jersey families, you have spoken! We asked you all to weigh in on New Jersey's Besties—the best family businesses and resources in categories that range from best restaurants, parties, activities, and more. With all the great family fun experiences and resources in New Jersey, it was hard to choose just 23, but you were up to the task! Each winner was selected from a competitive crop of 10 nominees in each category.

A special thank you to the Bestie Sponsors, and congratulations to the four lucky voters who were picked at random to enjoy some amazing prizes!

We've grouped the winners into three winning categories: Parenting Resources, Enrichment Programs, and Family Fun. 

Without further ado, here is your guide to the best of family-friendly New Jersey, the 2017 New Jersey Besties!

Best Parenting Resources Winners | Best Enrichment Programs Winners

Every summer, the activity-packed Governors Island seems to become even more of a family fun zone. Its latest kid-centric destination is Adventures at Governors Island, a trio of thrilling outdoor attractions that debuted over the Memorial Day holiday. My tween and her friends were so excited to check out the 300-foot zip line, the 25-foot climbing tower, and the 3,600-square-foot maze that we decided to brave opening weekend. Overall we had an awesome experience (yes, even the parents), but we have some important tips to help your family get the most out of your Adventures.

Raring to ready, set...summer? Make the most of these sunny, warm days with our Summer Fun Guide and Parks & Playgrounds Guide!

Summertime is jam time, whether your genre of choice is kindie rock, roots, jazz, blues, world, or classical music. Boston neighborhoods and surrounding towns feature lots of popular local musicians in their summer outdoor music series, and some concerts are aimed specifically at kids. With our roundup of summer music series as your guide, you could take your kids to a community concert almost every day this season. Best of all, the performances are all free!
Editor's note: Be sure to check back often through June for updates, as concert dates are still being added and websites updated.

100 days of summer go by fast and parents spend most of their children's summer vacation looking for ways to keep them active, engaged, and entertained. We know you will likely spend time relaxing at the beach, discovering new playgrounds or best selling books, checking out the latest museum exhibits, or lounging by a pool in a backyard or at an amusement park. For all the other moments when children declare that there is nothing to do, here are a few ways to prove them wrong. And even better -- most of the summer activities and events are FREE! Enjoy the sunshine, time with your children, and the savings.