Yuliya Marks

Latest posts by Yuliya

Visiting Alstede Farms with Kids in NJ: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 10:00am

Alstede Farms' friendly animals are always anxious to greet young visitors. Bring your quarters so you can purchase feed for them!

Day tripping to local farms is one of my family's favorite things to do, and Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey, is definitely worth the drive. Alstede Farms is jam-packed with family-friendly things to do—landing it on our list of the best farms in New Jersey for family-friendly entertainment. We planned our trip to include fruit picking, checking out the farm animals, and eating some delicious homemade food. Though there are plenty more farm activities to explore, our little one was too tuckered out to tackle them. That's left us planning a return trip; the hay pyramid awaits! Read on for the best things to do at Alstede Farms with kids and plan your own day on the farm.

Be sure to check our rundowns on apple picking in New Jersey and the state's top pick-your-own farms. And find everything else you need to know for autumn fun in our Fall Fun Guide.

Visiting Historic Richmond Town with Kids: Top Things To Do on a Family Visit

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Mon, 07/25/2022 - 11:25am

American history comes to life at Historic Richmond Town's living history village and historical museum.

If you have a little historian on your hands, plan a visit to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, where guests immerse themselves in rich American history in Historic Richmond Town's living history village and historical museum that springs to life with seasonal programs, workshops, and year-round special events.

Read on for details on our visit to this Staten Island gem and learn about more living history day trips nearby. We've got more picks for great local museums in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for Kids.

Top Beaches Near NYC for Toddlers

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Sun, 05/15/2022 - 12:34pm

Sand castle building and more fun await little ones at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island.

There are so many beaches near NYC, and yet there's so little time to visit them each summer. If it's your first summer with little sunbathers in tow, you may be wondering which local beaches are the most toddler-friendly beaches near NYC. Each of these 11 beaches, which include some of our favorite beaches in NYC, plus fun Jersey Shore beaches and Long Island beaches, includes little-kid friendly fun beyond the sand and the surf, like playgrounds and aquariums along with great beach eats. Be forewarned, these extra perks might make it hard to lure your toddler away from all the fun in the sun.

So, pack your pails, picnic baskets, and beach babies, then plan a day trip to one of these toddler-friendly beaches near NYC. Find more great local beaches and water fun in our Guide to Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks near NYC.

Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Manhattan

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Sun, 04/17/2022 - 12:00pm

Little ones love the sand box at the East 72nd Street Playground in Central Park, one of our favorite toddler playgrounds in Manhattan. Photo by Jody Mercier

Finding a playground in New York City is not a difficult task. My toddler is always yelling, “keep your eyes peeled for a playground,” when we are out running errands, and she finds one in every neighborhood. But, finding a just-right playground or tot lot where she can play safely is another story. These 15+ toddler playgrounds in Manhattan are all made for little ones to explore.

These toddler playgrounds are almost guaranteed to leave little ones speechless and provide hours of entertainment. These tot lots are destination-worthy, so build an outing around them! Find more fun places to play in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in New York City and plan a Brooklyn daycation with your tot in tow to check out one of these top toddler playgrounds in the borough.

Kid-Friendly Nail Salons in NYC

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Tue, 04/12/2022 - 10:00am

Milk & Cookies Kids Spa and Salon offers plenty of spa services to glam your cuties from head to toe.

When it comes time to groom or get glammed up, a trip to the nail salon may be in order. At these local kid-friendly nail salons, children can enjoy getting pampered—or you can enjoy a mommy-and-me mani alongside them. These 14 local nail salons in NYC all offer parent-approved perks, like organic nail polishes, and kid-friendly draws, like nail art designs cool enough for big kids. Some of them are open for walk-in services, while others are party places only. We've even found a salon that brings a mobile spa party right to your front door for your next celebration.

20 Must-Visit Cafes, Sweet Shops, and Iconic Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Sun, 02/20/2022 - 12:25pm

Junior's Cheesecake is our pick for the place to indulge in a slice of classic New York cheesecake.

There are many best-of lists when it comes to can't-miss restaurants in NYC, but in compiling this list of the must-visit, family-friendly restaurants in NYC, we decided to be tourists in our own city, revisiting some classic favorite restaurants, while exploring a few newcomers, too. All told, we've pulled together this list of 20 can't-miss, must-visit, kid-friendly restaurants in NYC.

Follow out footsteps for a real taste of the Big Apple, which includes everything from hot dogs to cupcakes and pickles to pastrami. If this whets your appetite for an NYC vacation, you can find more must-do activities on our list of the 50 top family-friendly attractions in NYC, and find all our kid-friendly dining picks in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

Public Art, Ice Skating, Kid-Friendly Eats, More Fun Await at Manhattan West

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 3:50pm

Explore the whimsical lemon grove at Manhattan West's Citrovia Landing no matter the season.

Manhattan West is its own little town in the making. Sandwiched between the bustling streets surrounding Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, and the packed-with-amenities Hudson Yards, this new development has slowly been coming to life. Already, it boasts a destination-worthy food hall, themed retail, a bright public art installation, and one of NYC's newest outdoor ice skating rinks. Read on for fun eats, treats, and things to do at Manhattan West.

NYC Winter Lantern Festival Lights up Snug Harbor

Submitted by Yuliya Marks on Tue, 12/07/2021 - 11:22am

Come nose-to-nose with brilliantly lit sea turtles and more magical creatures during a visit to the NYC Winter Lantern Festival.

The NYC Winter Lantern Festival at Snug Harbor Cultural Center has become a family tradition in our house, and it lights up the nights again this holiday season. Our first trip to the holiday light show was three years ago when our daughter was a newborn. A visit to the Winter Lantern Festival provided a great way to escape the stress of first-time parenting and get lost in the world of imagination and light.

Back for another run, it doesn’t disappoint, bringing displays that more elaborate and brilliant spread across Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center’s grounds, the vast 8-acre botanical gardens lights up during the night, enchanting children and kids at heart with its displays. Find more stunning lantern and light shows in NYC, plus all our top holiday picks in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.