Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

Visiting West Point with Kids: 37 Top Things To Do near the United States Military Academy

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 08/08/2025 - 7:26am

A visit to the United States Military Academy is a lesson in history and patriotism, but also tons of fun for families.

The United States Military Academy is a jewel in the Hudson Valley. The country's oldest continuously occupied Army post, its history precedes the academy that now calls the land home. Recognized by then-General George Washington as a strategic stronghold, it played a key role in America's defense during the Revolutionary War and has remained important ever since. Today, West Point serves as a jumping-off point for the next generation of Army leaders, who endure a 47-month educational journey that prepares them in the classroom, on the battlefield, and in feats of physical and military fitness.

Whether you visit the United States Military Academy for one day—or are lucky enough to send your son or daughter to this prestigious institution and make repeat visits—you're in for a treat. Its strategic location perched on the west bank of the Hudson River is one of the most beautiful vistas in the region. Here are our tips for visiting West Point with kids, plus the top things to do near the United States Military Academy. You'll find more ideas for day trip destinations in our Guide to Local Day Trips and Getaways in the Hudson Valley.

Don't Let Summer End Without Doing These 40 NYC Activities with Your Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 08/03/2025 - 11:56am

Hit one of the amazing beaches in NYC, by train, ferry, bike, or car. Photo by Sara Marentette

With August upon us and the start of a new school year looming, my kids and I are in a panic about all the fun, summery things to do in NYC we haven't yet crossed off our NYC summer bucket list.

Sure, we've had a lot of fun tooling around the city, enjoying our favorite local swimming pool, reigniting a love for some of the best playgrounds in NYC, chilling out with some kid-pleasing ice-cold treats, and soaking up all the FREE things to do in NYC with kids in the summer. But, there are plenty of great activities we haven't gotten to. So, we've crafted this list of 40 can't-miss activities to do before the school bell rings in September.

For more ideas from Brooklyn to the Bronx, and even at home, check out our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide. Soon summer vacation will be a mere memory.

Step Into the Future: Tomorrow Brings Mind-Blowing Tech Experience, Shopping to Midtown

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 07/29/2025 - 1:00pm

Midtown Manhattan overflows with fun, destination-worthy stores where kids can play for free, but the newest retail addition to the Crossroads of the World is unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Tomorrow—or tm:rw—celebrates its grand opening today as a 20,000-square-foot retail experience. So, what exactly, does the Tomorrow experience bring to the heart of Times Square? Read on to find out.

Your Ultimate NYC Summer 2025 Bingo Cards for Kids [PRINTABLE]

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 07/08/2025 - 1:55pm

These FREE printable NYC Summer Bingo Cards provide a jumping-off point of exploration!

We created free, downloadable, printable NYC summer bingo cards for kids as a summer boredom buster!

We're roughly 10 days into summer vacation in NYC, and it might already feel like an endless abyss. Sure, filling those first few days with fun things to do was easy. Then, we had a whole holiday weekend complete with hot dogs and fireworks, and now the going gets tough: There are weeks and weeks to fill with summer activities for kids in NYC. And, you need to do it without spending a fortune. We have hundreds (thousands, really!) of ideas for free and cheap summer fun in our Ultimate New York City Kids' Guide to Summer Fun.

But sometimes you need a jumping-off point, something that gives you a goal, and even puts your kids in charge of picking the activities in a fun and interactive way. Enter these free printable bingo cards. Summer boredom busted! We have both a pre-filled and a DIY summer bingo card for you to use to give kids the reins to design a summer full of fun.

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in NYC in 2025: Get All the Details on the East River Display

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 10:28am

Macy's 4th of July fireworks brings four barges to the East River surrounding the South Street Seaport in 2025. Photo courtesy of NYC Tourism & Conventions

Macy's 4th of July fireworks show is set to blast off from the Brooklyn Bridge and four barges nearby in 2025. An annual unforgettable highlight of the summer, on Friday, July 4, 2025, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks explode in the 49th edition of this incredible Independence Day celebration. More than 60,000 shells are set to light up the night sky.

Spectators should be able to see Macy's 4th of July fireworks from many neighborhoods along the waterfront in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. New this year: a city-sponsored lottery doles out FREE tickets to public viewing areas. Looking for more FREE summer fireworks displays in NYC? Check out our roundup of where to see fireworks all summer long here, and bookmark our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide for all our top seasonal picks.

Discount Broadway Tickets: Five Ways to Save Big on Broadway Shows

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 06/22/2025 - 12:57pm

Big-name Broadway shows like &Juliet come at a premium prices, but there are ways to save on Broadway tickets. Photo by Aka NYC.

Scoring Broadway tickets to a top show is a thrill for locals and visitors alike, but with soaring ticket prices, it can be hard to make seeing these family-friendly Broadway shows a regular occurrence. Luckily, there are discount Broadway tickets to be found if you know where to look—and we do. We've got the scoop on five ways to score cheap tickets to Broadway shows.

Not sure what to see? You'll find all our top picks for the best kid-friendly entertainment in our NYC Guide to Children's Theater and Shows.

A Family Adventure Above NYC: Tips for Visiting Top of the Rock with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 06/22/2025 - 7:16am

The Beam offers an unobstructed look at the panorama of the city below.

Visiting the Top of the Rock observation deck is on many tourists' must-do lists, but even locals should put it on their bucket lists. Even if you feel like you've already been there, seen that view, now is a good time to revisit this classic NYC attraction, which has added a pair of thrilling attractions in the past couple of years.

While city views are plentiful at NYC's five observation decks, each presents its own unique experience and perspective, including Top of the Rock. Here's what you can expect to see and do during your visit to the Top of the Rock observation deck, plus more things to do in the action-packed Rockefeller Center campus it calls home, whether you visit during the twinkling holiday season or at another time of year.

Best Free Swimming Pools in NYC for Families During Summer 2025

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 06/20/2025 - 10:13am

Head to the Bronx's Haffen Pool, one of our favorite free pools in NYC, to enjoy a day of swimming and splashing.

It's summertime, and if you want to go all-in on the wet-and-wild fun, take note: These free swimming pools in NYC open Friday, June 27, 2025, a day after public schools let out. With more than 50 free swimming pools in NYC to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to find the right outdoor swimming pool for your outing. We've done the legwork, though, rounding up our picks for the most family-friendly free swimming pools in NYC. These local NYC swimming pools are all places we've visited personally or have come highly recommended by families we know. Read on and get ready to dive in!

Find more cool places to play this summer in our Guide to Swimming Pools and Sprinkler Parks in NYC, plus all our picks for free fun on this list of 100 free things to do in NYC this summer.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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