Sara F

Latest posts by Sara F

Best Swimming Lakes near NYC You Need to Discover

Submitted by Sara F on Fri, 04/26/2024 - 10:28am

Highlands Natural Pool is carved out of a hillside in New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Highlands Natural Pool

These swimming lakes near New York City add to the bounty of options local families have for taking a plunge on a scorching day. While New Yorkers are lucky to be surrounded by water, including family-friendly beaches right here in NYC, plus those on Long Island or at the Jersey Shore, for families with little kids, the ocean can be intimidating, with its choppy waves and miles of hot sand without an inch of shade. If you're itching to get the kids out of the city to enjoy a swim in the great outdoors, what better place than one of the area's beautiful, tranquil, freshwater swimming lakes?

We've rounded up 11 swimming lakes in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut ripe for summertime visits. Some are even close to our favorite family-friendly campgrounds, making them perfect for a weekend away. Speaking of getting out of town, our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways has more picks for all seasons family travel.

30 Fun Preschool and Toddler Events in NYC this Spring

Submitted by Sara F on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 6:27pm

Visitors can mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History. Photo courtesy of AMNH

Spring may be the most exciting season of the year for parents of preschoolers and toddlers who have been stuck inside for what feels like 5,000 weeks of winter. With the arrival of warm weather, it's like New York City itself wakes up from hibernating, and families stream out of their apartments and onto the sidewalks, scooters in tow, ready to take advantage of all the city has to offer in the springtime. There are so many exciting things to see and do in Marcn, April, and May, and we've taken the time to round up the best preschool and toddler events this spring.

We've got cool outdoor festivals, stunning, age-appropriate theater picks, and much more, all perfect for the under 5 set. What's not included? The piles of Easter egg hunts, ideas to celebrate Mother's Day, and Passover observances. But, fear not—we're covering the spring holidays in-depth in the coming weeks. Without further ado, here are our top springtime picks for New York's tiniest city slickers.

Best Playgrounds in Brooklyn's Prospect Park (Ranked!)

Submitted by Sara F on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 10:51am

Parents and kids alike flock to Vanderbilt Playground for its separate jungle gyms for big and little kids, which keeps mixed-age siblings happy.

Prospect Park spans more than 500 acres, providing plenty of space for varied adventures within its woods, green lawns, winding paths, and brooks and ponds. But did you also know this green space is also home to seven playgrounds? From big-kid swings to water features and toddler-sized slides, there’s something for every kid (and parent) in Prospect Park's playgrounds.

While you can—and should—head to all of these playgrounds at some point, if you're short on time, we've tested them out to present this parent-and-kid approved ranking of all seven playgrounds, from those that are destination-worthy to picks perfect for impromptu playtime. Find more picks for top play spots in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in NYC.

Brooklyn Preschoolers: 40 Awesome Things To Do in the Borough

Submitted by Sara F on Mon, 02/24/2020 - 5:28pm

Here are some of our favorite things to do in Brooklyn with preschool-age kids. Photo by Matt Nighswander

Brooklyn is full of fun experiences for little kids, whether you live here or are just looking for new adventures. From pedal boating in Prospect Park to sharing Key lime pie along the water in Red Hook, we guarantee you'll want to take your Brooklyn preschoolers and toddlers out exploring with these 40 must-do activities.

One of the great things about these early years is your kid may not be in school every day, so you often can avoid the weekends and enjoy some of these Brooklyn gems without the crowds.

Brooklyn Playgrounds Cool Enough for Your Big Kids

Submitted by Sara F on Wed, 10/23/2019 - 9:40am

Sunset Playground. Photo by Malcolm Pinckney for NYC Parks

One day, your baby is barefoot in a bucket swing, and then you blink, and she's riding her scooter so far ahead of you that she can't hear you calling, “WAIT!"

Suddenly, you realize it's time for big-kid playgrounds, including in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and other favorite spots. So leave those toddler slides behind and read on for our favorites in Brooklyn.

Best Brooklyn Splash Pads and Water Playgrounds for Summer Fun

Submitted by Sara F on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 2:00pm

Cool off on a hot summer day at the expansive LeFrak Splash Pad in Prospect Park. Photo by Martin Seck for Prospect Park Alliance

When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.

And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week.

It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!

Family-Friendly Restaurants Near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Submitted by Sara F on Wed, 10/24/2018 - 9:00am

The burger and fries from the kids' menu at Cheryl's Global Kitchen are delicious.

Even if you brought a bag full of snacks to your Brooklyn Botanic Garden excursion, kids will be hungry after all that time running through the grass, collecting sticks, and chasing butterflies.

The good news is that there are plenty of family-friendly options for a bite in the nearby Crown Heights and Prospect Heights neighborhoods, many with high chairs and changing tables available. These restaurants are also close to the Brooklyn Museum, and a short walk from the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Prospect Park.

Ballet Classes for NYC Kids Across the Five Boroughs

Submitted by Sara F on Sun, 07/01/2018 - 1:00pm

New York City kids are lucky to live in a city so infused with the arts and even luckier to have so many class options to help them explore their creative side. Ballet is a popular dance option for kids of all ages, and NYC is teeming with top-notch ballet schools. From tots to teens, we've rounded up top picks for ballet classes citywide—nearly two dozen of them!

Remember, though, this is just a sampling of ballet lessons in the city. Find more in our Classes Directory.