Charlotte Wensley

Latest posts by Charlotte

Where to Play Indoor Golf near NYC with Kids

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Tue, 04/22/2025 - 4:32pm

Golf with Red, Bomb, Chuck, and the Pigs at Angry Birds Mini Golf, located inside American Dream Mall. Photo by Gina Massaro

If your kids are aching to play mini golf, but the weather's not quite right for an outdoor rendezvous, consider an indoor mini-golf course near New York City. At these attraction-filled spots in New Jersey, upstate New York, Long Island, and even the five boroughs, you can keep everyone warm, cozy, and entertained while you work on your putt-putt skills.

Whether you want to play a round on a glow-in-the-dark, mini-golf course or play alongside the Angry Birds gang, we've found 15 local indoor mini-golf courses to explore. If your kids are ready to extend their game, we're also including some indoor golf simulators at locations throughout the tri-state area. Find more local places to play in our Guide to Kids' Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones.

Best Bar Mitzvah Venues in NYC for Families

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Mon, 09/16/2024 - 2:02pm

A synagogue-turned event space, Boerum Hill's Deity is a lovely bat mitzvah venue in New York City. Photo by Kelly Williams

Finding the perfect bar mitzvah venue in New York City is a huge undertaking. Whether you're looking for a full-service bar mitzvah venue to handle everything in-house with an event manager orchestrating the party, or you're searching for a blank canvas to create your unique event, we've found 15 bar mitzvah venues in New York City ready to serve as the backdrop for your teen's big day.

These bat and bar mitzvah venues in New York City range from classic and sophisticated to more laid-back and focused on teen fun. Some of our picks even have multiple event spaces to host your ceremony and party. If you're looking for more options, consider casting a wider net and hosting your party at one of these spectacular bar mitzvah venues on Long Island.

Of course, we've got more party planning tips for everyone from toddlers to teens in our New York City Birthday Party Guide.

Museum Birthday Party Places in NYC: 10 Celebration-Worthy Culture Spots

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Mon, 10/10/2022 - 4:00pm

Host a creative, fun-filled birthday party celebration for your child’s special day at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo by Jody Mercier

Living in New York City means access to some of the world’s greatest museums, and these world-class institutions are also completely underrated birthday party places in NYC. Next time you're faced with planning the perfect birthday party, consider hosting a birthday party at one of these NYC museums and culture spots, which offer unique themes you can’t often DIY. Fully interactive fun, animal encounters, giant ball pits, VR gaming, sleeping among exhibits, and a slime waterfall feature make these some of the best birthday party places in NYC.

So, escape the clean-up and hand over the organization and entertainment of your child’s birthday to someone else, and enjoy one of our amazing cultural institutions from a completely different perspective. We've got tons more suggestions for places to host your next NYC birthday party in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in New York City.

Weekend Getaways Near NYC: Lake Resorts in New York State

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 5:35pm

It's hard to resist the allure of a dip in Mirror Lake during your weekend getaway to the Golden Arrowhead Lakeside Resort.

When it comes to summer weekend getaways near NYC, there's nothing more inviting than jumping into the refreshing waters of one of the state’s beautiful swimming lakes. If you want to escape the stifling heat for a weekend getaway from NYC, these lake resorts in New York give families the chance to cool off and enjoy both swimming and a whole host of water-based activities.

From the Hudson Valley to Lake George, Lake Placid, and the Catskills, read on for 11 family-friendly lakefront resorts and find more overnight destinations in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways Near NYC.

Best Amusement Parks near Washington, DC for Kids and Families

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 10:45am

Trimper Rides is the oldest continuously family-owned-and-operated amusement park in the world. Photo courtesy of Trimper Rides, Facebook

Since many of the best amusement parks in the US are located in places where it's warm year-round, like Orlando and Southern California, many DC-area families plan vacations to visit them in fall, winter, and early spring. But come late spring and summer, amusement parks near DC are open and ready to welcome families.

Whether you have toddlers or preschoolers looking for low-octane fun or older kids and teens chasing the thrill of roller coasters, there is a theme park within a three-hour drive from DC that's perfect for a day trip or weekend trip with your family. Many of these family-friendly amusement parks near DC also have on-site water parks included in their ticket prices, so don't forget your bathing suits!

Here are nine great amusement parks near DC to visit with your family. Most of them are open only on weekends in the spring and then every day by June, so be sure to call or check the websites for operating hours before you go.

7 Space Museums Near NYC for Out of This World Fun

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 12:13pm

Explore the universe and more at the Franklin Institute, one of our favorite space museums near NYC.

With space travel increasingly in the news, children’s fascination with all things space is sky-high. Being able to get up close to real space artifacts at one of these space museums near NYC is thrilling for any kid, not just those obsessed with space, like somebody in my house!

We've found a collection fo dedicated space museums near NYC, plus some ultra-cool space-themed galleries within some favorite local science museums. At these spots, kids and adults can experience what it feels like to be in space through simulators, interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, or watching a live feed from the International Space Station.

Find more cool museums for kids in our Guide to Museums and Galleries for Kids or find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids.

Best Restaurants in Little Italy, NYC That Kids Love

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Fri, 04/08/2022 - 6:59am

Lombardi's Pizza is as old-school as it gets in Little Italy.

One sure-fire way to ensure your kids don't tire too early while enjoying a full day out and about in the city is to fill them full of pasta, pizza, and gelato. There is no better place to do this and see a small slice of old Manhattan than in Little Italy. While Mulberry Street teems with old-school Italian spots, we've done our best to round up the best restaurants in Little Italy, NYC serving kid-friendly fare. And if you can't decide on just one, the good news is they're all close by, lying between Hester and Broome Streets, so you can make a multi-course meal out of your visit to this classic NYC enclave.

Find more family-friendly places to eat in our Guide to Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC.

Soar Over NYC at RiseNY's New Sky-High Times Square Attraction

Submitted by Charlotte Wensley on Fri, 03/11/2022 - 10:00am

The soaring, immersive ride at RiseNY is just one of the exhibits at this exciting new attraction. Photo courtesy of RiseNY

A brand new experience has opened close to Times Square that takes visitors on a breathtaking simulated aerial tour of New York City. With your feet dangling from the full-motion seats, you soar and swoop through the city, its landmarks, and all its seasons in RiseNY’s awe-inspiring love letter to the Big Apple.

RiseNY combines this flying theater with engaging galleries that tell the city’s cultural story all the while highlighting many of New York City's top attractions.

Charlotte Wensley

Latest posts by Charlotte

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