Danielle Smith

Latest posts by Danielle

10 Philly Arboretums and Gardens for Kid-Friendly Fun

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Sun, 06/20/2021 - 9:00am

The Tulip Treehouse at Winterthur is a location right out of The Hobbit. Photo courtesy of Bob Lietch for Winterthur Garden

Why just stop and smell the roses when you can do so much more? The Philadelphia area is home to some of the most beautiful arboretums and gardens in the country, and many offer a slate of kids’ programming to complement the floral experience. From fairy-tale inspired woods to treetop rope climbs, scavenger hunts, koi feedings and more, you can easily get lost among acres of nature-inspired activities during a day with the fam at these places.

Giveaway + New Crayola IDEAworks Exhibit at Franklin Institute

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 4:06pm

Find your creative style in this new exhibit at the Franklin Institute.

Invention, creativity, and a whole lot of color collide at the brand-new Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition, a fun interactive attraction presented by Epson and Crayola at the Franklin Institute. The exhibit celebrates ingenuity and highlights children’s creative strengths. We've teamed up with the sponsors to give away a grand prize trip package that includes a one-night stay at a Philadelphia downtown hotel, passes to see IDEAworks, and a suite of Crayola and Epson products that are sure to get the whole family's creative juices flowing.

Cool Things For Kids to Do at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Sat, 06/12/2021 - 6:31am

The Grand Habitat exhibit will remind kids of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.

For the first time in its 193-year history, the storied Philadelphia Flower Show is being held outside, taking over FDR Park in South Philly. This year’s event, appropriately themed HABITAT: Nature’s Masterpiece, provides a welcome change of scenery for both flora and families, making use of an existing kid-approved landscape to showcase the nation’s largest horticultural event.

Learn all the coolest sights for kids to catch at the show below, as well as all the need-to-know information about the venue, special events, and ticketing. And don’t miss more must-do’s in our Summer Day Trip Guide.

Visit a Construction-Themed Water Park, The Water Main, at Diggerland USA

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 06/03/2021 - 2:00pm

Little ones will love the shallow water play at Jackhammer Bay in The Water Main. Photo courtesy of Diggerland USA

Yes, the country’s only construction-themed amusement park is now serving up some serious aquatic fun with two acres of splash pads, water slides, family and leisure pools, and other attractions for all ages. The brand new water park at Diggerland USA, appropriately dubbed The Water Main, has officially opened its doors just in time for the rising temperatures. With the purchase of regular admission or a season pass, you actually get access to both parks.

When I heard there was an opportunity to head to The Water Main for opening weekend, I jumped at the opportunity to take my two daughters, ages 5 and 7. We packed up the car and headed out to West Berlin, New Jersey to splash, slide, and soak up everything the brand new water park has to offer. Read on to learn all about the park's main attractions, what to expect on your visit, and how to prepare for your big adventure.

New Xpedition Dino Attraction Debuts at Six Flags Great Adventure

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Mon, 05/24/2021 - 9:00am

Get up close to larger-than-life dinosaurs at Six Flags Xpedition Dino.

Six Flags Great Adventure is getting a Jurassic upgrade with the brand new Xpedition Dino, an immersive attraction that lets kids walk or ride among 30 life-like dinosaurs, built to move and roar just like the real ones did millennia ago.

Read on for details on the new larger-than-life experience, and find more great attractions in our Guide to Theme Parks and Water Parks.

Vaccine Freebies in New York City For Kids and Families

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 05/20/2021 - 3:56pm

Shake Shack is one of many restaurants offering free food to the vaccinated. Photo courtesy of Shake Shack

Updated June 3, 2021
The road back to normalcy is paved with shots in arms, and New York City is pulling out all the stops to get folks vaccinated as quickly as possible, offering a slew of vaccine freebies for individuals willing to roll up their sleeves and get their shot. These freebies range from eats and treats to museum tickets and more.

With teens newly eligible for the shot, and an ambitious goal of vaccinating 5 million New Yorkers by June, city officials, local businesses, and culture spots are getting creative and offering cool perks for the vaccinated. Read on for our favorite deals and even details on how to get your shot at two of our favorite kid-friendly museums, plus the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.

35 Great Summer Kids Movies for Family Movie Night

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 05/20/2021 - 9:34am

Set up a backyard projector and watch a summer movie outside.

Summer isn't just beach days and summer camp and baseball games. It's also beach movies and summer camp movies and baseball movies! The summer months are a time for blockbuster releases in the theaters, but it's also a great time to snuggle up after a day at the beach or camp to watch classic kids movies that leave everyone ready for more summer adventures.

So with the school year wrapping up and everyone ready for some summer fun, queue up these kid-pleasers on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, or Hulu—and don’t forget the movie snacks. For more movies to keep your family from now until Christmas (and beyond), be sure to check out our list of the 50 best kids' movies of all time.

11 Fun and Easy Star Wars Day Activities for Kids

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Tue, 04/27/2021 - 9:53am

May 4 is designated as Star Wars Day by legions of fans across the globe. Whether your kids are die-hard Star Wars devotees, or just think Baby Yoda is kinda cute, we’ve got some fun and easy crafts, activities, and snacks to help kids celebrate. Luckily, you don’t have to be a Jedi master to make these ideas come to life. Just gather up your crafting supplies and ingredients—and May the 4th be with you!

So dig out those original Episode 4 DVDs (you know you have them!). Kids can watch while wearing Baby Yoda ears, drinking Bantha Blue Milk, and snacking on Princess Leia Cupcakes; all found in our Star Wars craft and snack ideas below.

You can find even more crafts and treats for any day of the year in our At-Home Guide for Families.