Jody Mercier

When asked to illustrate her dream job as a first grader, Jody drew a picture of a mom with one kid on each hip and another clinging to her leg. All these years later, that is her reality, raising three kids in New York City. Since that gig only pays in hugs and kisses, she has spent her professional career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting topics. She's currently the regional editor overseeing the Mommy Poppins NYC, New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester sites and can be reached at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

Rockefeller Center at the Holidays: 17 Fun Things To Do This Season Besides the Christmas Tree

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/05/2022 - 5:09pm

Photo-ops abound at Rockefeller Center during the holidays from larger-than-life candy canes, to stunning holiday windows, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree itself.

Rockefeller Center is usually the most crowded place in New York City during the holidays. While the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is the pièce de résistance, there is actually quite a bit for families to do in the area. Rockefeller Center is a great holiday destination with plenty of shopping, dining, and culture for kids of all ages. Include it as part of a holiday windows walk and grab a bite at one of the family-friendly restaurants and finish off your visit with a sweet treat from Magnolia Bakery in Rockefeller Center.

Read on for our picks for the best things to do at Rockefeller Center this winter.

Why Seeing the Radio City Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular is a Holiday Favorite

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 12/02/2022 - 4:00pm

The toe-tapping stars of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are the Radio City Rockettes, who have anchored the show since its 1933 debut. Photo courtesy of the production

I may be partial in my thinking that there's no more magical place to spend the holidays than NYC, and a trip to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes has been a mainstay of my family's seasonal celebrations for more than a decade. There's something special about stepping under that trademark glowing red-and-blue marquee and into the dazzling, dance-fueled production that fills me with Christmas spirit instantly.

The long-running, high-kicking, show-stopping production has wowed audiences since its debut in 1933, and the chance to see the toe-tapping, precision-dancing Radio City Rockettes should be on every family's holiday NYC bucket list. Read on for my take on the crowd-pleaser and find more holiday must-do's in our Guide to the Holidays and Christmas in NYC for Kids.

See the Stunning Christmas Window Displays in NYC: Bloomingdales, Macy's, and More

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/29/2022 - 1:12pm

See the stunning Christmas window displays at Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, and beyond.

Few things signal the holiday season in NYC like the unveiling of the spectacular Christmas window displays at Midtown Manhattan’s department stores. One of our favorite annual traditions, a holiday windows walk is a rite of the Christmas season in NYC. Below we're offering a sneak peek at the glorious Christmas window displays lighting up the city from Bloomingdale's to Macy’s with Bergdorf and Saks in between. Find more stunning holiday lights displays and seasonal things to do in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC, including a profile of American Christmas, the Westchester workshop that has a hand in mounting many of the stunning holiday decorations along Fifth Avenue.

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: How to See the Dyker Heights Lights with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/24/2022 - 1:37pm

The Dyker Heights Christmas lights attract throngs of visitors to the Brooklyn neighborhood each holiday season. Photo by Rosalind Muggeridge

We're over-the-top excited that the awe-inspiring Dyker Heights Christmas lights, aka the "Dyker Lights," are already going up. Annually, the Brooklyn neighborhood mounts block-after-block of stunning holiday lights. It's a joyful exercise in holiday excess that lands it on our list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up. The Dyker Heights Christmas lights annually draw throngs of visitors to gawk at the nightly displays.

Read on for the details on this festive neighborhood-wide installation of holiday cheer, plus tips on the best ways to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Find more can't-miss holiday fun in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC for Families.

NYBG Holiday Train Show: What To Know Before You Go with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 3:59pm

See model trains zooming through a botanical wonderland at the NYBG Holiday Train Show. Photo by Robert Benson Photography/courtesy of the NYBG

The NYBG Holiday Train Show returns for its 31st run in 2022, and this charming holiday installation always ranks high on our list of must-do holiday activities. The addition of the stunning, sprawling holiday light show NYBG Glow makes a seasonal visit to the New York Botanical Garden even sweeter.

Read on for our top tips for visiting the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show with kids, plus all our favorite things to do at NYBG this season. You'll find more top holiday picks for kids in our NYC Kids Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.

Hershey, Pennsylvania with Kids: 22 Things To Do on a Sweet Family Getaway

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 1:09pm

Pose for a post-card worthy photo in front of the Hershey-themed mural at Tru by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue during your stay.

You might think of Hershey, Pennsylvania, with its towering, roller-coaster-filled Hersheypark as a summer-only destination, but family travel to the sweetest place on earth is always in season. Located in the south-central region of the state, Hershey, Pennsylvania, is an easy road-trip destination from the New York metro area and Philidelphia and has enough family-friendly entertainment and candy-fueled fun to leave your kids asking for a return trip. Here are our top things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania with kids.

Find more fun family road trip destinations, like nearby Harrisburg, in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

20 Things To Do Thanksgiving Weekend in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/14/2022 - 7:37pm

The Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East transforms SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. Photo courtesy of the festival

The Thanksgiving holiday break is nearly here, and while Thursday is likely filled with giant helium balloons and hearty portions of Thanksgiving dinner, you're going to need more things to do Thanksgiving weekend to keep kids and guests entertained after everyone's stuffed.

From only-in-NYC experiences to fun must-do holiday happenings and a slew of kid-friendly shows, we've rounded up 20 fun things to do Thanksgiving weekend in NYC.

Wonderland Dreams Invites Guests to Fall Down the Rabbit Hole and Embrace a Unique Art Experience

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/07/2022 - 5:18pm

Fun, playful photo-ops await at the immersive art experience Wonderland Dreams.

Immersive art experiences have been popping up all over town in the past year, but the new Wonderland Dreams exhibit that's taken over a cavernous Midtown space is like nothing we've ever seen before. This Alice in Wonderland-inspired canvas is brought to life by the magical brushstrokes of artist Alexa Meade. Its sprawling 30-room walk-through is full of colorful props, stunning photo-ops, and inspiring backdrops that left us smiling long after we left the exhibit.

Read on for more details of our visit to Wonderland Dreams and bookmark our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for more kid-friendly art adventures to enjoy.

Latest posts by Jody Mercier

Pages