Laurie R

Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Laurie

Family-Friendly Bowling Alleys in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 04/11/2023 - 6:56am

Here in New Jersey, there are plenty of bowling alleys that offer year-round fun. There are small-town spots that offer traditional games with modern touches, such as automatic scoring and gutter bumpers. And there are newer, flashier bowling alleys that feature high-tech bells and whistles like interactive games, video walls, and glow ball.

In addition, venues throughout the state often feature bowling alongside laser tag and arcades.

And bowling alleys are an ideal spot for low-maintenance birthday parties, play dates, and weekend day trips.

Easter Weekend 2023: 14 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 04/05/2023 - 7:03am

Love finding Easter eggs like Darwin, the ring-tailed lemur? Head to the egg hunt at Cape May County Zoo and Park. Photo courtesy of the park

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Easter weekend.

Get ready to load up your Easter baskets and your calendars! Easter weekend is here, and the bunny is hopping through New Jersey, stopping by egg hunts at Cape May County Zoo and Park, Liberty Hall, Fanwood, and Cranbury. You can also meet real bunnies at Terhune Orchards' Bunny Trail or spend Easter Sunday at an Easter parade in Historic Smithville or at Jenkinson's.

Grab your baskets and peep our roundup of even more Easter Egg Hunts in New Jersey, or climb aboard Easter Bunny Train Rides in New Jersey. Find other springtime ideas in our Guide to Spring Fun in New Jersey. If that's not enough, bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for even more great things to do in New Jersey with kids.

Free in April: 40 Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 04/02/2023 - 11:46am

Kites of all shapes and sizes soar over the beach in Long Branch at Kites at the Pier Festival. Photo courtesy of Pier Village

Looking for FREE things to do this April in New Jersey? Check out dozens of great options below.

Get out your calendars because April hosts 40 fun free things to do in New Jersey. Bring on the great outdoors with complimentary seasonal favorites, like Annual Kites at the Pier Festival and Essex Cherry Blossom Festival.

Street fairs make their debut in April with FREE events in Red Bank, Stirling, and M illburn. And Earth Day rounds out the month with no-cost events like Cape May Earth Day Celebration and E arth Day 2023.

Mark your calendars with these 40 FREE April events that take place nearly every day of the month. For more FREE fun, check out our Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with NJ Kids, and find more spring happenings in our Family Activity Calendar and Spring Activities Guide.

15 Best Things To Do in New Jersey April 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 03/26/2023 - 7:24am

Celebrate the springtime arrival of the glorious cherry blossoms in Branch Brook Park. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

Spring into April with a jam-packed schedule of things to do, including festivals, shows, and outdoor fun. Easter, Passover, and Earth Day mean there's lots of fun for kids in New Jersey this April!

Signs of spring are popping up everywhere this April, and you can celebrate the season at festivals like the Allentown Daffodil Days Festival, Kites at the Pier in Long Branch, and the annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival.

More fun awaits in April with Easter Egg Hunts statewide and our picks for dozens of gorgeous spring day trips.

Find tons more April fun in our Spring Guide.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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25 Easter Egg Hunts in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 03/24/2023 - 7:16am

Hop on a hayride out to the egg field at Johnson's Corner Farm, where kids can collect eggs to trade for a goody bag. Photo courtesy of the farm

The hunt is on, so grab your Easter basket and head to one of these fabulous Easter egg hunts in New Jersey. Many of these community events are FREE, and some are embellished with hayrides, scavenger hunts, and even Easter Bunny appearances.

We've rounded up more than two dozen Easter egg hunts in New Jersey below, and you can find more holiday activities, like our list of the best Easter Bunny train rides, in our Easter Guide. Find more ways to celebrate the season in our Spring Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids.

37 Spring Festivals in New Jersey for Families

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 6:44am

Enjoy plenty of fun on the farm during Alstede's Easter and Springtime Family Festival. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

It's time to kiss winter goodbye in New Jersey and spring into the outdoor festival and fair season. Spring festivals are blossoming in 2023 and promise tons of family-friendly fun and things to do. From the Skylands Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival to Red Bank's Street Fair to Daffodil Day at Reeves-Reed, these gatherings are a great way to spend time outdoors and experience all spring has to offer.

For more spring action, check out our Guide to Spring Fun in New Jersey for Kids.

All Aboard These Easter Bunny Trains in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 6:31am

The Easter Bunny rides the rails with you on the Black River & Western Railroad's Easter Bunny Express. Photo courtesy of the railroad

Railroads in New Jersey and Pennsylvania mark the Easter holiday by offering exciting opportunities to meet the Easter Bunny while riding the rails. These Easter train rides are a perfect springtime diversion for train-loving kids, and many offer an opportunity to snap Easter Bunny pictures as well. Easter 2023 falls on Sunday, April 9, but the rides start much sooner.

Be sure to get your tickets early; these Easter Bunny trains sell out quickly. Find more picks for the Easter holiday and beyond in our Guide to Spring Activities.

Top Art Summer Camps in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 03/14/2023 - 6:07am

At Artsi Studio, campers learn technique and create paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more. Photo courtesy of the studio

Kids can get their creative juices flowing at summer art camps in New Jersey. Art camps offer the opportunity to explore pottery, drawing, sewing, ceramics, and more, with options for kids as young as preschool up through the teen years. These art camps are located in art schools, museums, and pop-up locations and often can be booked by the week.

For more summer camps in New Jersey, check out our lists of affordable summer camps, Bergen County Camps, and STEM summer day camps, plus bookmark our Guide to Summer Camp in New Jersey and our New Jersey Summer Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by age, interest, and town.