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

Where to Take Easter Bunny Pictures in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 03/12/2023 - 10:22am

Take photos with the Easter Bunny at Heaven Hill Farm's annual Easter Egg Festival. Photo courtesy of the farm

Grab your bonnets and bow ties, it's time to plan your annual Easter Bunny pictures in New Jersey. We've got the scoop on where you can meet the long-eared guest of honor and take part in activities like Easter Bunny Easter brunches, farm adventures, trains, zoos, and the Jersey Shore.

Find more great activity ideas in our Easter Guide. There's also plenty more seasonal fun to check out in our Guide to Spring Activities in New Jersey.

Best Summer Camps in Bergen County, New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 03/05/2023 - 8:14am

Campers will roam the trails exploring anywhere they can reach at Tenafly Nature Center Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the nature center

Whether you're seeking a summer camp that provides a performing arts experience, scientific fun, or all-around outdoor adventure, these Bergen County, New Jersey, summer camps cater to all ages and interests. We've rounded up 11 summer camps located in Bergen County that will help your kids have a sensational summer. Summer camp options include full or half days and indoor or outdoor facilities.

For more summer camps in New Jersey, check out our lists of affordable summer camps, the best dance summer 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.

Free in March: Best Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 6:58am

Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center hosts an up-close look at the park's inhabitants each Sunday. Photo courtesy of the center

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

As the season transitions from winter to spring, March is filled with events that don't cost a thing! It's a lucky month for freebies, with St. Patrick's Day events that include Kids' St. Patrick's Celebration and parades in Morris County and Union County among many others.

Get a jump, or hop, on Easter festivities with complimentary events like Strolling Spring Bunny and Belmar Easter Egg Hunt.

Mark your calendars with these 30+ no-cost March 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.

Most Affordable Summer Camps in New Jersey for Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 6:34am

At Tenafly Nature Center Camp, kids experience the natural world. Photo courtesy of the nature center

After a busy school year, kids deserve a stress-free summer of adventure, and now's the time to explore summer camp options. We've rounded up 17 summer day camps in New Jersey that are easy on the wallet but heavy on summer fun. Many of these affordable summer camps let you register by the week or even the day, so you don't have to commit to an entire summer. Other options, like 3-day weeks and half-day summer camps, help to keep costs down. Before- and after-care is available at some of these inexpensive summer camps in New Jersey as well.

The following are some of the most affordable summer camps in New Jersey, and as a bonus, booking soon might help you score cost-saving early bird specials. For more summer camps in New Jersey, such as the best dance summer camps and STEM summer day camps, 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.

14 Best Things To Do in New Jersey in March 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 02/26/2023 - 7:09am

March brings the seasonal opening of Diggerland, where kids can get hands-on with real construction equipment. Photo courtesy of the park

March comes in like a lion with celebrations for Easter, St. Patrick's Day, and other early-spring activities.

Give a (hopefully) warm welcome to the change of seasons in March with the celebration of springtime holidays at events like Kids' St. Patrick's Celebration, DiDonato's Easter EGGspress, and Purim Carnival. Festivals round out a merry March, with The Chocolate Expo 2023 and the 2023 Millburn Lunar New Year Festival.

Find tons more March 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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Presidents Day Weekend 2023: 15 Fun Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 02/15/2023 - 10:16am

Stroll along the mossy paths that lead to a warming bonfire during Presidents Day weekend programming at Whitesbog. Photo courtesy of the trust

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

Happy birthday, George and Abe! It's Presidents Day weekend, and in honor of the presidents and our lovely warm weather, a whole weekend of outdoor fun awaits. There's a FREE Presidents Day tour and hike at Whitesbog and two days of festivities at Trailside. Plus, honor Black History Month in Neptune City, and revel in comfort food at the Mac & Cheese Mayhem Festival in Morristown. And, the love keeps coming with sweet treats and Valentine's Day activities, too.

Find more fun to fill the long weekend, and any additional days off, on our list of 25 things to do over the February Winter Break, and look for more winter fun in our Guide to Winter Fun in New Jersey. If that's not enough, be sure to bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for even more great things to do in New Jersey with kids.

25 Things To Do for February's Winter Break in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 1:27pm

Kids can learn, play, and solve problems in the new Thomas & Friends exhibition at the Liberty Science Center. Photo courtesy of LSC

Looking for things to do during winter break in New Jersey? Read on for more than two dozen terrific options.

Sandwiched between the bustling holiday break and the itching-for-warm-weather spring break falls New Jersey's midwinter February Break. This year, Presidents Day is on Monday, February 20, 2023, and many NJ schoolchildren have a three-day weekend, making it the perfect time for a family outing or family-friendly winter day trip.

Whether you choose to hang indoors at a popular local indoor play space or embrace the winter weather with a snow tubing trip to one of these nearby hills, there's plenty to keep everyone busy over the long weekend. Read on for our picks for the best February Break activities for NJ kids, and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for even more ideas.

Where To Go Maple Sugaring in New Jersey With Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 02/05/2023 - 7:05am

Find out how maples are tapped and try a sample of sweet maple sugar at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for the best places to go maple sugaring in New Jersey? Read on for our guide.

February is a sweet month in New Jersey. Not only do we have Valentine's Day to look forward to—it's also the start of maple sugaring season. Visitors of all ages flock to New Jersey farms and nature centers to learn about the process of maple sugaring, from tapping the maple trees to boiling the sap into delicious syrup. Some events even offer a sweet taste of the end product.

For even more outdoor winter fun, check out our post on where to play outside in NJ, plus find additional seasonal entertainment in our Winter Fun Guide.