Melanie Preis

Melanie Preis is a writer, editor, wife, and mom of three (including her beloved bernedoodle). Before joining Mommy Poppins, she worked at StyleBlueprint, Turner Broadcasting, and HowStuffWorks. She loves reading, anything Bravo, art fairs, and, of course, her bernedoodle.

Latest posts by Melanie

Best Amusement Parks in Georgia for Family Fun

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 05/08/2022 - 10:05am

Wild Adventures, in Valdosta, Georgia, welcomes families of all ages for a day of thrills and fun. Photo courtesy of Wild Adventures

Amusement parks in Georgia provide hours of fun and entertainment for residents and visitors alike. Whether families need an activity for the long summer days, host a birthday party or private event at the ultimate fun site, or satisfy the cravings of thrill-seekers, Georgia amusement parks have it all! Usually open from spring to fall, these theme parks are a great time for families of all ages—teens may enjoy riding intense roller coasters with friends; younger kids can enjoy games, tamer rides, and entertaining live shows.

Want to go beyond amusement parks in Georgia? Enjoy year-round fun at Indoor Pools and Water Parks or go the tamer route take a swing and play a round of Mini Golf in Atlanta.

Atlanta Restaurants with Outdoor Seating and Great Patios

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 04/17/2022 - 10:33am

Restaurants with outdoor seating like Nina & Rafi offer delicious food and great ambience. Photo by Atlys Media

Dining out in Atlanta is truly "dining out" at these fabulous restaurants with outdoor seating! Eating al fresco with the fam has so many fun benefits besides tasty food—enjoy nature, allow kids to get their wiggles out, play games (like cornhole and Jenga), and jam out to live music if available.

Patios at restaurants with outdoor seating are awesome family dining options almost the whole of the year (winter might be a tough season to sell to the kids). Depending on which restaurant with outdoor seating your family selects, there may be some entertaining people-watching options or musical acts to catch. If your family loves a good restaurant patio, check out this great group of Atlanta restaurants with outdoor seating.

Best Things To Do in Orlando with Kids this Spring: Our Spring Fun List

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 04/15/2022 - 9:12am

Try something new this spring, like a Vintage Amphicar Italian Water Taxi Tours. Photo courtesy of Disney

Spring is finally here and there's so much to do in Orlando! To go along classic spring holiday activities, like Easter egg hunts, Passover seders, Mother's Day brunches, there's a ton of great outdoors events that take advantage of mild temperatures and breezes. Other than some spontaneous thunderstorms and allergy-inducing seasonal pollen, spring has the capacity to create lifelong memories. We've created a fail-safe spring bucket list for your family to follow this season!

Whatever interests your family, spring is the time to try something new and enjoy beloved activities. Outdoorsy families will love hiking, kayaking, swimming, and ziplining; comfortable families will enjoy amusement parks, outdoor patio dining, and peruse farmers markets. It's really hard to go wrong when it comes to the many fairs, festivals, outdoor concerts, and more outdoor events that pop up during an Orlando spring.

Everything's Coming Up Roses at These Stunning Atlanta Gardens

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 04/08/2022 - 8:14am

Atlanta Botanical Gardens always offers a dazzling display of color and beauty.

Atlanta gardens offer the chance to observe and appreciate the wonder that is Mother Nature. Whether bursting with vibrant spring blooms, subdued fall colors, or bright summer florals, each Atlanta garden reminds visitors of the power of plants. The grass is (literally) greener at these Atlanta gardens, where adults and children can enjoy a short visit or spend an entire afternoon.

Before you head out to the Atlanta Botanical Garden or any of the other Atlanta gardens included in our list, make sure to plan ahead. When perusing colorful flowers and stunning Atlanta gardens, wear a comfortable pair of sneakers or outdoorsy shoes. Also, bring sunscreen, insect repellant, hats, water, and snacks (if the kids get fussy). In addition, make the most of your viewing pleasure by packing a pair of binoculars and/or magnifying glass—kids will love examining any surrounding wildlife and foliage.

Cute Orlando Spots for Easter Brunch and Easter Bunny Pictures

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 10:05am

Enjoy a variety of spring activites at Gaylord Palms resort, “Once Upon a Spring”. Photo courtesy of the resort

Dress for the Easter Bunny and let these Orlando restaurants take care of the rest. Several local establishments are serving up a special Easter brunch or dinner menu, and we’ve compiled a list to help you plan your holiday. These Orlando restaurants attract hungry diners for Easter brunch, including the Easter Bunny who may be looking for something better than an old carrot. And speaking of the Easter Bunny...we've also included places to get your Easter photos taken with that fluffy Easter Bunny character!

For families choosing to have an Easter meal at home but don't want the stress of cooking, many Orlando restaurants are offering preorders for Easter pickup. Here are some fun kid-pleasing Easter recipes to try out as well, and kids will love decorating the table with some of these Easter crafts.

Vibrant Orlando Gardens to Discover Color and Beauty

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 03/11/2022 - 10:33am

Albin Polasek Museum Sculpture Garden complements the beauty of art with nature's beauty.

Visiting Orlando gardens is the perfect way to welcome the gorgeous colors of spring. Luckily Orlando is a wonderland of vibrant hues almost every day of the year, and roaming a lovely Orlando garden is a great reminder of the seasonal changes. Wandering among flowers and taking in Mother Nature is the perfect family-friendly activity for all ages.

Enhance your family's garden experience by bringing a picnic lunch and water, and maybe binoculars or magnifying glasses for kids to closely examine blooms and surrounding wildlife. Don't forget sunscreen and hats for protection against the sun, as well as insect repellant and comfy walking shoes.

Fun Orlando Summer Camps for Preschoolers

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 7:24am

Orlando Science Center's preschool camp entertains and educates. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez, courtesy of OSC

Every child deserves to have a great camp experience, including little ones with big plans this summer. Summer camp for preschoolers involves fun, active programming, reliable leadership, and creative camp themes. Luckily, Orlando is full of awesome summer camps perfect for preschoolers!

Mommy Poppins knows how tough it can be to manuever the long lists of Orlando summer camps for preschoolers so we've gathered some excellent camps to peruse. Taking into consideration the needs of Orlando's youngest campers, we've collected camps that will be great options. So pack that sunscreen, fill up the water bottles, and label the swimsuits —it's time to take a look at preschool camps near Orlando!

Need more summer camp ideas? Check out our Orlando Summer Camp Guide and get lots of wonderful ideas and leads on the perfect camp for your kiddos!

Atlanta Food Halls That Really Hit the Spot

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 02/18/2022 - 8:00am

Cheers to the variety of food options available at Ponce City Market (PCM)!

Let Atlanta's great food hall expansion continue! Whether you live ITP or OTP, we guarantee there is a food hall in your vicinity...or at least one about to open. Atlanta seems to be going through a food hall renaissance, with delicious spots intown as well as in the surburbs. And these delicious food halls are perfect for families, especially those with picky eaters, varying dietary needs, and kids who just need to move around in a big space at mealtime!

So what is a food hall? It's sort of an elevated version of the mall food court you may have hung out in your teens, except better and more creative cuisine, upscale setting, and no Orange Julius. Or think of it as mini restaurants built as individual stalls? However you define them, food halls offer hungry patrons a chance to eat amazing dishes from a variety of chefs in a centralized locale.

Here in Atlanta, kid-friendly food halls offer both indoor and outdoor seating at large tables —great for meeting new people or dining in a large group. Some even have communal games, like corn hole and oversized chess sets, that kids can play and safe areas that younger diners can explore while their parents eat. Food halls offer a great opportunity to expose children to different cuisines...and if necessary, bribe them with something sweet as almost every food hall has at least one dessert stall.

Grab your appetite and fork because here's a look at kid-friendly food halls in Atlanta!

Melanie Preis

Latest posts by Melanie

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