Rachael Cherry

Latest posts by Rachael Cherry

Best Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend in Houston with Kids

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 04/30/2021 - 6:13pm

Photo courtesy of The Dr. Seuss Experience Tour

It's all sunshine and smiles as the school year draws to a close this May, and the increase in events this month certainly reflects Houstonians desire to get outdoors and enjoy new experiences. There are some pretty awesome outdoor activities you can enjoy with the kids right now, too, like visiting one of Houston's many petting zoos, checking out the Dr. Seuss Experience Tour, or visiting some of the Houston hotel pools that offer day passes for families.

This month also sees us celebrating all of the amazing moms and mother figures in our lives. We recommend booking a delectable brunch for Mom and checking out our list of Mother's Day gifts that she actually wants this year! To commemorate all of our fallen service members, the City of Friendswood is putting on a Memorial Day Celebration and Sugar Land is hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony.

As we gear up for summer and lazy days at the pool and beach, now is also the time to start thinking about re-introducing swim lessons, so we rounded up a host of different venues that offer swim classes for kids.

Keep reading for a taste of all this month has to offer, and bookmark our event calendar to stay up to date, as we are continually adding new events. You can also subscribe to our Mommy Poppins Houston newsletter to have all the latest and greatest Mommy Poppins has to offer delivered to your inbox. The best part? It's FREE!

20 Houston Parks with Lots of Shade on a Hot Summer Day

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 04/23/2021 - 11:47pm

Feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park

Being outside pretty much tops our to-do list every day, and we're constantly going from one activity to the next, be it to a neighborhood splashpad, a nearby playground, or a park with plenty of trails for biking. Basically, staying inside all day isn't an option; we would all go stir crazy! With summer and hot sun upon us, I am more aware of which places offer some shade so we can get outside and still beat the heat... even if only for a few minutes. Here are some great parks in Houston that offer at least a moderate respite from the brutal summer temps.

Sleepaway Summer Camps for Houston Kids

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 03/31/2021 - 9:00am

If there's one thing I remember distinctly about my childhood summers, it's summer camp. Sleepaway camps are great for fostering independence in children, who will leave with lifelong memories and hopefully at least summer-long skills. Houston families have a lot of options for sleepaway summer camps where kids can stay overnight, and most of these are just an hour or two away from the city.

We rounded up a bunch of sleepaway summer camps that are all about two hours or less from the Houston area. Most of the camps offer week-long stays for campers, with a couple offering shorter or longer stints as well. All of them promise to give your kids a hefty dose of fun and memories to last a lifetime. And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings.

The Best Birthday Cakes for Kids Are at these Houston Bakeries

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 7:03am

Whether it's a multi-tiered masterpiece of fondant or a tower of personalized cupcakes, birthday parties with standout birthday cakes are having their day. And while showpiece cakes were already a thing before COVID, with socially distant and virtual parties on the rise, securing a birthday cake that doubles as a centerpiece is becoming an even bigger deal.

The good news is that Houston is home to some of the best cake bakeries around, but that also makes for a lot (we mean a lot) of exceptional bakeries to choose from. Narrowing down which one to choose for your next party can be downright overwhelming.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, we selected a handful of our absolute favorite bakeries from each part of town, ensuring that you get an incredible looking and delectable tasting cake and you get to support a local business. Find yourself in a pinch and need something on the fly? We also included a couple of chains that consistently deliver quality cake!

Find more party ideas in our Birthday Party Guide for Houston Families.

What’s Open in Houston for Kids Right Now

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 02/10/2021 - 1:47pm

The hang gliding simulator is open at the Lone Star Flight Museum. Photo by Ashley Jones

We're open! Kind of. By now we've all heard and mourned the news of Rodeo officially deciding to shut down this year, which raises all sorts of questions about other openings and subsequent closures, especially as businesses open their doors and then have to backtrack. To help mitigate that, we've rounded up everything we can find that's open in Houston right now, from playgrounds to museums to entertainment and more, to help take the guesswork out of where to go and what to do.

We've all learned how much things can change without notice, of course, so please double check before loading the car. But one thing we can't stress enough: these businesses need our help! If you can safely support them, we know they will be forever grateful.

Ziplines, Aerial Adventures, and Treetop Adventure Parks for Houston Families

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 02/05/2021 - 5:23pm

For all you families with budding adrenaline junkies, we have the perfect experience queued up for your weekend: ziplining! Riding a zipline through the air, flying above the treetops, and taking in a birds-eye view of your surroundings makes ziplining and other aerial adventures the ultimate (safe!) thrill-seeking experience for kids and adults alike. Treetop adventure parks also lay out some heart-pumping challenges in magical surroundings. We've rounded up a few different locations around Houston that offer family-friendly aerial adventures that will take your weekend activities from ordinary to sky-high.

Find yourself looking for even more adrenaline-inducing activities? Be sure to check out our favorite locations with outdoor go-karts or indoor trampoline parks. As a bonus, some of the trampline parks have mini ropes' courses and ziplines for kids who want to test out a pint-sized version of an aerial obstacle course before tackling the full experience.

Best Things To Do in Houston in February with Kids: Puppets, Shows, and Daddy Daughter Dances

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 01/29/2021 - 6:26pm

Get dolled up for date night! Photo courtesy of Sweet & Sassy

Love is in the air this month and to celebrate we're sharing some of the things we love to do in Houston.

First up on the list: visiting some of the awesome museums in the Bayou City for FREE. Houston is home to a plethora of museums and many of them offer free museum admission days... or are free every day! Get out and support your local museums with a visit to show your love for the culture and creativity they bring to our city. And speaking of museums, did you see the newest museum installation in Houston? Seismique Interactive Art Museum offers a unique and creative way for your fam to spend the day and let your imaginations run wild. We highly recommend checking this new space out!

We are also loving family road trips to break up the monotony of being at home, and these six Texas destinations have the potential for snow during the winter months. As an added bonus, even if there isn't snow there are lots of cool things to see at all of these hotspots, like infamous Cadillac Ranch and the stunning views of Big Bend National Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Finally, we always love a good indoor play space, but they become especially crucial during the colder months. Houston is home to so many great ones, and they have all taken plenty of precautions to provide a safe way for your kids to get out of the house and burn off some energy.

For even more Houston fun this month, check out our winter bucket list post and subscribe to our FREE Mommy Poppins Houston newsletter to get the latest news and activities delivered to your inbox.

Now let's check out what's on tap for February!

Where To Find Snow in Texas: 6 Places Families Can Drive in Winter To See Snow

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 01/08/2021 - 7:00am

Snow in Texas? Say it ain't so! While us Houstonians are used to mild winters that rival most other states autumn season, there are places in Texas that actually do get a little dusting of snow during the colder months. If your winter bucket list includes seeing snow within our great state, then rest assured that you can make it happen! All it takes is a little weekend road trip spent driving to higher elevation and the right timing and your kids can indulge in snowball fights and snow angels during the day and hot chocolate by the fire at night.

Where in Texas, you might ask? We've rounded up 6 areas of the state that offer the perfect little snow-filled weekend getaway.