Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

20 Best Pumpkin Patches near Los Angeles For Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/18/2022 - 11:05am

From local parking lot patches to farms near Los Angeles, here's where to find your perfect pumpkin.

Looking for pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, specifically ones where you can go pumpkin picking? The Great Pumpkin is awfully spoiled for choice around the Southland. To find the perfect pumpkin patch near Los Angeles for your family, you've got some decisions to make, because they run the gamut from small to large, folksy to commercial. There are festival-type pumpkin patches with extra activities, farms where kids can do their own pumpkin picking, and smaller pumpkin patches in every neighborhood in town. Pick a pumpkin, snap a Halloween photo, and maybe even take a pony ride at one of these 2022 pumpkin patches.

Find a corn maze near LA and more things to do in Los Angeles in the fall in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids. And if a pumpkin patch visit is your first foray into Halloween festivities this year, you definitely want to find all the best Los Angeles Halloween activities in our Los Angeles Halloween Guide.

Along Came a Spider Pavilion: Big Spiders Are Back at the Natural History Museum

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 10:02am

Spiders are the stars at the Natural History Museum.

The spiders are back! It's time to say buh-bye to the beautiful butterflies of the Butterfly Pavilion to make room for their slightly spookier friends. Every fall, the Spider Pavilion takes over the space on the Natural History Museum’s South Lawn and turns it into the seasonal home to more free-range, eight-legged tenants than anyone in his right mind could want. The Spider Pavilion is an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare and an eight-year-old boy’s version of heaven.

The Spider Pavilion is the perfect fall outing, if you're looking to branch out beyond the typical pumpkin patch or corn maze. For even more spooky, creepy, crawlie fun, visit our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

Disneyland for Halloween: Oogie Boogie Bash, Trick-or-Treating, and More Magic at Halloween Time

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 11:30am

It's a tough call which kids love more, Disneyland or Halloween—so giving them Halloween and Disneyland together is the ultimate parenting slam dunk. With anything Disney, of course, getting the most out of the experience takes some planning ahead. What's right for your family? Halloween Time in Disneyland, the super-popular Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, or a combination of the two? Since the Oogie Boogie nighttime extravaganza sells out months in advance, if you're reading this in September your decision is partially made up—though it's never too early to start a plan for next year!

Read on to find out everything that is special about a trip to Disneyland Resort at Halloween time, and all the ways that Halloween makes the happiest place on Earth even happier.

Everglades Airboat Tours: Take a Boat Ride To See the Alligators in the Florida Everglades

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 08/07/2022 - 3:00pm

Photo courtesy of Everglades Alligator Farm

Florida's Everglades are world famous—mostly for alligators, but there is more to this enormous wildlife area than big toothy reptiles. Everglades National Park's swamps and mangroves cover 1.5 million acres of South Florida, with the broader Everglades region extending many miles beyond that. A full vacation exploring the waterways of the Everglades is a tropical treat, but there are also easy options for day trips from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Armed with the right info, an airboat ride through the Everglades to greet a few alligators can be an easy and exciting afternoon outing.

Butterfly World in Coconut Creek: Why Kids Love this South Florida Bug Zoo

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 07/08/2022 - 2:23pm

Of the many glorious ways there are to enjoy nature in South Florida, Butterfly World is one of our family's favorites. We might not always agree on going to the beach or taking a hike, but from grandparents to toddlers we all love spending an afternoon in a cloud of butterflies at this relaxing and beautiful spot in Tradewinds Park.

Looking for more ideas for things to do in South Florida? Check out our picks for things to do this weekend!

61 Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles this Summer

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 06/17/2022 - 10:06am

Travel Town is open, free, and waiting for your little conductor. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Summer means not a care in the world—except how to pay for all the endless fun, which is why we've amassed this giant list of free things to do with kids in Los Angeles in the summer. Become an expert on how long your kids can get in free to Southland activities. Hit all the free museum days. And then start working your way down this list of totally free things to do with kids over the summer!

Want some ideas for free summer fun at home? Check out our Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas: 100 (Mostly) Free Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids.

Father’s Day in Los Angeles: 25 Fun Things To Do with Dad on Father's Day 2022

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 06/05/2022 - 11:07am

Spend Father's Day at Dodgers Stadium. Photo by Alejandro De La Cruz /CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

There are loads of things to do on Father's Day in Los Angeles; the trick is figuring out what the dad at your house really wants. It's his day—you want to surprise him with something special and unexpected, like zipping through the treetops, driving his dream car, or indulging in a little tee time. If you want this Father's Day weekend to revolve around something more exciting than a new tie, check out our ideas for dad-friendly and kid-friendly Father's Day activities that he just might not see coming. We guarantee there are some Father's Day events on our list you hadn't thought of (and some you hadn't even heard of!).

To start dad's day with something sweetly homemade, check out our list of 15 Father's Day Crafts and Gifts That Kids Can Make, then keep him laughing all day with some corny dad jokes. However you celebrate, Happy Father's Day from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

The Coolest (Mostly) Free Sprinkler Parks and Splash Pads in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 9:16am

One of the coolest spots in town is by the beach, a beach playground, and a pool. Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Community Beach House, Facebook

Free and fabulous splash pads in Los Angeles can be found at many parks and playgrounds across the city— and some of them are open year-round. Entire playgrounds (plus a few swimming pools and wading pools) are dedicated to ways to keep it cool with plenty of fountains, geysers, pumps, and water sprayers. Kids adore these spraygrounds and splash pads, and parents love the fact that they're a great way to beat the heat without a drive to a favorite beach (not to mention, the car won't get all sandy!).

If a pool or a water park sounds like too much work (or too expensive), cool those kids down at one of these (mostly) free splash pads. And check out all our wet and wild favorites in our Guide to the Best Pools and Splash Pads in Los Angeles.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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