Ulster County

Fall Festival Fun in Lower Hudson Valley: Apples, Crafts, Petting Zoos

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 5:00pm

Leaf peeping, apple picking and cider doughnuts! Yep, autumn is a beautiful, festive time of year in the Hudson Valley, offering plenty of fun seasonal things for kids to do, including hitting up some of the area's best fall events. We recently rounded up our favorite fall festivals in Westchester County, and now we're heading beyond the county lines to highlight even more wonderful kid-friendly fests.

Expect traditional activities like hayrides, pumpkin painting and live entertainment, as well as more elaborate celebrations, such as the 16th-century-themed New York Renaissance Faire. All these festivals make for a fantastic day trip. Looking for more ideas? Sign up for our newsletters.

Splurge List: Where Westchester Families Can Be VIPs

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Thu, 08/04/2016 - 10:00am

We spend a lot of time helping you find the most affordable fun in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley, but we also know you and your kids deserve a splurge every now and then. If you’re looking to feel like a VIP, check out some of these local family-friendly splurges that are worth the extra price. Big bonus: Many of these high-end excursions are still cheaper than your run-of-the-mill equivalents in the city.

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest and greatest children’s activities in our area!

FREE Fishing Derbies for Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley Kids

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Sat, 05/21/2016 - 10:00am

“I betcha’ goin’ fishin’ all the time, baby goin’ fishing’ too …”

With much respect to Taj Mahal, taking kids fishing can be an, ahem, interesting experience if they lack the needed patience. Fishing derbies, however, can be an ideal initiation to the sport.
At a kids' fishing derby, lakes or ponds are typically stocked with easily caught fish, increasing the chances your son or daughter will have success. We’ve gathered details about some upcoming fishing derbies in Westchester and the surrounding Lower Hudson Valley — all of which are FREE!

Looking for more tips for fishing with kids in Westchester? We’ve got you covered. If you’ve slacked on getting a license, you can also take advantage of one of New York State’s Free Fishing Days.

12 Drop-In Kid Spots in the Lower Hudson Valley

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Wed, 01/20/2016 - 10:00am

Whether you’re in need of a date night, or your kids just want some evening fun, there are many places in the Lower Hudson Valley that host Kid or Teen Nights. Great for some solo adult time, these places offer either drop-in (no parents or pre-registration required) or drop-off play (parents not required but pre-registration may be). Some of these facilities have irregular program dates, so contact the location for the most recent schedule.

Looking for places that offer drop-in and drop-off play in Westchester? We have you covered. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to keep up to date with all of the best places to play in the area.

10 Best Holiday Things To Do with Kids in the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Tue, 12/08/2015 - 7:25pm

There are only so many weekends left in December left to celebrate the holiday season, which can put some pressure on parents. Just which kind of family fun is worth the trip and your time? Fret not, for Mommy Poppins has come up with a list of our 10 favorite things to do with kids in the Lower Hudson Valley during the holiday season.

We’ve already told you our favorite things to do with kids in Westchester during the holiday season, and now we’re going to turn our attention to the rest of the area. All of these family-friendly attractions are worth the drive and are a great way to explore the counties around Westchester. Check out our Holiday Guide for more Christmas and Hanukkah fun, or our Event Calendar for the latest doings. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to share what you’ve done!

Thanksgiving Fun Runs: Kid-Friendly Turkey Trots in the Lower Hudson Valley

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Sat, 11/07/2015 - 10:00am

A turkey trot can be a fun way to get the kids out of the house Thanksgiving morning—and get out some energy! Many of these fun runs are held in support of a charity, so there’s the added bonus of doing a good deed while you “earn” that extra slice of pumpkin pie.

We've already highlighted some of the best kid-friendly turkey trots in Westchester, and now we’re turning our attention to the rest of the Lower Hudson Valley. Be sure to check out our Holiday Guide for even more Thanksgiving ideas for families, and keep up to speed with our November GoList.

Lower Hudson Valley Destination Playground: Hasbrouck Park in New Paltz

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Tue, 10/20/2015 - 10:00am

The leaves may be turning and the weather getting chillier, but this doesn’t mean kids have any less any energy. During our travels around the Lower Hudson Valley in search of fall fun, we checked out the Hasbrouck Park playground in New Paltz to see if it’s worth the trip and destination playground status.

We’ve already told you about the many cool things to do in New Paltz, and we’re pleased to add this playground as yet another reason for families to head up to Ulster County.

Day Trips: 5 Family-Friendly Destinations Close to Westchester

Submitted by Christi O'Donnell on Fri, 07/31/2015 - 8:00am

Westchester is full of wonderful things to do, from fantastic county pools to family-friendly museums and so much more. Even so, summer time lends itself to family outings and many use lazy summer days to escape for a day and take in the sights of a nearby town. With New York City to our South, Connecticut to our East, Rockland County to our West and the more rural counties of Dutchess and Ulster to our North, it is easy to hop in the car (or on a bus or a train or even in a boat!) and find whole new towns to explore. Using central Westchester as our starting point, we've rounded up 5 great small-town destinations—all of which are under 2 hours away!

STEAM Camps in Lower Hudson Valley: Kids Can Invent All Summer

Submitted by Lisa Johnston on Wed, 06/03/2015 - 12:00pm

Children are born inventors and explorers; that's why STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art and math) are so popular. Whether it’s digging through muddy streams to see what lives there, building and battling Lego robots, or writing nature-inspired poetry, the best STEAM-focused camps know how to engage kids by always keeping things fun. (Summer break is no time for worksheets.)

A few weeks ago, we rounded up STEAM classes and camps in Westchester; now we’re examining the offerings in the lower Hudson Valley area. Don’t forget to browse our Summer Camp Guide to find out about additional enriching programs.

Special Needs-Friendly Ski Resorts Near NYC: Adaptive Winter Sports Programs for Kids of Different Abilities

Submitted by Michaela on Sun, 02/02/2014 - 10:00am

Winter is a wonderful season for outdoor fun—just ask my three young snow-loving kids. In fact, there are so many fantastic skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing resorts near New York City, it's difficult to choose.

But since I'm also a mom to a teenager with special needs who isn't into winter sports, that makes our decision all the more challenging. He is both physically and cognitively disabled, and the thought of struggling onto lifts, into gear, up hills and through crowds doesn't appeal to him—not to mention the possibility of wiping out. So my family needs a resort that's able to accommodate children of all ages as well as abilities.

Happily, there are some amazing adaptive winter sports programs at resorts within a few hours of NYC, and some are low cost or even FREE. Here are five ski programs for special needs families.