Mommy Poppins

3-Day Itinerary in Hot Springs, VA: The Perfect Winter Getaway with Kids at the Omni Homestead Resort

Stephanie Shipman — 02/13/2026

Hot Springs, Virginia is less than a four-hour drive west of DC proper, but it feels like a world away. Home to what it is named for—a natural warm spring that even families can enjoy—it's a great place to escape to in the winter.

In Hot Springs, families can explore nature preserves and overlooks, take in a concert at the local music center, and enjoy plenty of snow sports like skiing, tubing, and snowboarding. Spring and summer are also popular times to visit, but there is something for everyone to enjoy in the town in the winter.

Read ahead for the perfect winter weekend itinerary in Hot Springs, VA. Then check out our DC Winter Day Trips Guide for more winter family fun.

Hot Springs, Virginia is less than a four-hour drive west of DC proper, but it feels like a world away. Home to what it is named for—a natural Warm Spring that even families can enjoy—it's a great place to escape to in the winter.

Read ahead for the perfect winter weekend itinerary in Hot Springs, VA. Then check out our DC Winter Day Trips Guide for more winter family fun.

25 Free Things To Do Indoors in Atlanta: Free Places To Play Indoors on Rainy Days

Melanie Preis — 10/09/2026

Free indoor activities in Atlanta are a must as the wacky weather settles in, since having reliable FREE things to do indoors in your back pocket is crucial. Things to do indoors in Atlanta help parents keep the party going no matter what's happening outside.

Hurricane Isaias is approaching Atlanta, and as you may have noticed, many outdoor weekend events have already been cancelled. Free indoor activities in Atlanta are a must as the wacky weather settles in, since having reliable FREE things to do indoors in your back pocket is crucial. Free things to do indoors in Atlanta help parents keep the party going no matter what's happening outside, without a hit to the wallet. Here are some of our favorite free things to do with kids when its rainy, icy, snowy, or some type of combination that haunts Atlanta. Just make sure you can safely drive there!

Awesome Free Indoor Things to Do in Atlanta: At a Glance

Best Indoor Spot for Toddlers: Libraries
Best Indoor Spot for Kids: Bowling and Skating Rinks
Best Indoor Spot for Teens: Ponce City Market
Best Indoor Spot for Parents: Anywhere with coffee

For more free fun in Atlanta, check out our Free Things To Do with Kids Guide and sign up for our newsletters to get info delivered straight to your inbox.

Old Town Alexandria Spooky Itinerary: Soak Up the Halloween Vibes in Old Town

Jennifer Marino Walters — 10/09/2026

With historic brick-lined streets, homes and businesses that go all out with decorations, epic trick-or-treating and events, and spooky ghost tours, Old Town Alexandria is the perfect Halloween destination for families. Whether you're looking for festive fun for toddlers and young kids or serious spooks for older kids and teens, Old Town truly brings the vibes of the season.

Put on the kids' costumes and follow my itinerary for a perfect Halloween-themed day in Old Town Alexandria with kids. You'll see why the neighborhood always makes our lists of the best places to trick-or-treat near DC and our favorite places to see Halloween decorations near DC—both of which you'll find in our Halloween Fun Guide for DC Kids.

Best Halloween Parades in New York City for Kids in 2026

Drew Kristofik — 10/09/2026

There's nothing quite like a Halloween parade in NYC. Here are our top picks, ranging from the iconic Village Halloween Parade to the smaller, kid-friendly neighborhood Halloween parades.

There's nothing quite like a neighborhood Halloween parade in NYC, from the iconic Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan to the smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood Halloween parades, including the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade, the famed Park Slope march, and the Hippo Playground Halloween Parade for little ones.

My family is especially into pet parades and costume contests that allow dogs to line up in fantastic outfits in Carl Schurz Park and beyond.

If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating neighborhood, these Halloween parades in NYC are a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another neighborhood. Find more 2026 Halloween fun in our New York City Kids Halloween Hub, which includes our picks for the best FREE Halloween events in NYC.

Keep in mind, in case of rain, some parades may be postponed or canceled. As always, click through to each event's website before heading out.

My Top 5 Halloween Parades, At-a-Glance:

Best Parade to Hang with Mommy Poppins: Seaport Halloween + Kids Food Fest
Best for Little Marchers: Children's Halloween Parade in Washington Square Park
Best for Post-Parade Fun: Dumboween
Best for Kids Who Also Love Vehicles: Sutton Spooktacular
Best Pre-Parade Crafts: Costume Contest and Mini Halloween Parade at Old Stone House

Read on for all my weekend picks below!

– Drew and the whole New York City team

44 Best Things To Do in Hoboken with Kids, According to a Local Mom

Joanna Luisi — 10/09/2026

The best things to do in Hoboken with kids, straight from a local mom. Playgrounds, activities, and family favorites worth the trip.

Just across the Hudson River from NYC, Hoboken is a hidden gem for families. At just over one square mile, it’s incredibly walkable, which is great because parking can be challenging! Local mom tip: bring a scooter for kids under 7. Those little legs will thank you!

The city is packed with charm, beautiful parks, incredible NYC skyline views, great food, and plenty of family-friendly things to do. I’ve called Hoboken home for 17 years and am raising my two daughters, ages 10 and 6, here. Over the years, we’ve explored just about every corner of our hometown, from outdoor playgrounds and indoor saviors to family-friendly restaurants and unique kids’ activities that are constantly popping up.

Whether you’re visiting Hoboken with kids for the day or you're a local looking for something new to do with your crew, I’ve rounded up some of our family's favorites. Consider this your local-mom guide to making the most of the Mile Square City.

Find more local spots to explore in our Kids Guide to Northern New Jersey.

Hoboken, New Jersey, At-a-Glance

My favorite thing to do here with kids: Visit the Hoboken Public Library, play at Church Square Park, then grab lunch or dinner at Onieals
Top attraction: Pier A! You really can’t beat that NYC skyline view—It never gets old
Favorite FREE activity: Checking out all the amazing Halloween decorations—Halloween is a big deal here
Insider tip: Hoboken is incredibly walkable, so park once and explore on foot

Outhouse Orchards vs. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard: Which North Salem Fall Festival Is Best for Kids?

Hannah Black — 10/09/2026

I visited both fall festivals on Hardscrabble Road in North Salem to find out which is the better pick for families, from the cider donuts to the crowds.

Drive down Hardscrabble Road in North Salem, New York, an area locals call “Apple Valley,” and you’ll find two apple orchards facing each other across the street. On one side is Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, and on the other is Outhouse Orchards. Both grow apples, both host fall festivals, and both sell great cider donuts, which raises an obvious question: Which one should my family choose?

I did some digging and visited both festivals to find out. The Montagues and Capulets they are not, but these two farms do seem locked in a friendly rivalry, and families get two fall festivals out of it. Read on for my take on which one is best and why, from the cider to the crowds.

Apple Valley Fall Festivals, At-a-Glance:

Best Overall: Outhouse Orchards Fall Festival
Best Cider Donuts: Outhouse Orchards
Smallest Crowds: Fall Friday Nights at Outhouse Orchards
Best for Babies and Toddlers: Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, with its harvest train, farm hoppers, and baby-changing station
Best Coffee Stop: The indoor cafe at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in Manayunk

Brenda Hillegas — 10/09/2026

Just outside Center City, along the Schuylkill, sits one of Philadelphia's most charming neighborhoods: Manayunk. It's packed with restaurants, year-round festivals, and small businesses worth supporting, and it's an easy trip from Center City via Regional Rail. Chances are you've heard of it, and maybe you've been there, but when was the last time you actually explored Main Street with your kids?

I live in Manayunk, and I'm raising an 8-year-old here, so I know its family-friendly side well. Here are my favorite things to do with kids around Main Street, from playgrounds and restaurants to shops, hobbies, festivals, and art.

Manayunk with Kids, At-a-Glance:

Best Playground: Pretzel Park has newly renovated climbers, slides, and accessible and baby swings, plus a Saturday farmers market right next door.
Best Splash Pad: Neighbors Park pairs a spray ground with a basketball court just blocks off Main Street.
Best Kid-Friendly Menu: Taqueria Amor serves mac and cheese tacos and PB&J and fluff quesadillas made just for little ones.
Best for Music Lovers: Main Street Music lets kids browse records, CDs, and cassette tapes alongside mom and dad's favorites.
Best Year-Round Arts Venue: Venice Island Performing Arts Center hosts kids' theater, weekly music classes, and a summer spray ground.

Manayunk with Kids, At-a-Glance:

Best Playground: Pretzel Park has newly renovated climbers, slides, and accessible and baby swings, plus a Saturday farmers market right next door.
Best Splash Pad: Neighbors Park pairs a spray ground with a basketball court just blocks off Main Street.
Best Kid-Friendly Menu: Taqueria Amor serves mac and cheese tacos and PB&J and fluff quesadillas made just for little ones.
Best for Music Lovers: Main Street Music lets kids browse records, CDs, and cassette tapes alongside mom and dad's favorites.
Best Year-Round Arts Venue: Venice Island Performing Arts Center hosts kids' theater, weekly music classes, and a summer spray ground.

Steal My Itinerary for a Spooky Day in Bayville

Jaime Sumersille — 10/09/2026

From a Gold Coast arboretum to sand-side dining and not-so-scary Halloween thrills, here's how to spend a full fall day in Bayville with kids.

If you’re looking for a perfect day in Bayville with kids, I have a Halloween-season itinerary that packs a surprising amount of fun into one North Shore day.

Bayville Scream Park is the big draw each fall, but there’s much more to this waterfront village than haunted houses. Bayville is a charming North Shore beachfront community nestled on the Long Island Sound, and planning ahead for your visit ensures you get the absolute most out of its coastal vibes.

So grab the kids, leave room for lunch and a waterfront wander, and steal this Bayville family itinerary for your next fall day trip.

Bayville Family Day Trip, At-a-Glance:

Best for Little Explorers: Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, a 409-acre Gold Coast estate in Oyster Bay
Best Free Picnic Spot: Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown, where leashed dogs are welcome
Best Halloween Fun for Kids Under 10: Kids Not-So-Scary Days at Bayville Scream Park
Best Scares for Teens: Bayville Scream Park after dark, with five haunted houses
Best Table in the Sand: Wall’s Wharf in Bayville

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2026 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

Jaime Sumersille — 10/09/2026

These are the best family-friendly events and activities on Long Island to add to your list for Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend.

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the long weekend.

This weekend, Long Island is packed with fall fun, from not-so-spooky Halloween adventures to one of the island’s biggest fall festivals.

I especially love the Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure at Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse for younger kids who want a little Halloween excitement without the scary stuff, which is a playful, daytime walk-through filled with friendly creatures, tricks, and treats. For a classic fall day out, head to Huntington for the Long Island Fall Festival, where you’ll find carnival rides, live entertainment, food, vendors, and plenty of family-friendly fun spread throughout Heckscher Park.

My Top Picks for This Weekend, At a Glance

Best Free Nature Adventure: Long Pond Greenbelt Celebration
Most Fun Family Challenge: Bubble Run at Jones Beach
Best for Tweens & Teens: Halloween Spooktacular at Sweetbriar Nature Center
Best for Little Advocates: AdvoKids: Indigenous People’s Day at LICM
Coolest All-in-One Fall Festival: Town of Hempstead Fall Festival

Read on for all my top weekend picks below!

– Jaime and the whole Long Island team

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2026 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do with Kids

Maureen Wilkey — 10/09/2026

These are the best family-friendly events and activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend.

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Families can enjoy carnival rides throughout the holiday weekend at the annual Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival, which also features a parade and live music. Alternatively, enjoy fall farm festivities all weekend long, including hayrides, live music, kids' activities, and cider and donuts, at Muscoot Farm's Pumpkin Picking Weekend.

For some early Halloween fun, check out the Sleepy Hollow Paddleboarding Witches Festival, which also includes vendors, food trucks, live music, and a ride-by from the Headless Horseman. In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, learn about some of the original inhabitants of the Westchester area at a Lenape Indigenous Peoples Day presentation at the historic St. Paul's Church.

My Top Picks This Weekend, at a Glance:

Best Indigenous Peoples Day Activity: The Lenape: Indigenous Peoples Day Presentation at St. Paul's Church
Best Event for Little Kids: Trick-or-Treating at Hilltop Hanover Farm
Top Event for Tweens and Teens: Mystic Moon Halloween Walkthrough at Harvest Moon Farm
Hidden Gem We Can't Wait to Check Out: Sugar Loaf Fall Festival
Best FREE Event: Warwick Children's Book Festival

Read on for all my picks below!

– Maureen and the Whole Westchester & Hudson Valley Team