United States Archives - Page 9 of 13

Fun and Free in Manhattan: …

October 10, 2014 By admin

New York City can be a super expensive place to visit but there is never a shortage of free family friendly activities and attractions if you’re in the know. Today I’m showcasing the High Line in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood.

Fun and Free in Manhattan: Explore the High Line in NYC

One of the best places for kids of all ages to take in New York City, the High Line is a public park built on an elevated freight rail line on New York City’s West Side. It begins at Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District and runs up to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. There are several entrances and exits (some with elevators) so you can walk as much or as little as you’re up for. As you stroll along, you’ll find interesting art exhibits, a variety of plants including perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees, and scenic resting spots. It’s also an amazing spots for taking photos so don’t forget your good camera!

Fun and Free in Manhattan: Explore the High Line in NYC

If you don’t love walking through NYC’s busy streets with small children, you’ll love that there are no cars or bikes so kids can freely roam around. It can get very crowded on nice days so I suggest going first thing and then going for lunch (there plenty of options for lunch and snacks on the High Line and surrounding areas). If you’ve got more time, foodies of all ages will want to check out nearby Chelsea Market, fashionistas will love the Meatpacking district and art lovers will want to explore the many area’s art galleries.

If you’re around on Saturday, October 25, join Friends of the High Line for the fourth-annual, family friendly Haunted High Line Halloween celebration. Come in costume and trick-or-treat with characters, make giant art creations and explore a haunted train tunnel.

Have a great weekend!

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Fall Fun: Pumpkin Picking on …

September 18, 2014 By admin

Back-to-school came and went and now its time for Halloween! Pumpkin picking on Long Island is one of my favorite fall activities but if you wait too long, the pumpkins are picked over and the crowds are crazy. So, pick a weekend (between September 20 and November 2) and head over to Fink’s Country Farm on Eastern Long Island. It’s not too far from the Riverhead outlets so if you’re feeling ambitious you might come home with pumpkins and a few new outfits!

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Pumpkin Picking at Fink’s Farm on Long Island

You’ll want to get there as early as you can (like 9 ish) to avoid crowds and get the best photo ops and pumpkins. The $13.25 admission price includes unlimited access to the Fall Festival weekend activities including Hay Rides, 7-Acre Corn Maze, Pig Races, Animal Farm, Barnyard Bouncer, Corn Crib, Live Music and more. Additional attractions are available for an extra charge including Pony Rides, Face Painting, Fall Photos, U-Pick Pumpkins on the vine, Kiddie Train, Corn Cannon and Pumpkin Slingshot. There are plenty of picnic tables and the food stand serves soups, sandwiches, hot dogs, roasted corn on the cob (delish!) and beverages (get the hot apple cider). The food line was really long the day we went so be prepared to wait or pack a picnic and snacks. Bathrooms are plentiful but they are port-a-potties (I know, I know) and there is an area for diaper changing.

If you’ve got older kids, you might want to bring a flashlight and check out the Spookie Flashlight Maze from 7:30 – 10 pm on October 25th. There is also a regular Flashlight Maze on October 18 from 7:30 – 10pm. And if you visit on Sunday, October 26th there will be trick-or-treating.

There was so much to do and see my daughter was running around checking everything out for hours. She’s a pro at pony rides by now and she enjoyed her first pig race and corn crib. The Animal Farm was pretty extensive and there were plenty of feeding and petting opportunities. The staff was friendly and I loved that it wasn’t as commercial or expensive as many other pumpkin patches on Long Island (you know who you are). We left with three big pumpkins and a bunch of gourds for $12 which I thought was a real bargain when you consider one pumpkin at the Union Square Farmer’s Market is $10+ dollars.

You can also buy Halloween decorations, plants, pies (freshly baked by Mrs. Fink), vegetables, cider and other fall favorites at the farm stand.

There were so many great spots for pictures so bring your camera. Here are some of my favorite photos from our visit…

Need more Halloween inspiration? Check out my post on Halloween costumes and Halloween gift ideas.

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I AM ELEVEN: Sneak peek into …

September 16, 2014 By admin

When I was a new mom, I remember venturing out to the movies to see a documentary called Babies that chronicled the lives of four babies around the world. I was amazed to see how different moms (and babies) had it in other countries (no wipes, no plush stroller buntings, oh my!) but the unifying theme was how the babies were loved and cared for in their communities.

I AM ELEVEN

I recently had the chance to see I AM ELEVEN, a new documentary that follows 11-year olds all over the world and it was a great sneak peek into the future for me. My daughter is almost five now and she’s so grown up in so many ways but clearly she’s still a little girl. Filmmaker Genevieve Bailey traveled to 15 countries to explore the world through the eyes of 11-year olds and the result is a fascinating look at the fleeting moment between childhood and adolescence aka middle childhood.

I loved seeing the children’s different environments and learning about their concerns and hopes for the future. Some children were orphans while others were living pampered lives but the overall message was one of hope, curiosity and excitement for the future. Their dreams varied from becoming a ballet dancer, actress or secret agent to being a famous rapper or getting engaged in college, yet they shared a love of singing and dancing.

The film is currently playing in New York City with plans to open in California this month followed by Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and other markets. I think its a fascinating must-see for children, parents and grandparents so be sure to check it out in a theater near you.

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Circle Line Debuts Bear …

September 12, 2014 By admin

Looking for a fun fall day trip from NYC that doesn’t involve driving, getting lost or keeping kids in a car seat for hours? Circle Line is kicking off their new Bear Mountain fall cruises this weekend and here are my top 10 reasons you should check it out…

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Circle Line Debuts Bear Mountain Fall Cruises

1) You won’t be driving! This is a big plus for NYC parents who dread thoughts of traffic, tunnels and are-we-there-yet tantrums.

2) You won’t have to ask for directions. The boat will drop you off at Bear Mountain and pick you back up in three hours.

3) You can relax during the trip instead of being stuck in a car or train. This is a biggie for parents with toddlers.

4) Bathrooms on board! No trying to time pee-pee breaks and no emergency pit-stops required. Win, win!

5) You can point out all the various bridges, changing leaves and sites along the way.

6) Plenty of photo ops and great viewing areas.

7) No food necessary, you can order a picnic lunch for the whole family (extra charge applies) or grab something at the concessions stand on board.

8) You’ll have three hours to experience Bear Mountain State Park’s 50 different hiking trails, nature walks and fall festivals like Oktoberfest. This is just enough time for a family picnic and nearby exploring.

9) The return home departs at 2:30 pm so afternoon nappers can sleep away in their strollers on the way back.

10) You’ll be home in NYC at 5:30 pm. No traffic guaranteed and everyone can relax on the way back and be home in time for bedtime.

HERE’S THE SCOOP: The full day trip departs at NYC’s Pier 83 at 9 am Saturdays and Sundays now through October (and Columbus day) and returns at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $60 for adults, $51 for seniors and $36 for children.

If a full-day is too big of a commitment, check out Circle Line’s iconic NYC cruises. See a full review of my Circle Line Kids Cruise here.

Bon voyage!

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Fun Food Friday: State Series …

September 5, 2014 By admin

Are you looking for a fun way to sneak in a little geography learning with your kids? Check out these handmade wooden State Series cutting boards from Etsy’s AHeirloom shop.

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Fun Food Friday: State Series Cutting Boards for Globetrotting Foodies

I think they’d be a great gift for any budding culinary star or globetrotting family. You can have icons engraved to commemorate cities where you got married, had children, went to school, etc. making it a fun family heirloom. Available in large or mini sizes, these cutting boards would also be a great gift for that person who has everything. Just pair it with a local cookbook or ingredients and you’ve got a fun foodie gift.

Bon appetit!

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Little Elliot, Big City …

August 26, 2014 By admin

My daughter loves books and I’m always looking for new tales that amuse her and don’t bore me. Since we live in New York City, she especially loves books that feature Manhattan as the backdrop. Little Elliot, Big City, the newest kids book set in The Big Apple, debuts today and we were excited to get a sneak peek!

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Great Books for Globetrotting Tots: Little Elliot, Big City Review

This cute tale is short and sweet with pretty illustrations and an easy to follow story line. Basically, little Elliot the elephant is having a challenging time in the city until he befriends a mouse. Working together, Elliot and the mouse make a great team and become good friends. Its just the right kind of story for the preschool/elementary set who are learning about teamwork and sharing.

We read it on a trip to grandma’s house and my daughter loved pointing out how Elliot was riding the subway like we do and how he was passing the Flatiron building near our apartment. She also liked the other New York landmarks and the old school cars.

Little Elliot, Big City is the first in a three book series by Mike Curato. This is a great addition to my favorite New York City themed books for kids and I think it would make a great gift for any globetrotting babe.

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian …

August 21, 2014 By admin

One of my favorite spots to disappear in the summer is Central Park. The big boulders, lakes and miles of grass quickly make me forget I’m dead smack in the middle of an urban jungle. After I became a mom, I quickly found out that Central Park is also home to Victorian Gardens, a mini-amusement park (with stellar views!) that is just perfect for the mini-set.

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

Victorian Gardens is located at Wollman Rink which is an ice skating rink in the winter. Leave it to the Donald to turn any bit of real estate into a money making enterprise. There is a nice selection of children’s rides (bumper boats, swings, airplanes, roller coaster, train, etc.) and none are too scary so even the littlest kids will be entertained.

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

This was my daughter’s third summer visiting and she was especially excited to be tall enough (42 inches) for every single ride! The rides are just perfect for the 2-5 age range but younger kids will be fine riding with parents. Its a very manageable spot with little kids since the rides are all contained in a small area (think ice rink) and the lines are never too long. Pack a lunch and grab a picnic bench or buy food at the concessions stand when you get hungry.

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

It’s a little pricey for what it is (pay-as-you-go starting at $7 or unlimited wristband options starting at $21) but since you don’t have to drive hours to get there, I think its worth paying up. Kids under 36 inches are free so bring along the little siblings. After a couple of hours, you’ll be ready to go home but don’t say I didn’t warn you if your kids want to stay and climb the nearby boulders for another hour…

If you’ll be near Central Park, check it out before they close on September 7.

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Around the World in NYC this …

July 31, 2014 By admin

If you’ll be in New York City this Sunday, August 3, head over to Union Square for some free globetrotting fun at the IYF Culture Exhibition. We checked it out last weekend and really loved all the amazing dance performances from around the world (India, South Africa, Jamaica, Russia, Korea and more…) and multi-cultural exhibits.

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Around the World in NYC

Booths were set up on the periphery with toys, games and dolls, costumes galore, and cultural artifacts from around the world. There were also arts and crafts activities, face painting, photo ops and various multi-cultural demonstrations. My 4-year old daughter especially enjoyed learning about Chinese Checkers (my childhood fave), playing with musical instruments and the life size llama. I sorta wanted to take him home…

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Around the World in NYC

If you’ll be in the area between 10 am and 5 pm, check it out. The nearby Evelyn’s Playground is always a fun pit stop and there are tons of great kid-friendly spots to grab lunch in the hood like Clarke’s Standard, Coffee Shop and Max Brenner.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest …

July 28, 2014 By admin

It’s time for back-to-school shopping and today I’m sharing my picks for the coolest backpacks. I was at a Momtrends Back-to-School event last week and learned that the hot fall colors are…..cobalt, orange and berry. Read on if your tots are starting Kindergarden like mine, college kids backpacking through Europe or anywhere in between…

Blue has always been my favorite color so I’m loving these cobalt backpacks for boys.