Neighborhood Excursions

On Halloween , the monsters take over the streets of NYC, but New York is always full of monsters, if you know where to look for them. We've put together some cool ideas for finding monsters in NYC with kids. Perfect for a Halloween weekend outing or monstrously fun any time. Read more »

You don't hear about Fort Greene that much and that's probably a good thing. Good for me anyway. I've been enjoying spending afternoons there, with and without my kids. Fort Greene's quiet, bucolic tree-lined streets are the perfect antidote to a stressful day of work and there's lots of fun stuff to do in the neighborhood with kids. Read more »

All signs are pointing towards a really depressing economy but as bad as it may get, the kids still need fun stuff to do! Which is where we come in, we promise you that NY remains a great place with kids and there are loads of great free activities so please don't go running now that the stock market is tanking. Stick with us and we will keep churning out great ideas on how to spend your days where all you need is a metro card and some PB&J's in your bag. Read more »

The incredible popularity of DUMBO has created this new love for New Yorkers and that is hanging out in the magical and somewhat creepy space that is created under our massive bridges. If you are one of these LOSUBs (lovers of spaces under bridges), and getting tired of loitering under the various Brooklyn crossings, I have a new one for you that won't disappoint - the Triborough. Head to this neighborhood of Queens for a great day of water fun, ethnic eats, a kid-friendly beer garden, and maybe even a fun Museum stop. Read more »

For many New Yorkers, as soon as the weather warms up, it signals a primordial urge to flee, but summer is one of the most fun times to be in New York. In the summer you can take advantage all the City has to offer — amazing beaches, gardens, pools, outdoor concerts and movies, events and activities. And much of it is completely free, turning New York in the summer into one big fest...and we don't mean a big "sweat-fest" — there's a million ways to stay cool and enjoy the summer in NYC with your family.

Whether you are visiting New York for the day, a week or hanging here with your kids for the whole summer, our Summer Fun Guide will tell you everything you need know to have an incredible summer right here in the city with the kids.

Be sure to check out our Free Fun Summer: A free activity a day for the entire summer!

Summer Concerts and Festivals

The Best Grown-Up Outdoor Music Festivals for Families

The Under(play)ground Music Scene

Free Outdoor Shakespeare for Families

Free Outdoor Movie Festivals

Free Outdoor Movies at Waterside Plaza

Water Fun

Best Free and Cheap Swimming pools

Best New Swimming Pools for NYC Kids

Best Free Swimming Pools in Brooklyn

Swimming Classes

Top 5 Beaches Near NYC for a Family Daycation

5 Water Theme Parks Close to NYC

Best Water Playgrounds around NYC

Best Boat Rides for Families in NYC

Do-It-Yourself Pool Party

Outdoor Fun

Four Excellent Summer Outings for NYC Kids

Where to discover wildflowers in NYC

Free Sports Programs in NYC Parks

Free Summer Sports Activities for Kids in NYC

Free Exercise Spots in NYC

Free Bike Rentals in Manhattan

Children Blossom at Free Brooklyn Botanic Garden Programs

Go Around to NYC's Nine Carousels

Indoor Activities

Lefferts Historic House

The Secret Glass Garden

5 Great Indoor Activities

The Early Childhood Resource and Information Center

Story Times Around the City

5 Museums You've Never Heard Of

Free Movies in Theaters Now 

Free Family Museum Programs:

Cool Stuff at the Queens Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

MoMA

Rubin Museum of Art

Tips for visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Kids

Day Trips and Daycations

Long Island Farms to Visit with Kids

Farm Fun for City Kids at NY State County Fairs

Day Trips: Long Island's Best Parks

Four Ideas for Day Trips from NYC

Summer Family Travel

Top Resources for Family Travel

Taking a Babysitter on Vacation with You

House Swapping

Get Outta Town: New Orleans

Get Outta Town: San Francisco

How to bring your own water on the airplane

Car Travel Tips

Neighborhood Outings and Expeditions Exploring the city is another great thing to do while the weather is warm. Just hop on the train or bus and head to a neighborhood you haven't been to before or would like to explore more. We've got loads of neighborhood outings and expeditions for you to explore in our Neighborhood Guide.

Summer Camps Just looking at all this make you exhausted? It's not too late to find a camp. Check out our Camp Guide.

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Today we are launching a new page on the site, The Mommy Poppins New York City Neighborhood Guide for Families. This guide is a NYC neighborhood guide specifically written for families. In its pages you will find the best toy stores, parks, shopping, family friendly dining and tons of fun places to visit in each neighborhood. You'll find that each post covers its neighborhood with a unique voice that reflects the style of the community. That's because each post in this guide has been written by a NYC neighborhood blogger, parent blogger or other prominent community member who lives and breathes their neighborhood. We figured, who knows the ins and outs of each community better than them?

Whether you are looking for a fun new place to explore for the afternoon, or new digs to settle for good, we hope our neighborhood guide will excite you to explore some of the amazing neighborhoods of New York and the best places in NYC for kids. Read more »

Links to the best of everything kid and parenting related in the NYC media for the last week.

Bad Baby Names
Will having an unusual name make your baby do poorly in school, be unpopular or even possibly become a criminal or a delinquent? A new book Bad Baby Names investigates??”NY Times

Coney Island Amusements Now Open
The Brooklyn Paper reports that Coney Island amusement parks opened this weekend, almost a month early. It's possible this will be the last year of Coney Island as we know it, so take advantage of the early opening to get in some extra trips out there. Read more »

How are you celebrating Valentine's Day with your kids or your sweetheart in NYC this year? How about heading to The Sweet Life, one of New York's best candy stores? Take a look at the latest in our Best of NYC Candy Store video posts. We got a little romantic with this one. So sue us, it's Valentine's Day!. Read more »

For a little Valentines' Day fun, we thought we'd check out the best candy stores in NYC for kids of all ages. With a gaggle of hyper children, we've been trooping all over Manhattan sampling treats and discovering what's what in the New York candy world. (It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.)

We taped the whole thing and will be posting the short videos over the next several days. Take a look at the first one we've posted today for some sugar-addled fun. Perhaps you'll be inspired to make a Valentine's Day outing with your little sweeties. Read more »

Christmas Windows at Saks 2006 - Photo by John Morton

It doesn't matter if you live in New York or just come to visit, New York City is a great place to treat kids to all kinds of fun. Just in time for all those visiting relatives, we're going to be exploring all the special stuff grandparents in New York can do with their grandchildren. Of course, parents, aunts, uncles, and long lost friends will enjoy these activities just as much.

Sharon Kleinhandler, our resident Granny Poppins, will be sharing her tips for magical holiday outings to enjoy with your kids or grandchildren in New York City during this holiday season. In this first post she suggests the traditional 5th Avenue Christmas Department Store Windows Walk.

This is a great tradition for an after Thanksgiving dinner evening activity as it's not as crowded when the stores are closed and the elaborate window decorations look even more magical and dazzling after dark. It's also a nice, non-commercial way to enjoy the holidays - and it's free! Thanks, Sharon: Read more »