Laurie R

Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Laurie

Awesome Things To Do in New Jersey this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 08/25/2023 - 10:05am

See some amazing dogs at the Hunterdon County 4-H Agricultural Fair. Photo courtesy of the fair via Facebook

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

August may be winding down, but the summer fun is far from over! Festival fare is plentiful at Deptford Food Truck & Craft Fair and Food Trucks & Fireworks Festival. Carnival festivities are on tap at the multi-day Hunterdon County 4-H Agricultural Fair and Fair Haven Fire Department Firemen's Fair. And get a preview of the fall street fair scene at Cranford Street Fair and Craft Show.

With school just around the corner, check out Free and Cheap After-School Programs in New Jersey for Kids. Find lots more fantastic things to do this weekend with New Jersey kids in our Family Activity Calendar.

Cooking Classes in NJ for Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 08/22/2023 - 7:26am

Learn to cook farm-to-table cuisines from around the world at the Montclair Culinary Academy. Photo courtesy of the academy

A fun, hands-on cooking class close to home in New Jersey is something to consider whether you have an aspiring Julia Child or are just looking for something different to do with the kids. These NJ cooking classes for kids cater to all ages. Cooking classes teach culinary techniques and are also a great way to encourage kids to try new foods, master hand-eye coordination, and gain essential life skills.

You can find more cooking classes for kids or book a class online in our directory of classes and listings. Check our New Jersey Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for all ages and interests.

Allaire State Park Guide: Train Rides, Hikes, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 08/15/2023 - 6:43am

Allaire State Park has beautiful walking paths, hiking trails, and historical buildings. Photo courtesy of NJ.gov

Growing up in NJ's Monmouth County, I visited Allaire State Park frequently with my family as a child. Those day trips were filled with playground time, train rides, and old-fashioned candy purchased at the village’s general store. Now I take my own kids there, just like my parents took me.

Allaire is easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway, close to the Jersey Shore, and bursting with outdoor fun like family-friendly hiking, bike riding, picnicking, and camping. But what sets this 3,000-acre New Jersey state park apart from other bucolic green spaces are its historic village and working steam train. Read on for the highlights.

Be sure to check out our post on great day trips to New Jersey state parks and more in our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in New Jersey.

Please note that the park's dinosaur sculpture exhibit has closed due to vandalism.

Top Mommy-and-Me Classes for Babies and Toddlers in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 08/06/2023 - 8:23am

Gymboree offers movement classes for babies and toddlers with caregivers. Photo courtesy of Gymboree

Mommy-and-me classes in New Jersey can be some of the most wonderful bonding activities during your child's early months and years—plus these parent-and-me classes are a great excuse to get out of the house! These interactive baby and toddler classes help babies, toddlers, and preschoolers forge new friendships with others, sample a host of playthings, and test out new skills.

The choices multiply yearly with enriching music classes, swim lessons, and more. Don't expect these sessions to be filled with just moms—dads, nannies, grandparents, and all caregivers can join in the fun. Some classes offer independent play for toddlers or even options where siblings can attend.

Read on for a sampling of the best mommy-and-me classes in New Jersey, and find even more options in our guide to the best Classes and Activities for Kids in New Jersey.

Best Street Fairs and Summer Festivals in NJ this August

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 08/04/2023 - 11:05am

The Middlesex County Fair has been a fun family tradition for 80 years. Photo courtesy of the fair

The number and variety of New Jersey street fairs and summer festivals on offer in August make for a month-long party. Our top picks for family-friendly festivals include enjoying sky-high fun at the 85th Warren County Farmers' Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival, indulging in sweet summer peaches at Princeton's Just Peachy Festival, and partaking in classic carnival rides and games at the New Jersey State Fair: Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. With this many options, your calendar can be packed all month long.

Read on for our top picks, and find more ways to make the most of August with our Summer Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids and our ideas for the best things to do all month long.

21 Best Things To Do in New Jersey August 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 6:44am

All aboard for family fun at A Day Out With Thomas. Photo courtesy of Delaware River Railroad Excursions

There are tons of things to do in August in New Jersey–you can enjoy outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days. After all, summer is not over yet!

Soak in the sun with a roster of exciting August events, including more than a dozen fairs and festivals. Scan the horizon for colorful balloons at the 85th Annual Warren County Farmers' Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival, and immerse yourself in the world of beautiful butterflies at Watershed Butterfly Festival. Bring your appetite to food-centric summer festivals, like the Just Peachy Festival and the 28th Annual Clam Festival. And mark those calendars for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, in Summit and several other New Jersey towns.

Squeeze in some refreshing swimming adventures before the lifeguards head home after Labor Day. Visit local swimming lakes, our favorite under-the-radar beaches in Jersey, or those FREE Jersey Shore beaches for a final swim.

For more things to do in New Jersey this August, check out our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide and bookmark our carefully curated list of 100+ FREE things to do in New Jersey this summer with kids.

We're adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don't forget to check it frequently.

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18 Best Things To Do in New Jersey July 2023 with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 06/30/2023 - 6:24am

Catch the eye-popping displays at the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning. Photo courtesy of the festival

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this July? Here are all the family-friendly events and activities you should add to your list from fireworks and the 4th of July to summer fun all month long.

July's sizzling roster is jam-packed with festivals, fireworks, sandcastles, and everything summer has to offer. See brilliant fireworks displayed throughout the state on Independence Day. Hit a beloved Shore beach for the Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival and Christmas in July. And make the festival rounds at the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning and Monmouth County Fair. Plus, catch free outdoor movies throughout the month.

Find more July fun in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide and be sure to bookmark our list of 100+ FREE summer must-do's.

We're adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don't forget to check it frequently.

4th of July Weekend in New Jersey: Fireworks, Festivals, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 06/28/2023 - 7:11am

Oceanfest combines community and cultural events and tops off with spectacular fireworks. Photo by the author

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this 4th of July weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

The long-awaited 4th of July weekend blasts off with fireworks and festivities throughout the state, including displays in Wildwood, Jersey City, Camden, and more. Round out the celebrations with Independence Day festivals like the Little Falls 4th of July Street Fair and the Independence Day Celebration at Longstreet Farm.

Consider planning a getaway on this long weekend at one of the best family-friendly hotels on the Jersey Shore, or making a splash at a swimming pool with day passes. Bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more fun things to do.

Did we mention we’re running weekly giveaways all summer long? This week we’re giving away a Mommy Poppins beach towel. Plus, each entry also counts as an extra entry into our Ultimate Summer Giveaway, an all-included trip to Nick Resort Punta Cana! Find out how to enter on our Facebook or Instagram pages!