Ally Noel

Latest posts by Ally

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My Air Fryer

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 9:02am

French fries that are healthy? Yes, please!

How much do I love my air fryer? Oh, let me count the ways ... Despite its name, an air fryer is not really a fryer at all—it's a countertop convection oven that turns foods crispy and golden almost without any oil. But the air fryer goes way beyond fried foods! This tiny powerhouse can cook just about anything you place in it quickly, efficiently, and healthily. The only tricky thing is finding the best recipes that the entire family will enjoy. (Don't worry, I've got you covered with some amazing air fryer recipes.)

9 Must-Try Dude Ranch Vacations for Families

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sat, 06/26/2021 - 1:43pm

Relax by the pool after a day of riding at the Mountain Sky resort in Montana.

If you’ve always dreamed of roaming the open plains in a saddle, then it might be time to cultivate your family’s inner cowboy on a fab dude ranch vacation. Spending your day trekking through the rugged landscape on horseback before indulging in a five-star meal under the stars is just the beginning when you book a dude ranch getaway. These resorts offer a wide range of low-key activities designed for families. From fly fishing to campfire sing-alongs, these dude ranch adventures will have your family moseying their way all around the country.

Find more family adventures in our National Parks Guide or Camping Travel Guide.

Top Things to Do in Connecticut This Weekend: Food Festival, Great American Campout

Submitted by Ally Noel on Wed, 06/23/2021 - 11:00am

Take to the high seas. Photo courtesy of New England Science & Sailing Foundation

Warmer temps have officially arrived in the Nutmeg State and we are here for it! Bring on beach trips, movie nights, and jumping into a lake. Start summer with loads of family fun by indulging in sweet treats at the North Haven “Fair” Food Festival, snorkeling at Summer Family Weekend Expeditions, or celebrating pride in Ridgefield.

As always, keep tabs on our Connecticut events calendar for daily updates on happenings at favorite spots, and more local and virtual opportunities for family fun.

15 Amazing Mom Hacks That Make Everything Easier

Submitted by Ally Noel on Thu, 06/17/2021 - 9:44am

No messy, dripping fingers when you eat watermelon on a stick.

Momming is hard work. But necessity is also the mother of invention, so it seems only fitting that moms have been discovering (and sharing) simple tricks to make mothering a little easier for all of us. From getting kids to eat their vegetables to soothing sunburn, these 15 life-changing #MomHacks will save you a little time and energy—and hopefully a little sanity too.

Looking for more clever mom life ideas? Check out our other creative parenting hacks and tricks, like these fun Tooth Fairy ideas that kids love, some screen-free activities for family night, and even tricks to get toddlers to play by themselves!

10 Hilarious, and Sometimes Very Messy, Bubble Wrap Games for Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Tue, 06/15/2021 - 11:05am

Bubble wrap games and crafts to try with kids! Photo by Ally Noel

Who can resist the urge to pop that bubble wrap once it comes floating loose from a package? Certainly not any kids we know!

Well, instead of shooing them away from the box as they ready their stomping feet, try one of these 10 clever ways to let kids play with it, get messy with it, and generally have some fun with bubble wrap. It's actually one of our secretly fun exercise games for kids. Also, you're demonstrating some healthy plastic upcycling practices, too. Win-win. Go ahead and add a little "pop" to your playtime. These kid-tested crafts and games will have you engineering roads and creating beautiful swirls and whirls of color and design.

A Camping Getaway in Brattleboro, Vermont

Submitted by Ally Noel on Sat, 06/12/2021 - 2:06pm

This KOA Campground in Vermont is open spring through fall.

Natural beauty, charming downtowns, and a seemingly endless amount of open space make it is easy to fall in love with Vermont. But camping in Vermont is maybe even more charming of a family getaway!

We recently stayed at a KOA campground in southern Vermont, right next to Brattleboro. This little corner of the Green Mountain State is known for its arts, outdoor adventures, artisanal foods, and tons of Vermont-style fun. Read on for our full campground review, and don't miss our Camping Travel Guide filled with great campgrounds all around the country, or explore our Vermont Family Travel Guide for more New England adventures.

Your Guide to Backyard Camping with the Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 05/24/2021 - 11:02am

Looking for a change of scenery? Want to get away from it all? Well, the adventure that you seek may be no farther away than pitching a tent in your own backyard. A backyard camping trip is a perfect activity for the whole family or as a special occasion sleepover for kids' friends. Unplug those devices and recharge with a healthy dose of outdoor fun with the kids.

Create a Pretty Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment

Submitted by Ally Noel on Tue, 05/18/2021 - 11:04am

A few household items help create this fun science experiment for kids.

This colorful rain will have you wishing for cloudy skies every day! Nor do you need to be a professional meteorologist to pull off this easy science experiment for kids.

Create this scientific rain model using shaving cream to represent the clouds and dyed water as the raindrops. Rain is the result of water droplets becoming heavy enough for gravity to pull them out of the clouds as raindrops. As you add colored water to the shaving cream, young scientists can begin to understand how rain is created.