Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.

Latest posts by Anna

Insider’s Guide to Sitka, Alaska: Free and Fun Things to Do in Sitka with Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 11:02am

See the view of the bay from the local Sitka library.

Whether you’re doing an Alaska cruise or individual travel, costs can really add up on a family vacation, especially when traveling in Alaska. Luckily, if you know the area, there are actually plenty of fun and free things to do in Sitka and other SE Alaska cities, as well as affordable eats.

My grandparents moved to Alaska when I was a tot, so even though I’m not a local, I’ve been visiting Haines and Juneau my whole life. It wasn't until I started bringing my own kids that we started exploring Alaska’s tourist attractions and also traveling as a family to other Alaska destinations. This summer we decided to visit Sitka.

Best Beaches Near NYC: A Guide for Families

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 07/02/2021 - 2:50pm

Kid-friendly—and foodie-friendly—Jacob Riis Beach is a quick trip from the city. Photo by Sara Marentette

Summertime means beach time, and while there are lots of beaches near and even in NYC, some are more family-friendly than others. After packing up your gear and schlepping the kids by car, train, bus, or ferry, the last thing you want to find out is your chosen beach has no bathroom, or bathing suits are optional. Skip the guesswork with our roundup of eight easy-to-reach beaches for NYC families, including detailed info on attractions, food, bathrooms, and hidden costs. Most are within 2 hours of Manhattan by car and are easily accessible via public transportation as well, so you can plot a great daycation for your family.

Find more beach fun in our Beaches, Pools, and Water Playgrounds Guide, or check out these summer day trip ideas.

Visiting the Poconos with Kids: 70 Top Things To Do as a Family

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 05/13/2021 - 1:00pm

Canoe or swim in the many lakes and rivers in the Poconos. Photo courtesy of Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau

Just two hours from New York City or Philadelphia, the Pocono Mountains offer pristine natural beauty mixed with enough family-friendly activities to fill a long weekend getaway or an entire summer vacation. Truly a four-season resort area, during the winter people flock to the Poconos for skiing and other winter sports, and the cool lake-dotted mountains draw families for swimming, hiking, boating, horseback riding, and more in the summer. It's also loaded with great water park resorts, both indoor and outdoor, and lovely cabin rentals, many of them either lakeside or mountainside.

LA Camp Fair Is Back! Check Out Our Camp Info Sessions

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 1:40pm

Explore summer camps with our Online Camp Fair in 2021.

We're excited to announce the second annual Online Summer Camp Fair from Mommy Poppins Los Angeles. Last year, we created this online camp fair to help parents discover what was happening with summer camps in an upside-down year. In the process, we discovered that an online fair is a great way to learn about both virtual and in-person camps. It was fun, informative, and super convenient. So, we're doing it again!

This year's camp fair will have even more camps to discover, video tours to watch, and camp demos to help experience all the camp fun—all without leaving the house. You can even talk to the camps face-to-face in live virtual sessions. The Mommy Poppins LA Online Camp Fair is completely free, but register in advance for live sessions.

Camp Fair is now live!

GO TO CAMP FAIR

Our Online Camp Fair Is Back! Sign Up for Free, Live Demos

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 1:00pm

The 2021 Online Camp Fair opens this April!

Camp Fair is now live!

GO TO CAMP FAIR

Virtual Camp Fair 2021 Is Coming! Sign Up for Free, Live Camp Demos

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 12:04pm

Visit the 2021 virtual summer camp fair to find new camps!

Camp Fair is now live!

GO TO CAMP FAIR

Family Travel Bucket List : Visiting California's Channel Islands

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 7:05am

No kayaking experience required to visit the sea caves and see the sea lions. Photo by Ralph A. Clevenger/ Santa Barbara Adventure Company

Despite its location so close to Los Angeles, Channel Islands National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the country. Accessible only by boat, the Channel Islands’ isolation makes them something of a well-kept Southern California secret, where visitors can enjoy a uniquely SoCal ecosystem on an unpopulated island. Make the trip at the right time of year, and you could even spot some whales along the way.

The islands are welcoming visitors again this spring, and boats are making trips to the islands several times a day. For intrepid campers, the campgrounds are also open. Read on to find out why a trip to the Channel Islands should be on every family's travel bucket list.

Best Virtual Party Performers and Kids Birthday Parties to Celebrate Online

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 02/07/2021 - 12:00pm

Make your child's birthday special even while staying at home with virtual parties offered by top performers and kids party providers.

Social distancing doesn’t need to be socially isolating. Take advantage of technology to help your birthday boy or girl celebrate with friends and family. Many favorite party providers are transitioning their acts to digital platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts so kids and their friends can still have all the great group activities of a traditional birthday party. As an added bonus, these virtual parties are often much more affordable than their in-person alternatives.

Read on for our suggestions on some of the best virtual party providers to try, and make the party even more fun with these at-home party ideas.