Danielle Smith

Latest posts by Danielle

10 Great Farms Near Philly with Family Entertainment

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Fri, 09/03/2021 - 1:45pm

At times Hellerick's Family Farm can resemble a thrill park. Photo courtesy of Hellerick's Family Farm

Old MacDonald might have his own song, but he could never compete with these farms near Philly that feature plenty of family-oriented entertainment right alongside the tractors and bales of hay.

The fall is an ideal time to visit these kid-friendly farms in the Philadelphia area. Visits with the animals are a must, and who doesn't love a sweet treat from the farm market to end the day? All of that and much more awaits families at these 10 farms — big on activities for parents and kids alike.

Read on to see at which places you’ll want to spend the entire day with your family.

The Best Zoos in the US: Take Your Kids on a Family Animal Adventure

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Sat, 08/28/2021 - 12:48pm

Ride the San Diego Zoo Skyfari. Photo courtesy of Christina Simmons, for the San Diego Zoo.

Whether you are 2 or 102, everyone loves a trip to the zoo! Kids never forget the experience of standing eye-to-eye with a giant giraffe or watching a mama gorilla scale a tree with her baby in tow. Experiences like this, and many more, can be had at amazing zoos across the US—perhaps even at a zoo near you. We’ve run down the very best places to feed a flamingo, pet a wallaby, and clap along with sea lions in all 50 states (plus DC).

With award-winning exhibits and extras—like rides, slides, ropes courses, and even entire water parks—these zoos could easily be the highlight of a great family vacation, so check our Family Travel Guide to get a jump on planning. And don’t forget to see if one of the Best Children’s Museums in the country is near the zoo you plan to visit!

10 Best Kids' Alarm Clocks to Make Mornings Easier

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 08/26/2021 - 11:17am

Kids will love the friendly light of the Mella Ready Rise clock. Photo from littlehippo.com.

Getting kids out the door and off to school should probably qualify as an Olympic sport, requiring all the patience and planning we parents can summon to make things run smoothly. A good kids' alarm clock can provide much-needed support by helping to establish consistent routines throughout the year, freeing parents up to focus on packing bookbags, making lunches, or whatever other tasks we face before the bus arrives.

For more back-to-school tips, from perfect backpacks for every age to school lunch ideas kids will actually eat, check out our Back-to-School Guide.

Great Lunch Boxes for Kids, Containers, and Bento Boxes for Back to School

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Mon, 08/09/2021 - 12:20pm

The PackIt lunch box can be thrown in the freezer the night before to keep lunch cold.

Back-to-school shopping season is upon us, which means it's time to look for the best new book bags, stock up on school supplies, and get other end-of-summer necessities. We're ready to help you check off one more box: lunch! We searched everywhere and asked everyone, and these are the best kids' lunch boxes, bento lunch boxes, and other lightweight containers for every kind of food.

What to put inside a lunch box can really depend on your kiddo's age, stage, and (sometimes wacky) food preferences of the moment, but we can help you make sure that their favorite foods arrive at school in an organized, temperature-controlled, spill-free environment. Read on for the kids' lunch boxes and containers that will solve half of the back-to-school lunch equation!

For more back-to-school tips, from perfect alarm clocks for the first day to school lunch ideas kids will actually eat, check out our Back-to-School Guide.

The 12 Best Backpacks for Back-to-School

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 11:04am

The popular Mackenize Pottery Barn backpack comes in four sizes.

Backpacks are probably among the most universal of school supplies, the item that gets the most use and suffers the most wear and tear. Finding the right backpack for school that will accommodate all of your child’s supplies—and that they’ll love carrying—requires a bit of research and a big stamp of approval from the student who has to lug their brand-new cool backpack around from home to class to afternoon extracurriculars.

So if you’re on the hunt for an extra cool backpack this year, we've done the homework for you, pulling together a list of our top 12 backpacks, drawing on many years of experience from our parent writers and readers. For more back-to-school tips, from perfect alarm clocks for the first day to school lunch ideas kids will actually eat, check out our Back-to-School Guide.

Road Trip Essentials To Keep Kids Occupied, Organized, and Comfortable

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 11:34am

These road trip hacks might just make for a saner drive.

The route is mapped out, the car is gassed (or charged) up, and endless interstate adventures are waiting for you at every toll booth. Road trips with kids can mean miles of smiles, or miles of boredom, tummy aches, and constant refrains of “are we there yet.” We much prefer the former, so we’re relying on these road trip essentials to keep the whole gang happy for hours on the highway.

In a pinch, don't forget about these old-school road trip games you probably played in the backseat, too. 'I Spy,' anyone? License Plate game?

Pixar Putt Brings New Mini-Golf Course to Lower Manhattan for Late Summer Fun

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Fri, 07/09/2021 - 10:00am

The ultimate pop-up, open-air, mini-golf experience arrives in Lower Manhattan this summer.

If your kids are crazy for the casts of Toy Story, Coco, or Inside Out, now’s their chance to hit the greens with the well-known characters. Pixar Putt opens Sunday, August 1 at Battery Park City's at Pier A, bringing an 18-hole interactive course and expanding our collection of mini-golf courses in NYC—at least for a time! Take note: The pop-up putt-putt experience is in town for a limited run.

The Best Children’s Museums in the US: Museums Worth Planning a Vacation Around

Submitted by Danielle Smith on Thu, 06/24/2021 - 11:48am

The Outdoor Play Plaza at Greensboro Children's Museum in North Carolina.

For a fun family outing that combines education and entertainment, few experiences can compete with a day at a truly great children's museum. We’ve compiled 51 of the best options on the map—talking with locals and polling readers to determine the top children's museum in each state (and D.C., too!). The museums we have picked have something that sets them apart, and plenty to fascinate kids of all ages—and adults, too. Hopefully, we have your favorite local children's museum on the list below. Some are so incredible they may inspire your next family trip, so check out places to stay in every region in the country in our Family Travel Guides.