Diana Kim

Latest posts by Diana Kim

Top Tween and Teen Summer Camps in NYC

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 05/02/2023 - 10:30am

Dig up some bones at a Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Education Summer Camp. Photo courtesy WCS

Summer camp is a great way for tweens and teens to explore their interests, make new friends, and stay active during the summer. Whether they're interested in sports summer camps, film summer camps, theater summer camps, or STEAM summer camps, there are tons of summer camps in NYC for teens and tweens to find the right fit.

We've rounded up the best summer camps in NYC for teens and tweens below, and you can find more summer camp options like the best free and cheap summer camps and the top sleepaway summer camps in the Northeast in our Guide to Summer Camps in NYC. You can also search our Camp Directory to find summer camps by age, interest, and neighborhood.

37 Things To Do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 04/24/2023 - 5:43pm

Domino Park and Tacocina offer stunning views of the Williamsburg waterfront and Manhattan beyond. Photo courtesy of Tacocina

Williamsburg, Brooklyn has a reputation as a haven for the hipster set, but families are just as at home in this buzzy, culture-rich neighborhood. Sprinkled in among all the nightlife and trendy boutiques are lots of family-friendly restaurants, shopping, and activities. And the neighborhood is home to some of NYC's most action-packed parks: McCarren Park, a 35-acre green space with playgrounds, sports fields, and a pool; Marsha P. Johnson East River State Park, home to Smorgasburg and skyline views; and Domino Park, the exciting waterfront play space inspired by the former Domino Sugar refinery, a neighborhood landmark, that's getting a new lease on life.

Williamsburg is easily accessible by subway from the G, J, M, Z, and L lines, so even if you don’t live in the neighborhood, you can experience all of the culture and color of this unique Brooklyn neighborhood. Here are our picks for the best things to do with kids in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Find more new-to-you neighborhoods to explore in our Guide to NYC Neighborhoods.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Tips for a Magical Experience in Orlando

Submitted by Diana Kim on Sun, 04/09/2023 - 11:59am

Use our visitors guide to navigate The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.

At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, experience magic and adventure in Orlando! Explore Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley, and other fictional locations that come to life in our world. While visiting Universal Orlando may be daunting for Muggles, we've got the scoop on how to make your visit a magical success.

I recently visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with my two kids, and we had a blast! From butterbeer and wand shopping, to casting spells and riding hippogriffs, there so much fun to be had at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. Don your robes, pack your wand, and read on for all our expert tips.

Visiting Urban Air Adventure Park in Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 4:31pm

Urban Air Adventure Park goes way beyond a typical trampoline park, with ropes courses, climbers, mega playgrounds, VR, and more.

Sunset Park's Urban Air Adventure Park gives Brooklyn kids a whole new place to play. This new trampoline park gives kids space to jump, bounce, fly, and play to their hearts' content in a safe environment. While Brooklyn families are fortunate to have a number of indoor places to play from climbing gyms and ninja warrior courses to indoor playgrounds, there hadn't been a trampoline park in the borough for a few years. Urban Air Adventure Park, which opened in late 2022, changed that bringing with it a variety of all-ages attractions. It's one of those rare destinations where a preschooler and a tween can run around and have fun.

Read on for our visit to this ultimate indoor playground and find more places for action-packed playtime in our Guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones in NYC.

Brooklyn Private Elementary Schools with Pre-K

Submitted by Diana Kim on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 11:34am

Independent learning and critical thinking are a focus at the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School. Photo courtesy of the school

When it comes to private elementary schools, Brooklyn families are not without options, and many offer robust Pre-K programs. Each of the Brooklyn private elementary schools listed below varies in size and educational philosophy, providing families with options that create a great fit.

As a bonus: If your child gets into the Pre-K program at one of these schools, they can always continue through the private elementary school without having to apply again. As you embark on the process of finding the perfect fit for your little one, it's worth bookmarking this piece on 10 questions to ask during a preschool tour, and our Preschool Directory is an excellent resource to find more programs in Brooklyn and beyond as well.

Coolest Vintage and Thrift Stores for Teens in NYC

Submitted by Diana Kim on Mon, 03/20/2023 - 1:14pm

L Train Village offers a micro-chain of well-stocked and well-organized thrift stores in NYC. Photo by the author

These thrift stores in NYC are the perfect antidote to teens changing style whims. Seasoned parents can tell you that shopping for kids becomes a lot harder as they age. Teens are still trying to find their own unique style, so there's no need to spend a fortune on trendy items they will outgrow or that go out of style quickly. Kicks, rocker tees, jeans, funky bags, and accessories are all in high demand and easily found in multiple at vintage stores and thrift shops in NYC. Teens have a blast browsing racks hunting for that perfect T-shirt or pair of jeans.

NYC abounds with vintage and thrift shops. We've rounded up a selection of thrift stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx that offer a large and varied selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories for teens. Have some cash on hand and get ready for a vintage shopping spree. Find more age-appropriate activities and destinations in our NYC Tween and Teen Guide.

Best Things To Do in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with Kids

Submitted by Diana Kim on Tue, 03/14/2023 - 3:48pm

Bay Ridge's American Veterans Memorial Pier is a communal gathering place and offers an NYC Ferry landing to connect the neighborhood with the rest of NYC. Photo by Katherine Fox/NYCGo

Filled with family-friendly things to do, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is the perfect compromise between city and suburban living making it a great place to raise kids. Bay Ridge is ethnically diverse, relatively affordable, and easily accessible. There are quaint townhouses on its side streets and lots of cute mom-and-pop shops and good restaurants on its commercial avenues, plus a strip of big chains on 86th Street. Though many residents have cars, they aren't necessary. The neighborhood's top things to do are all just a short walk away, and the R and N trains offer a direct commute from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to or from Manhattan.

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn also boasts tons of green space, playgrounds, and epic sledding hills, plus fun annual family events, and awesome views of New York Bay and Lower Manhattan.

Here are our top picks for things to do in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with kids. Find more unique NYC enclaves to explore in our Guide to Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in NYC.

Seoul with Kids: 35 Best Things To Do in Seoul, South Korea

Submitted by Diana Kim on Sat, 03/04/2023 - 12:00pm

From its royal palaces to its quirky street art to its colorful cafes, Seoul is a great choice for family travel.

South Korean culture has exploded in popularity through its music, movies, and food, and Seoul (South Korea's capital city) is the absolute best place to experience the culture firsthand. While Seoul is large and bustling, it's a great city to visit with kids. Seoul's top-notch public transportation system makes it easy to travel around the city with kids. And the locals are very friendly, so even visitors with little or no knowledge of the language can easily find people to help them.

My family had a blast during two recent trips to Seoul, and we discovered all of its best family-friendly attractions. Here is our list of the top 35 things to do in Seoul with kids, including interactive museums, indoor play spaces, theme parks, cultural sites, and so much more. Check out our International Travel Guide for more overseas adventures with kids, including great places to visit in Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe.