Submitted by Diana Kim on
One of the most family-friendly hotels in NYC, The William Vale in Williamsburg has just unveiled a mini-golf course called VALE(mini)GOLF, a bespoke 9-hole course, just as the summer season gets going. It's a great addition to the hotel as well as a kid-friendly outing in the neighborhood. Read on for details on our mini-golf outing, plus more fun things to do at this local kid-friendly hotel.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
If your family’s looking for a little adventure this summer, WildPlay at Jones Beach delivers with enough thrilling oceanside obstacle courses and ziplines to make for a great day trip! With four levels of adventure courses, featuring tight ropes, cargo nets, rope swings, wobbly bridges, swinging buoys, and more, WildPlay has something for every age group. And I can vouch because I recently took my three brave kids–ranging from 5 to 14–to visit, and they all had a fantastic time.
We headed out to Jones Beach on a beautiful Friday afternoon and, after filling out a few waivers, WildPlay’s friendly instructors strapped on our harnesses and walked us through a safety demo so we could get right to climbing. After learning how to maneuver the pulleys over the “lifeline cables” and getting a tutorial on how to ride the ziplines, all three kids had gotten the hang of it and we set off to have some fun.
Read on for a rundown of the courses, what to know before you go, and a WildPlay coupon code for Mommy Poppins readers!
Submitted by Diana Kim on
Summer in New York City is the perfect time for teens to explore, get active, make friends, learn new skills and tackle one of these bucket list-worthy summer activities for teens. Whether they're enrolled in a teen-friendly summer camp, honing skills at a summer internship, or have landed a teen-friendly part-time job, NYC teens have plenty of options to keep busy.
When they do have some downtime, though, there are plenty of fun things to do. To help navigate the myriad options, we've rounded up 12 summer activities for teens that are guaranteed to deliver a good time, whether they're into fun in the great outdoors or want to check out a cool new NYC destination. If that's not enough to keep boredom at bay, bookmark this list of 15 all-seasons teen activities for NYC's ultra-cool big kids.
We've got even more teen activities in our Tweens & Teens Guide to NYC, and you can also search our Family Activity Calendar for teen-specific events.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
Families now have another great place in Brooklyn to go bouldering with kids: The Cliffs at Gowanus is open, offering tons of action-packed, family-friendly fun, including rope climbing, yoga classes, a gym, and more.
My 11 year old and I recently went on a tour of The Cliffs Gowanus and tried rope climbing. Read on for all the details of this new gym, where you can go bouldering with kids, and what you need to know about NYC's newest and largest kid-friendly rock climbing gym.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
From summer day camps to sleepaway summer camps, it's easy to find just the right summer camp for your child at these local YMCA summer camps near New York City. Located throughout the greater tristate area, these Y summer camps offer a wide range of summer camp activities, sports, and adventures in beautiful, stunning outdoor surroundings.
YMCA summer camps give your child the chance to make new friends, gain confidence, and appreciate the outdoors. Bonus: Most YMCA summer camps are more affordable than other options. Below, we've rounded up our favorite YMCA summer camps in New York, New Jersey, and even some sleepaway summer camp options nearby.
If you're still searching for the perfect summer camp for your kid, be sure to bookmark our Guide to Summer Camps. Find more overnight camps in our Sleepaway Camps Guide, which profiles the best overnight camps nationwide.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
Kids (and adults!) love magic—whether it's attending magic shows, trying their hand at tricks, or learning the secrets behind the illusions, and New Yorkers have a new magic shop on the scene willing to teach them a few tricks. Located in the family-friendly enclave of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Magic Shop is dedicated to all things to magic.
Read on for our full review and learn why you need to take your budding magician to this cool new shop.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
Got a teen who's looking for a summer job? While NYC teens have a variety of summer internships to apply to, most of these are unpaid, offer school or volunteer credit, or provide only a small stipend. For a paid summer job, there's a different set of procedures teens must follow.
Read on to find out what you and your teens need to know before they begin their hunt for a summer job or after-school gig.
Submitted by Diana Kim on
The New York Ninja Academy is expanding, opening a brand new Brooklyn location for budding ninja warriors to train and get fit. Here, kids can experience the parkour obstacles made famous by the hit American Ninja Warrior television show. The Brooklyn Ninja Academy coaches kids (and adults) in skills and techniques to improve balance, agility, and strength to master its various obstacles.
I recently checked out the new ninja warrior facility with my 11-year-old daughter and her friend, who experienced first-hand what it's like to be trained by ninja champions. Read on for the full review and find more cool places to train in our guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones in NYC.
