James Smith

Latest posts by James

September GoList: Best Things to Do With Long Island Kids

Submitted by James Smith on Fri, 08/30/2019 - 10:06am

Kids eager for an extended vacation might not agree, but is there a finer month on Long Island than September? As summer winds down and the weather cools, the region begins its colorful transition into autumn’s pageantry.

September weekends offer seasonal and cultural celebrations and a chance to discover Long Island’s natural beauty. Immerse yourself this month in Native American culture and traditions, explore maritime history, or spend a day on the East End visiting a farm. Or maybe just explore a museum, lighthouse, or seasonal festival.

Whatever you choose, your family is bound to have fun, learn something, and make memories. Here then is our list of the best ways to keep your family entertained in this back-to-school month.

St. Augustine, Florida: 25 Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by James Smith on Sat, 08/24/2019 - 2:38pm

You don't have to go far to find the beach in St. Augustine. Photo by CycleHere for VISIT FLORIDA

Florida has its “Emerald Coast,” its "Space Coast," its “Treasure Coast,” and even its “Forgotten Coast.” But unless you spend time in its northernmost section, you might be unaware of its “Historic Coast,” home of the haven of St. Augustine.

About an hour south of Jacksonville, whose sizable airport services most major carriers, sits America’s oldest city. St. Augustine, founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, is one of but a handful of American cities to have the flags of five nations fly above its buildings at one time or another. (Bonus points if you can name the countries: Answer below.)

To visit the city’s charming cobblestone streets and seemingly ancient architecture is to be reminded of Florida’s multicultural history. Of course, these days visitors are better welcomed than the 18th-century pirates who sailed in for plunder; these days, St. Augustine opens its doors to all types of boaters, pilots, campers, cyclists, and even the occasional camping and RV vacationers.

August GoList: Best Things to Do with Long Island Kids

Submitted by James Smith on Sun, 07/28/2019 - 7:10am

They call them the dog days of August, when it might seem impossible to enjoy yourself in the hot and sticky outdoors of a Long Island summer. Nonsense, we say. In fact, we here at Mommy Poppins think there’s plenty to bark about in the final full month of summer.

This month, we’re highlighting family events such as street fairs and summer festivals, family days, cultural celebrations, history, and more. Discover nature at Garvies Point in Glen Cove, watch as your kids cast a line at Captree State Park, or perhaps return to a time when games were played minus the iPad.

Top 33 Rainy Day Activities in the Hamptons and North Fork

Submitted by James Smith on Sun, 07/14/2019 - 10:55am

Nature lover? Compare your wingspan to that of a raptor at Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

Not every summer day is perfect on Long Island’s East End. In fact, there are those rainy days in July and August when Mother Nature just refuses to cooperate.

When those moments occur, parents have to get more creative in minding the little ones. The good news is that as the Hamptons and North Fork have become more year-round destinations, entertainment options for children have grown.

July GoList: Best Things to Do With Long Island Kids This Month

Submitted by James Smith on Fri, 06/28/2019 - 10:00am

Independently minded almost from our inception, we Long Islanders have come to appreciate the month of July. After a lengthy winter and a dreary spring, it’s an annual call to celebrate all we cherish about our country and our Island.

And yes, we will celebrate this year, with a thank-you to the 2019 calendar, which placed July 4 near the end of the work week. With school out and the holiday on a Thursday, we have the benefit of an extra-long Fourth of July weekend. That gives us plenty of time for fireworks, barbecues, beach days, and parades. What a great way to usher in a month chock full of family fun.

June GoList: Best Things To Do with Kids on Long Island

Submitted by James Smith on Sun, 05/26/2019 - 11:20am

Do you ever fantasize about living in a perpetual state of June?

Think about it: In what other month on Long Island are the flowers blooming so brightly; is the sky a more colorful blue; are the temperatures quite so, temperate?

June on Long Island is a month of transition—from spring to summer, from the end of the school year to the beginning of vacation time. But it also a month of remarkable possibilities, 30 days to celebrate all we love about life on our overcrowded, traffic-strewn stretch of real estate.

At the start of the month, a mere four weeks remain in the school year. That’s still plenty of time to cherish dad, enjoy a seasonal festival, tap into your inner STEM self, or even join in the celebration of our most celebrated literary celebrity. Whatever your preference, there’s plenty to keep you and your kids engaged until the school year concludes.

May GoList: Best Things To Do with Long Island Kids This Month

Submitted by James Smith on Sun, 04/28/2019 - 10:40am

Short on syllables, long on possibilities.

That would seem to the story of May on Long Island, would it not? Though only three letters, May offers 31 days of family adventures, as outdoor activity becomes a reality and kids can see the end of the school year on the horizon.

So what makes May so appealing, notwithstanding the sunshine, of course?

Well, there’s nature, as in the Greenport Cherry Blossom Festival in the North Fork harbor community. There's the outdoors at state park celebrations across the Island. Add in a touch of multiculturalism and a spring festival or two and you see why we at Mommy Poppins greet this month with such enthusiasm.

This year too, on the final day of the month Long Island begins a celebration of the 200th birthday of one of its most esteemed citizens — Walt Whitman, the celebrated poet, journalist, and humanitarian.

April GoList: Best Things To Do with Long Island Kids This Month

Submitted by James Smith on Fri, 03/29/2019 - 10:30am

Congratulations. You’re made it through March and all of the madness of winter. April begins our journey into spring and all of its majesty.

We on Long Island are blessed with four distinct seasons, and April, of course, begins the transition to warmer weather and outdoor activities. By the end of April's 30 days we will have experienced Easter Sunday, Passover, the return of leaves to our trees, and even baseball played on our Little League fields. (Reminder to tune up your lawn mower; by the end of the month you are sure to need it.)

We at Mommy Poppins are here to assist you in your march toward April. We’ve got the lowdown on Easter Bunny brunches and egg hunts, spring break fun, seasonal festivals, even the start of carnival season. When you see our lineup of special events, you'll hardly even remember we just exited the winter.