Janine Annett

Latest posts by Janine Annett

Heat Wave Hot List: 25 Cool Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids

Submitted by Janine Annett on Sun, 07/09/2023 - 7:12am

Cool off at Splashdown Beach this summer. Photo courtesy of Spalshdown

When the temperature soars, Westchester and Hudson Valley families have to come up with strategies to beat the heat. We've got 25 ideas for how to keep cool—whether you love the outdoors or prefer to stay in the air conditioning.

Our list includes outdoor spots like parks with splash pads and awesome pools where you can take a dip, as well as indoor havens such as kid-friendly museums. We have even included exceptional frozen-treat spots so you can indulge in ice cream and other goodies.

For even more summer fun, be sure to bookmark our Event Calendar, and check out our Ultimate Westchester and Hudson Valley Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Best Outdoor Dining in Westchester at Family-Friendly Restaurants

Submitted by Janine Annett on Fri, 05/12/2023 - 6:50am

Bartaco has a full kids menu and outdoor seating by the water in Port Chester.

Outdoor dining is an annual rite of passage in Westchester, marking the turning of the seasons—and the area's many great eateries mean that you can definitely find choices that work for kids and parents.

Read on for our list of family-friendly outdoor restaurants in Westchester. These selections offer a mix of price points, atmospheres, and cuisines where families can get an al fresco fix.

Looking for more family-friendly dining options? Check out our Kid-Friendly Westchester Restaurant Guide. And for more family fun this season, bookmark our Event Calendar and Summer Activity Guide.

Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Janine Annett on Fri, 04/07/2023 - 7:02am

The weeping cherry blossoms nestled in Boscobel's formal garden are stunning in the spring.

Spring is in the air, and that means it's cherry blossom time. These beautiful flowers typically bloom in late March through early May in the New York region. In addition to the opportunities to see cherry blossoms in New York City—including the famous blooms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—there are some great spots north of the city.

Read on for our favorite spots to see cherry blossoms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and find more fun springtime destinations and outings in our Spring Fun Guide.

See Baby Animals and More at Petting Zoos in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Janine Annett on Sun, 04/17/2022 - 2:44pm

Hold the soft rabbits at the Greenburgh Nature Center's petting zoo.

Have an animal lover on your hands? Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley are filled with opportunities to see animals up close and personal—including petting zoos at local farms, nature centers, orchards, and animal sanctuaries. Many of these spots also offer kid-friendly activities and fun things to do in addition to the chance to see, touch, and feed horses, goats, cows, pigs, chickens, alpacas, and more.

Read on for our top picks for local petting zoos, and find more seasonal fun in our Guide to Spring Activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

Top Indoor Play Spaces in Westchester for Kids

Submitted by Janine Annett on Fri, 01/21/2022 - 11:06am

Jump and play at The Play Place in Elmsford.

Indoor play spaces have long been the stuff of winter fun for Westchester kids. For those times when you need a change of scenery to beat the winter blues, and these local play spaces are ready to meet the moment with safety top of mind.

If you're looking for other ways to keep kids busy indoors this winter, try our list of 30 at-home activities, visit a cultural institution like DIA Beacon, and bookmark our Family Activity calendar for more resources.

Hayrides and Fall Farm Fun for Kids in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Janine Annett on Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:10pm

Take a trip up to Outhouse Orchards in scenic North Salem to take a hayride, pick apples or to get lost in a corn maze. Photo by Sara Marentette

For fall fun, nothing neats a hayride. And while the pandemic has whittled down our list down of participating farms a bit, these eight great Westchester and Hudson Valley farms offer great seasonal entertainment in 2021.

Pair a visit to one or more of these farms with other traditional autumn activities, including apple picking and corn mazes.

Free, Family-Friendly Halloween Parades and Events for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Janine Annett on Sun, 10/07/2018 - 11:00am

The Cross County mall offers free Halloween fun with trick-or-treating, a dance party, stories, inflatables, and more.

If you think Halloween town and library programs are only about storytime and paper pumpkins, think again! Many towns in Westchester offer standout events that are frightfully fun—not to mention the parades, parties, and more free activities for families who love Halloween.

Below we’ve listed two dozen places with fun Halloween programs. Best of all—they’re all FREE! (And, OK, there are storytimes and crafts, but we do like those, too.)

Read on for our top picks, and then continue on to our Event Calendar for many more fun October happenings.

13 of the Best Places for Families to Get Pizza in Westchester

Submitted by Janine Annett on Mon, 11/27/2017 - 3:07pm

Whether your family likes to kick it old-school when it comes to pizza—or you prefer a gourmet take on the tried-and-true formula of crust, sauce and cheese—Westchester has plenty of pizza options. Slices, pies and more can be found in this baker's dozen of pizzerias—there's even a mobile pizza truck!

For more great ideas on places to dine out with the family, check out our Westchester Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide and sign up for our newsletters.