Katherine Dhurandhar

Latest posts by Katherine

Free in January: 30+ Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 01/06/2023 - 6:40am

Come to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum after hours and explore exhibits for free on family free nights. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for FREE things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this January? Read on for dozens of great options.

As spectacular as the holidays are in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, all of the celebrations can take a toll on the family budget. Luckily, we've found tons of fun family-friendly events in January that are FREE to enjoy, so you can give the wallet a rest.

These awesome activities include an acrobatics performance, interactive science demonstrations, and celebrations of winter held outdoors and indoors. January is also the start of the maple-sugaring season in the area, and you can kick it off with a backyard sugaring workshop. Read on for more of our top FREE event picks in January, and don't forget to eyeball our just-released Best of January List, which includes our top picks all month long. You can always find more freebies in our Guide to Free Things To Do in Westchester with Kids and our rundown of 50 Free Places to Play in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids.

Note that some events listed below may require advance registration. Click through to the listings for details.

Best of January: 18 Top Things To Do in Westchester with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 12/30/2022 - 6:52am

Teatown Lake Reservation holds winter workshops for kids and families. Photo courtesy of the reservation

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and Lunar New Year, January is a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month.

January offers tons of opportunities for spectacular family fun. Outdoorsy families can kick off the year with a first day hike, and there are plenty of other ways to get out in nature this month, including a workshop on how to make maple syrup in your backyard.

If the frigid temperatures have you hiding indoors, there are loads of great things to do at local libraries and museums, including celebrating the Lunar New Year, enjoying live animal shows, or even learning about the shape of snow on other planets.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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New Year's Eve Weekend 2022 in Westchester: Fireworks, Balloon Drops, First Day Hikes

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 12/28/2022 - 2:13pm

Celebrate New Years at noon courtesy of the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum with a live DJ, bubble wrap dancing, and refreshments. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

While New Year's celebrations are generally reserved for adults, we know that kids also want to get in on the fun. That's why we've rounded up a bunch of family-friendly ways to spend New Year's weekend, including Noon Year’s Eve celebrations, balloon drops, and other family-friendly activities. Whether you are ready to get your snow shoes out for a winter hike or just want to enjoy some hot chocolate with amazing Hudson Valley views, we've got your first day hikes covered.

Don't miss our roundup of things to do during the holiday break in Westchester or our write-up on the area's most spectacular Christmas and lights displays. And consider getting started on winter fun with our guide to the best places to go snow tubing near NYC.

The Surprisingly Affordable Way to Fly Semi Private with Your Family

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Thu, 12/22/2022 - 12:00pm

Hop-on jet service JSX offers the perks of flying private, but at prices that are comparable to regular commercial travel.

If the hassle of air travel is keeping you from booking that beach vacation or has you dreading a trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa, hear me out. Hop-on jet service JSX may be the answer to parenting prayers, offering the perks of flying private, but at prices that are comparable to regular commercial travel.

As someone with a lot of far-away family, I've done my fair share of flying since my son was born, and I've never seen it done quite like this. With private crowd-free airports, quick contact-less check-in, and planeside luggage retrieval, imagine flying without wrestling your shoes off at security or waiting an hour at baggage claim with squirmy little ones. Add family-friendly amenities and non-stop flights from Westchester to Orlando and Miami, flying semi-private with JSX is amazingly easy, even with kids, and bags, and even pets, in tow.

I'm here to give you the inside scoop on this life-changing option for air travel, from a full list of perks to ticket pricing, and all your other questions about flying with JSX.

Christmas Weekend 2022 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 12/21/2022 - 1:33pm

See the a holiday show at The Picture House in Pelham this Christmas weekend. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

The children don't want to be nestled all snug in their beds this Christmas weekend, they want to be out exploring all the fun things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. So we scoured the area for the best family-friendly activities that are taking place this weekend, including many that are open on Christmas Day. See a holiday village come to life through music in It Takes a Holiday Village. Then try some special holiday ice skating on a pop-up rink perfect for first-time skaters in Yonkers, catch the holiday train show in Chappaqua before it's gone, and stay warm in your car driving through the Peace, Love, and Lights display in the Hudson Valley. Plus, both the Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular and the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience are open all weekend. And don't forget Hanukkah is still happening; we've included some favorite Hanukkah parties and Menorah lightings below.

For more sparkling Christmas weekend fun, don't miss the best Christmas and Holiday Lights Displays in Westchester and more Spectacular Neighborhood Holiday Lights in the Lower Hudson Valley. Merry Christmas from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

Holiday Break in Westchester: 30+ Things To Do Between Christmas and New Year's Eve

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 12/18/2022 - 3:02pm

Take a ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Photo courtesy of the Catskill Mountain Railroad

With Christmas break on the horizon, we've got you covered with family-friendly activities throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley that will keep the family entertained all week. Some of these are long-running holiday attractions that continue into the holiday break, while others are specially planned events to keep kids busy while school is out.

These holiday break activities include STEM and art workshops, encounters with live animals, and multiple performances full of antics and giggles. We've even made a special section for FREE events. If your child's break starts early, be sure to check our Activity Calendar for fun events happening every day.

So check off the list of must-do holiday activities and let bedtime lapse for a nighttime holiday light show. Read on for dozens of ways to get the most out of the holiday break. In the meantime, make sure to get some inspiration from our Westchester Holiday Fun Guide for families.

33 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 12/04/2022 - 7:54am

Holiday Lights in Bloom, at the Orange County Arboretum, features illuminated flora and fauna. Photo courtesy of the arboretum

Looking for FREE Christmas events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley? Read on for dozens of options.

Joy abounds in the holiday season...and so do expenses. Between presents, family portraits, holiday feasting, vacation plans, and other expenditures, it's easy to burn a hole in your wallet. That's why we've worked hard to identify ways to enjoy seasonal fun in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that are FREE. And who doesn’t love a bargain?

From craft-making to stage performances, community festivities, and light shows, we've got the goods. And whether you plan to attend a tree-lighting celebration or a menorah-lighting event, we've got that, too. We've got plenty of ways to meet Santa—you can even see him land by helicopter! All FREE.

Just think: With all the money you'll save with these freebies, you can budget the funds to attend these must-do holiday attractions for Westchester kids, snag tickets to holiday performances, or buy presents at holiday craft fairs. We've captured many more ways to savor the season in our Holiday Guide, where you'll find more holiday resources like our roundup of Polar Express and Christmas train rides and other ways to spark joy. There's a lot more where this came from, and more on the way, so keep an eye on our activities calendar!

Best of December: 24 Awesome Things To Do in Westchester with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Wed, 11/30/2022 - 5:42pm

Untermyer Garden's Grand Holiday Illumination runs nightly from Friday, December 9-Sunday, January 1, 2023. Photo courtesy of Untermyer Gardens

Christmas lights and holiday activities are back this December, and that's just the beginning of all there is to see and do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month.

Westchester and the Hudson Valley are going all out for the holidays with the return of festive annual traditions such as The Great Holiday Train Show, Irvington's Hanukkah Village, and Watt Christmas Wonderland. New events include Legoland New York's Holiday Bricktacular and a Snow Ball with the Snow Sisters where kids can party with all the characters from Frozen. All are invited to celebrate Hanukkah at Ridge Hill's Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop. And don't miss Santa's sensational helicopter arrival at Museum Village.

Find more top December fun in our roundups of the best holiday drive-thrus and Christmas lights shows nearby, the top holiday shows in the region, and our list of must-do holiday activities and Christmas events in Westchester for kids. Our Guide to Holiday Fun is packed with more local and regional resources.

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.