Lauren Saunders

Latest posts by Lauren Saunders

St. Thomas with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Sat, 07/15/2023 - 12:00pm

Coki Point Beach offers some of the best snorkeling in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

If you want the exotic feel of a foreign country without leaving the US, consider visiting St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for your next warm and sunny family vacation. Many visit St. Thomas as a cruise-stop destination, but there's so much more to explore beyond the ports. The US territory has its own unique charm with breathtaking beaches, crystal-blue water, friendly locals, and gorgeous red roofs climbing the hills outside its capital city, Charlotte Amalie. And the best part? No passports are needed to enter!

Here are 25 of the best things to do in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with kids, including some great St. Thomas resorts, hotels, and restaurants. You'll see why St. Thomas, Virgin Islands is one of the best places to visit in the Caribbean, which you can read more about it in our Caribbean Family Travel Guide.

Bermuda with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Bermuda

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Sat, 06/25/2022 - 12:00pm

Horseshoe Bay Beach has plenty of shallow areas for kids. Photo courtesy of Sara Marantette

With its famous pink-sand beaches, unrivaled natural beauty, and unhurried atmosphere, the island of Bermuda is perfect for family getaways. But even with its slower pace, there are still so many things to do in Bermuda, including sailing and boating, exploring the beaches and nature reserves, visiting cultural sites, shopping, and more. Plus, Bermuda is small and easy to navigate, and its pink buses and gorgeous ferry rides make getting around lots of fun.

Here are 25 things to do in Bermuda with kids, including top attractions, family-friendly Bermuda hotels, and Bermuda restaurants children will love. For more topical family vacation ideas, check out our Caribbean and Mexico family travel guides.

The Rocky Mountains with Kids: 30 Best Things To Do in Boulder, CO

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Sat, 05/28/2022 - 12:00pm

ABC Kids Climbing offers outdoor adventures for the youngest climbers.

The Colorado Rocky Mountains are an ideal destination for a family vacation in any season with tons of breathtaking hiking trails, awesome skiing slopes, abundant wildlife, and more. And at the heart of it all is Boulder, which offers great museums, delicious restaurants, and many family-friendly hotels.

Traveling to Colorado has been a treasured adventure for my family for years. With so many things to do in Boulder and the Rocky Mountains, it can be hard to narrow down the best choices. Here are 30 great things to do (many of them free) in Boulder and the Rocky Mountains with kids, including kid-friendly Boulder restaurants and great Boulder hotels.

For more tips on visiting Colorado with kids, check out our Denver Family Travel Guide which includes 40 Things To Do in Denver with Kids and so much more.

Visit Boston's Museum of Science Like a Local: Inside Tips for a Visit with Kids

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Fri, 04/22/2022 - 10:30pm

Kids will love the familiar faces in the new temporary exhibit, Emotions at Play, based on Pixar's film, Inside Out. Photo courtesy of the Museum

As one of the largest science centers in the world, Boston’s Museum of Science is a essential trip for curious minds of all ages. The MoS is an awesome family destination, as it assembles permanent and rotating exhibits that engage and enchant toddlers, teens, and grown-ups alike. Whether you are bringing your family for the 30th time, or it’s your first jaunt to this famous location, visitors always experience something new at the Museum of Science!

For more family-friendly attractions, see our guide to Boston Zoos: There's More Than Just the Franklin Park Zoo. Our ideas for Fun Things to Do on Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway with Kids can help you fill out a day around the city. And check out Museum of Fine Arts Day Trip: Exploring the MFA with Kids for tips on exploring another great Boston museum.

New PlaySpace Exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Fri, 02/14/2020 - 7:00pm

The "tree fort" is a gathering place for curious kids.

What could make the world-class Boston Children's Museum an even more amazing place to visit with kids? What about a sparkling new PlaySpace specially designed for toddlers? This freshly remodeled, state-of-the-art permanent exhibit is designed for children 3 and under to play, socialize and build skills.

We recently checked out the new PlaySpace and found it makes a Children's Museum visit even more special for small children and their caregivers. Here's our take on what to do with kids at the PlaySpace!

Little Seeds Play Space: Fabulous Fun for Boston Kids in Plainville, MA

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 8:02pm

Little chemists experiment at Little Seeds Play Space. Photo by Lauren Saunders

Wintertime or rainy-day doldrums got you down? The newly opened Little Seeds play space in Plainville, MA feels like a burst of sunshine among Boston's indoor play spaces. Wide windows, luxurious decor, and smiling faces grace this play area in an easy-to-get-to location just down the street from the Unlikely Story Bookstore and Cafe, and near to Juju B's as well. Register your little one for a STEM class at no extra cost, and explore the opportunities for enrichment provided in this modern business run by moms with a flair for the fabulous!

La Salette Shrine: Magical Christmas Lights are a Boston Family Tradition

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 11:00am

Some 300,000 lights stretch over 10 acres at this long-beloved Attleboro attraction. Photo by Surunas Burdulis/CC BY 2.0

Boston boasts so many places to captivate kids with the twinkly glow of Christmas lights, from public holiday lights displays to spectacularly decorated private homes. But one local lights display is the most famous of all: La Salette Shrine. This stroller-friendly family attraction in Attleboro, MA, near the Rhode Island border, has enough lights—some 300,000!—to swell even the Grinch’s heart with cheer during the holiday season. We recently visited with kids, and have tips for making the most of this special—and free!—family outing.

An Unlikely Story: Day Trip to Wimpy Kid Author's Bookstore Near Boston

Submitted by Lauren Saunders on Fri, 10/18/2019 - 4:21pm

There is a spacious book nook with tot-sized stools for the littlest readers. Photo by Warren Jagger Photography courtesy of Bergmeyer Design

Home to Robert McCloskey's Ducklings and the "world's only" Curious George store, the Boston area is known for its kid lit connections. One local children's author is Diary of a Wimpy Kid creator Jeff Kinney, who’s built an incredibly special bookstore called An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. With readings from famous authors, kids' workshops, and cozy spots to read and enjoy a snack, this literary hangout is more than just a shop.

Parents of Boston-area bookworm kids, take note: Not only is the Boston Book Festival in October, with free events and readings, but any day of the week, you could go to An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Cafe to indulge your littlest literati. Here are some more of our favorite Boston children's bookstores, and 12 books that make kids proud to be Bostonians.