Liz Alterman

Latest posts by Liz Alterman

11 Top Hotels with Outdoor Water Parks for Families with Kids

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Sat, 08/03/2019 - 2:02pm

The outdoor water park at Camelback Resort in the Poconos is all about the kids.

Kids generally love the perks of staying at hotels but add on a water park and that regular family getaway suddenly hits thrilling new heights. Think of all the family fun: lazy rivers right outside the door, a room nearby for naptime, instant ways to cool down, and no time wasted stuck in traffic to the local pool or beach.

We've rounded up 11 top U.S. hotels and resorts with water parks where families can chill out and cool off at the same time. Find great places to stay (and play) in Florida, Texas, California, and the East Coast.

Toys 'R' Us Returns with 'Reimagined' Stores in Houston and New Jersey

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Thu, 07/25/2019 - 11:30am

Toys 'R' Us will be back in time for the holiday season!

If you mourned a piece of your childhood when Toys 'R' Us closed its doors in 2018, take heart: the gone-but-not-forgotten toy store is about to make a small-scale comeback just in time for Black Friday. Two Toys 'R' Us stores, coming to The Galleria in Houston, Texas, a Simon Mall, and in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, are slated to open in November.

WowMoms World Play & Wellness Center Coming to Paramus

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 12:00pm

There will be large above-ground pools where children ages 1 to 4 can work on water-safety skills.

Have you ever dreamed about a place that includes opportunities for exercise, enrichment classes, and socialization for kids AND moms, all under one roof? WowMoms World, coming to Paramus in late 2019 or early 2020, strives to be that coveted one-stop spot where growing families can relax and enjoy everything from parent-child classes and swim lessons to arts and crafts and an organic lunch or snack.

Canada-based WowMoms opened its first U.S. location on Long Island in January, and other spots have since opened in Florida and Texas. The 6,200-square-foot Paramus space will be WowMoms' first New Jersey location.

13 Exciting Boat Rides for Families in New Jersey

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 10:00am

Young pirates can search for treasure aboard the Sea Gypsy on the Metedeconk River. Photo courtesy of the Jersey Shore Pirates

Adventures abound on the high and low seas of New Jersey with boat rides, tours, and cruises for families throughout the summer. Young pirates can dress up for a real pirate adventure; sailors can man the rigging aboard the historic A.J. Meerwald; and young naturalists will feel at home in the Meadowland marshes aboard specially rigged pontoon boats. Whalers will enjoy riding ships in search of whales and dolphins, and adventurers can always ride the wild white waters of the Delaware River either on rafts or tubes. Who knows when you may regain your land legs?

For more warm-weather fun, check out our New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide.

Get Ready for the World's Largest Inflatable 5k Obstacle Course

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Mon, 07/01/2019 - 12:30pm

Families can race their way through the Insane Inflatable 5k.

If you and your children adore trampolines and bounce houses, this family-friendly 5k will be right up your alley: Get "pumped up" to grab your running shoes and your most breathable clothing, because the Insane Inflatable 5K is coming your way.

Touring the country this summer and fall—including stops in Chicago, the Hudson Valley, the Poconos, and Houston—this unique fun-run features giant inflatables which form an enormous obstacle course. Inflatable fun that parents and kids can enjoy together? Count us in!

Top Kid-Friendly Resorts and Hotels in New Jersey

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 1:30pm

The Asbury Hotel manages to be both super-hip AND kid-friendly.

The very best family vacations are the ones where there's something fun for every family member to do, and kid-friendly resorts offer just that. If you can locate a destination that's within an easy driving distance, even better!

Fortunately, the Garden State offers plenty of spots where you can rest, recharge, and enjoy a little recreation without the hassle of long-distance travel. Whether you want a beachy getaway down the Shore, or indoor/outdoor water park adventures in northern NJ, we've rounded up a dozen close-to-home holiday havens that all but guarantee a great time for the whole crew.

Massive Sports Dome and Entertainment Complex Coming to Jackson, NJ

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Mon, 04/15/2019 - 12:15pm

Adventure Crossing USA will be one of the largest domes in the Northeast.

Athletes, sports fans, and gaming enthusiasts will soon have a state-of-the-art facility where all their interests come together in one location in Jackson, NJ.

Already a popular destination thanks to Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor, the Ocean County township will be home to Adventure Crossing USA, a massive sports dome and entertainment center, which will include indoor and outdoor multi-sport turf fields; hard courts for basketball, volleyball, and futsal; and a baseball and softball training facility; along with a sprawling, Jersey Shore–themed arcade, indoor go-kart racing, a multi-level laser tag experience, and much more.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Adds Huge New Activity Pool

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 12:30pm

The 100,000-gallon Calypso Springs is Hurricane Harbor's largest expansion since 2000.

If you're looking for new ways to beat the heat this summer, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is offering a bigger, better, and much wetter place to cool down. The 45-acre water park in Jackson, NJ, welcomes Calypso Springs, a 100,000-gallon, beach-entry-style activity pool, where parents and kids of all ages can swim and play together. The new addition, Hurricane Harbor's largest expansion since 2000, will be open in time for summer 2019.