Rachael Cherry

Latest posts by Rachael Cherry

Sleepaway Summer Camps for Houston Kids

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 03/31/2021 - 9:00am

If there's one thing I remember distinctly about my childhood summers, it's summer camp. Sleepaway camps are great for fostering independence in children, who will leave with lifelong memories and hopefully at least summer-long skills. Houston families have a lot of options for sleepaway summer camps where kids can stay overnight, and most of these are just an hour or two away from the city.

We rounded up a bunch of sleepaway summer camps that are all about two hours or less from the Houston area. Most of the camps offer week-long stays for campers, with a couple offering shorter or longer stints as well. All of them promise to give your kids a hefty dose of fun and memories to last a lifetime. And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings.

The Best Birthday Cakes for Kids Are at these Houston Bakeries

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 7:03am

Whether it's a multi-tiered masterpiece of fondant or a tower of personalized cupcakes, birthday parties with standout birthday cakes are having their day. And while showpiece cakes were already a thing before COVID, with socially distant and virtual parties on the rise, securing a birthday cake that doubles as a centerpiece is becoming an even bigger deal.

The good news is that Houston is home to some of the best cake bakeries around, but that also makes for a lot (we mean a lot) of exceptional bakeries to choose from. Narrowing down which one to choose for your next party can be downright overwhelming.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, we selected a handful of our absolute favorite bakeries from each part of town, ensuring that you get an incredible looking and delectable tasting cake and you get to support a local business. Find yourself in a pinch and need something on the fly? We also included a couple of chains that consistently deliver quality cake!

Find more party ideas in our Birthday Party Guide for Houston Families.

What’s Open in Houston for Kids Right Now

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 02/10/2021 - 1:47pm

The hang gliding simulator is open at the Lone Star Flight Museum. Photo by Ashley Jones

We're open! Kind of. By now we've all heard and mourned the news of Rodeo officially deciding to shut down this year, which raises all sorts of questions about other openings and subsequent closures, especially as businesses open their doors and then have to backtrack. To help mitigate that, we've rounded up everything we can find that's open in Houston right now, from playgrounds to museums to entertainment and more, to help take the guesswork out of where to go and what to do.

We've all learned how much things can change without notice, of course, so please double check before loading the car. But one thing we can't stress enough: these businesses need our help! If you can safely support them, we know they will be forever grateful.

Ziplines, Aerial Adventures, and Treetop Adventure Parks for Houston Families

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 02/05/2021 - 5:23pm

For all you families with budding adrenaline junkies, we have the perfect experience queued up for your weekend: ziplining! Riding a zipline through the air, flying above the treetops, and taking in a birds-eye view of your surroundings makes ziplining and other aerial adventures the ultimate (safe!) thrill-seeking experience for kids and adults alike. Treetop adventure parks also lay out some heart-pumping challenges in magical surroundings. We've rounded up a few different locations around Houston that offer family-friendly aerial adventures that will take your weekend activities from ordinary to sky-high.

Find yourself looking for even more adrenaline-inducing activities? Be sure to check out our favorite locations with outdoor go-karts or indoor trampoline parks. As a bonus, some of the trampline parks have mini ropes' courses and ziplines for kids who want to test out a pint-sized version of an aerial obstacle course before tackling the full experience.

Best Things To Do in Houston in February with Kids: Puppets, Shows, and Daddy Daughter Dances

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 01/29/2021 - 6:26pm

Get dolled up for date night! Photo courtesy of Sweet & Sassy

Love is in the air this month and to celebrate we're sharing some of the things we love to do in Houston.

First up on the list: visiting some of the awesome museums in the Bayou City for FREE. Houston is home to a plethora of museums and many of them offer free museum admission days... or are free every day! Get out and support your local museums with a visit to show your love for the culture and creativity they bring to our city. And speaking of museums, did you see the newest museum installation in Houston? Seismique Interactive Art Museum offers a unique and creative way for your fam to spend the day and let your imaginations run wild. We highly recommend checking this new space out!

We are also loving family road trips to break up the monotony of being at home, and these six Texas destinations have the potential for snow during the winter months. As an added bonus, even if there isn't snow there are lots of cool things to see at all of these hotspots, like infamous Cadillac Ranch and the stunning views of Big Bend National Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Finally, we always love a good indoor play space, but they become especially crucial during the colder months. Houston is home to so many great ones, and they have all taken plenty of precautions to provide a safe way for your kids to get out of the house and burn off some energy.

For even more Houston fun this month, check out our winter bucket list post and subscribe to our FREE Mommy Poppins Houston newsletter to get the latest news and activities delivered to your inbox.

Now let's check out what's on tap for February!

Where To Find Snow in Texas: 6 Places Families Can Drive in Winter To See Snow

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 01/08/2021 - 7:00am

Snow in Texas? Say it ain't so! While us Houstonians are used to mild winters that rival most other states autumn season, there are places in Texas that actually do get a little dusting of snow during the colder months. If your winter bucket list includes seeing snow within our great state, then rest assured that you can make it happen! All it takes is a little weekend road trip spent driving to higher elevation and the right timing and your kids can indulge in snowball fights and snow angels during the day and hot chocolate by the fire at night.

Where in Texas, you might ask? We've rounded up 6 areas of the state that offer the perfect little snow-filled weekend getaway.

Best Things To Do in Houston in December with Kids: Christmas, New Year's Eve, and More Holiday Activities

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Sun, 11/29/2020 - 1:00pm

It's the most wonderful time of an admittedly strange year--but while this year may have been different from other years, the holidays in Houston are still packed with festive fun for the family.

Holiday light shows are taking center stage this year, especially walk-thru and drive-thru shows like The Light Park at Hurricane Harbor SplashTown and Prestonwood Forest's Nite of Lights. We also recommend checking out some of our seasonal favorites like Santa's Wonderland, Zoo Lights, and the Holidays at Moody Gardens, as well as some of the awesome Christmas train rides for an extra dose of holiday cheer.

For everyone wanting to avoid crowds and/or stay at home, our event calendar is jam-packed with virtual holiday events that are sure to bring the spirit of Christmas into your home. You can even have a live video call with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Don't forget to sign up for our free monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest news and events. From all of us on the Mommy Poppins team, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We can't wait to ring in 2021 with you!

15+ Homeschool Curriculum Programs for Learning At Home

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 12:08pm

Homeschooling in 2020? These programs simplify the process. Photo by the author

More and more families are looking into homeschool curriculum programs in the coronavirus era. But as you dive into the world of homeschooling, it readily becomes apparent that choosing a curriculum is no small task as there are just so many available.

We became a homeschooling family last year and can attest firsthand that curriculum choices come down to the individual learner. It can be a bit of a trial and error to find what works best for your family. One thing that can be especially helpful for families, especially those new to homeschooling, is to select a comprehensive curriculum that touches on all the subjects instead of picking and choosing each course curriculum individually. We've included below a number of comprehensive homeschool curriculum, but also a few top-notch specialty programs in reading, math, and science, as well as several faith-based options.

Find more at-home learning resources in our Back to School Guide and Virtual Learning and Fun Guide.