Category: Family Attractions/Travel

20 Free Or Inexpensive Things To Do On Long Island, In Your House, In New York City And In The Tri-State Area Over February Break

February break often sneaks up on you because you’re barely recovered from the holidays. It’s also one where the weather could go either way so it makes it hard to plan in advance.

We are very lucky to live in a place that provides endless things to do in every season within a short drive. Additionally, many of these things won’t cost you a cent!

Plus, many provide a little fun and a little history so you can sneak in some learning without your kids knowing.

Lastly, we also love visiting places in the winter that we visit in other seasons showcasing a totally different experience.

So let’s start planning your awesome February break week!

1. Playgrounds

Go to your favorite playground all year round! It’s fun in every season! Some of my favorites are – Jones Beach, Eisenhower Park, Bethpage State Park, Garvies Point, Rocketship Park, and Heckscher Park. Also check out my list of unique playgrounds around Long Island.

2. Take A Hike Or Nature Walk

You can never go wrong with a winter hike or nature walk.

There are so many beautiful hiking paths on Long Island – you can check out part 1 and part 2 of my hiking guide or my guide to Long Island parks offering pretty walks to find some new places.

If you’re looking for an elevated (ha!) experience check out the highest point on Long Island at Jayne’s Hill in West Hills. This spot is marked by a big boulder and Walt Whitman quote. The quote is not “yay! I have a mall!”.

We also love the grounds of the Nassau County Museum of Art and Old Westbury Gardens in all seasons and walking to Fire Island from the Robert Moses State Park field 5 parking lot.

Not into nature or looking for a short drive? Your school’s track is a fun place to get some energy out too.

Into nature and looking for a long drive? We love Greenport and Orient Point State Park on the North fork of Long Island.

3. Beaches

The beach is a great place for a winter walk. Sometimes you can find a beach cleanup as well and double-down on your day’s activity by helping the Earth too!

For fun winter beach walks check out Short Beach Park, Reeves Park Beach, and Jones Beach field 10.

4. Library Are The Best!

Libraries are the best places to take little kids. Each is unique and some go above and beyond to create incredible play spaces for kids. Plus, it’s all free! They often load up on classes and events over school breaks too. You can easily make up a library tour in your county (and neighboring counties) for the day or for the whole week!

My favorite library tip of all are the free museum passes. Often found on their website or app, you can sign up for these complimentary tickets to local museums and attractions and thank your tax dollars for the membership. The Middle County Library in Suffolk is one of our favorites.

Speaking of the library, if you live in New York State you’re able to get a New York City Public Library Card allowing you to take advantage of their excellent NYC Culture Pass. Here you’ll find all kinds of free passes to amazing museums and cultural institutions across the five boroughs.

Additionally, libraries offer all kinds of free online classes good for the whole family. Also, you know – they have books.

5. Bake Something

Baking is both inexpensive and results in something delicious. If you have a tween or teen suggest they try it themselves. This gives you both a break for an hour and your favorite treat served up to you on a platter! For example – as I’m writing this I just answered the question “should I make cookies or pretzel bombs”. Yes, why don’t you go ahead and make both! Meanwhile – my daughter learned how to make pretzel bombs from a free online library cooking class. #fullcircle

Other fun and easy-to-make family friendly kitchen treats include chocolate bark or a chocolate pop-it. I’m also mildly obsessed with this customizable letter baking pan.

6. February Break New York City Day

Yes, Manhattan is expensive but there is so much you can do for free! Just walking around and looking up is a fun experience.

Some of our February break favorites are: Bryant Park, the Staten Island Ferry, South Street Seaport, the High Line, Little Island, walking around Central Park and the reservoir, or walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Many city museums have free library passes through your local library. You can often reserve them up to a month in advance so take a look and plan ahead. Some of our favorites include: New York Historical Society, The Met, The Frick Collection, The Natural History Museum, The Intrepid, The Guggenheim, and The MOMA.

If you have a little shopper nothing is better than walking around Soho. Added bonus if they still have holiday or birthday money to spend!

7. Board Games

Board games can do so much more than sit in piles in your basement. I love giving my kids new games for the holidays and inevitably taking off the plastic over February break. If you hit the jackpot and find a good one then you’ll have countless hours of family fun. Here are some of my favorite family games.

8. Read

I bet you have a list or pile of books you’ve been wanting to read. Now is the perfect time to start. Plus, if you own them finishing one over February break and passing it along means you cleaned your house too!

This is also a great opportunity to snuggle with your kids on the couch. If you need to bargain with them to achieve this goal you can always say if you read for an hour you can play video games for an hour. If you want to spice it up you can add “and for every time you complain the video game time gets reduced by ten minutes”. Looking for a new book? Check out my book suggestions for kids and adults.

9. Coffee And Dessert Shops

Speaking of reading, if you have an avid little reader than make like Friends and go sit in a coffee shop for the afternoon. Bring a book, grab something made of chocolate, a mocha or chai latte, and relax in the quiet. This is a great one-on-one activity to do with a big kid while your little kid stays at home with your plus one.

10. Food For Fun!

Try a new restaurant for breakfast or lunch. There are lots of fun burger places with great shakes or crazy breakfast spots with Nutella filled everything. A new meal is always a fun adventure. Plus, if you go during the day it will fill everyone up so you can sneak by with a light dinner.

11. Build A Fort

Kids love building forts. You can do this simply with couch cushions, pillows, and sheets. Or, you can get fancy with a fort building set or even better a super cool AirFort that pops up in seconds.

12. Make Ice Cream

Adding an ice cream maker into your home is so much fun. Not only does it bring you fresh ice cream all year but it allows a budding chef all kinds experimenting and creativity. Plus, it’s fun to have fresh ice cream in any season! If you didn’t buy one for the holidays President’s Day is a good excuse. Because presidents like ice cream…

13. Movies

February break is a good time to catch up on movies. While there are many you could watch since your kids were born, it’s fun to introduce them to movies you loved from the 80s and 90s. Since you have so much time this week you can even do a movie marathon and watch all the movies in a series. As an added bonus you can discuss if the movie stood the test of time and how an 80s movie could be rated PG or PG-13 and get away with so much!

For a more exciting February break cinematic experience, plan for a movie day on Tuesday at a theater like Showcase Cinema when they offer $5 movies all day.

14. Art Projects

I bet you have a zillion art projects waiting to be made in your house. What better time to make them than February break! This is also a great time to make a collage, vision board, or fun name sign with your kids. If you’re looking to redo your kid’s room now is a good time to get creative as well! This also counts as cleaning your house because you’ll inevitably throw something out (yay!).

15. Start Your Garden Inside Over February Break

February break is the perfect time to start your garden from scratch. It’s also a fun time to start growing flowers. In fact, you can do all types of fun experiments with bulbs too.

If you want some extra credit, start saving the seeds from your fruits and vegetables, dry them out, and then sow them on your counter top in an egg carton or yogurt cups.

If the weather is mild this is also a great time to cut back out of place bushes or branches in your yard. Since it’s winter and they’re dormant it’s much easier to manicure your property now. It’s also a great time to yank out any remaining weeds from the summer so they don’t come back with a vengeance in the Spring.

16. Your Backyard

Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean your swing set has to be lonely. The winter is a great time to play outside! you can add on a new swing, addition, or reconfigure your current swings to mix things up.

Additionally, if there’s snow on the ground that alone can provide hours of fun. Also remember – if you’re a kid, snow plus your swing set is the best day ever!

If you have a fire pit, winter s’mores are great! It’s exciting to sit outside in the snow and it can be really pretty.

If you have a budding astronomer, the winter sky is a great time to pull out your telescope. Plus, since it gets dark early it won’t interfere with bedtime.

17. Museums

We spend a ton of time at museums and at this point my kids have their favorites. School breaks are a great time to visit (or revisit) and February break is even better because they are usually inside (warm) and not very busy.

Some of our favorite include: American Air Power Museum, The Long Island Museum, Heckscher Museum Of Art, Garvies Point Museum, Children’s Museum Of The East End, Cradle of Aviation Museum, South Fork Natural History Museum, Raynham Hall Museum, Museum Of American Armor, and the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.

18. Street Art

If you love street art and colorful graffiti you can see tons of it out and about for free. Some of our favorites are: King’s Park Psychiatric Center, The Bushwick Collective, Welwyn Preserve, Lakeland County Park, and Muttontown Preserve.

19. Parks

Finding a new park is always exciting. Especially if there’s water or a really pretty view. One of my favorites is Gantry State Park in Long Island City. We also love Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay.

Don’t forget, any park with a handball wall and tennis or pickleball courts is perfect for a few hours of fun February break fun!

20. Zoos & Animal Refuges

The zoo is fun in all seasons! This is a great time to visit some of your favorite animals and see them in their preferred climate.

I always say the sea lions and seals love winter more than anything and will flip for you upon arrival. Also think of all the animals like SNOW leopards who get excited for the winter. This is their time to shine.

Not only are zoos less crowded in the winter but if you’re a member they’re free too! This is a great time to visit a smaller zoo like the Queens Zoo. You can see it all within an hour which is most likely how long your kids can go without complaining that it’s cold.

Besides zoos, you can check out animals at The Quogue Wildlife Refuge, The Sweet Briar Nature Center, and The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery.

Party, Vacation, Summer, And Gift Planning Over February Break

With everyone home over break now is a great time to start talking and planning for any upcoming parties or vacations. If you were waiting for some time off then now is the perfect time! You can plan for upcoming birthday parties and even focus on large scale event planning.

If you don’t have any big celebrations coming up now is a great time to start discussing your summer trip or proposed summer backyard additions. With everyone home you can look activities up together and nail it down early.

You can even start thinking about your Mother’s Day and Father’s Day plans and make super early reservations to have your pick of times.

February break is also a great time to take your kids for a haircut. If you take them to a fun place like Sharkey’s Cuts For Kids it’s a great destination for the day!

Finally, pick a date for a fun summer parents night out like on Paddle Pub Long Island or start ordering your camp name labels. Yes it’s super early for all of these but getting ahead of the game will take something off your plate once spring sports start and you don’t know which way is up.

Added Bonus: Attractions And Road Trip Destinations For February Break

If you still want more, get in your car and go explore! We have an abundance of activities in every direction! Remember driving in the winter can be tricky so always make sure you’re extra vigilant for ice and scary road conditions. With that said, some of our favorite destinations include:

Urban Air in Dix Hills or Lake Grove

Scott’s Pointe in Calverton, NY

RPM Raceway in Farmingdale, NY

Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet Exhibits in Westbury, NY

Casa de Spin in Massapequa, NY

Hapik Climbing Park in Yonkers, NY

RiseNY in Manhattan

The Ride NYC in Manhattan

The Statue Of Liberty and Ellis Island in Manhattan

The National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan

New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY

Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Yonkers, NY

The American Dream Mall including Nickelodeon Universe and TiLt Museum in Rutherford, NJ

Diggerland in West Berlin, NJ (Here are my favorite tips )

Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ (check out my review)

Strasburg Railroad in Ronks, PA

Crayola Experience in Easton, PA

Camelback Resort in Tannersville, PA

The Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, PA

The Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, PA

Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA (check out my favorite tips!)

Or take a drive to Philadelphia, Washington, DC, or Boston for a few days.

Also, while some of these are no longer running, there are a lot more winter ideas on here too!

You’ve Mastered February Break, See You For April Break!

Ok, February break is mastered and you’ve spent little to no money on a great week. You’re full from all the baked goods and you cleaned your house. Sounds like a pretty successful week to me.

Make sure to save this post for April break when the flowers will be popping out and you’ll be ready for a new adventure!

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Tags Family Activities, Long Island, Mom Blog, New York

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Next Stop – Fun Jerusalem! Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Tour For A Young Family

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date October 6, 2023
No Comments on Next Stop – Fun Jerusalem! Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Tour For A Young Family

Fun Jerusalem For Families! Kid Approved Tips!

Fun Jerusalem For Families!

Thanks for coming back to my Israel planning series! In this edition, we’ll be discussing fun Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is filled with a tremendous – almost overwhelming – amount of history. But also, tons of public art, beautiful parks, museums, and lots of family nightlife. This post will please visitors of any age with a wide variety of interest levels and attention spans.

Your Personalized DIY Israel Tour

Since everyone’s ideal Israel tour looks different, I’ve broken out our trip into seven posts (they’ll be linked each week as they’re published):

Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Israel Tour For A Young Family
Jerusalem Area
Tel Aviv Area
The North and Galilee Region
The South and Negev Region
Israeli Food Across The Country
Unique Family-Friendly Israel Hotels

Do My Visits In The 90’s Count As Part Of Fun Jerusalem History?

This was my third trip to Jerusalem, so I felt like I had a head start in planning a fun Jerusalem tour. My goal was to entice my kids with super cool sites so they would be interested and enjoy themselves. With that said, I loved showing them my repeat highlights. However, it was even more exciting to find new places for us to explore together.

The Kotel And The Kotel Tunnel Tours

At the top of my list – and the first site we visited – was The Western Wall (aka Kotel) and Kotel tunnels. I was both here and not here in the 90’s, as the Kotel tunnel tours were not open yet to the public. I was SO excited to see these tunnels – more aptly an underground ancient city. They were absolutely incredible! Of all the fun Jerusalem sites we visited, this was the top winner. It was so amazing to see the exact hole where the original explorer descended. Thus beginning the unearthing process of this ancient wonderland of hidden treasure. The Kotel tunnel tours are a MUST for your trip and something you should book in advance.

Mitzvah Ceremony At The Kotel

Not only were the tunnel tours part of our fun Jerusalem itinerary but expanding on that we had a “Light In The Heart” Bat Mitzvah ceremony for our daughter under the Kotel as well! Since we planned a Bat Mitzvah in New York before our trip we wanted a ceremonial service in Israel. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation (located at The Western Wall Plaza) arranged it all for us.

In this ceremony, we were guided by one of their hosts about the meaning of becoming a Bat Mitzvah as well as lighting the candles and reciting important prayers. Next, my daughter decorated two candle holders, one to keep and one to donate (through the foundation) to a Holocaust survivor who was unable to have a Bat Mitzvah. The Foundation offers many service choices including a complimentary Mitzvah at the wall if you’re looking for something more traditional.

Yad Vashem

The Holocaust history museum and garden – Yad Vashem – is an important stop on your Jerusalem tour. Since my boys (6 & 9) were too young for entry, we walked around the beautiful grounds while my husband and daughter (13) toured with a private guide provided by the museum.

Jerusalem Old City Tour And New City Tour

We toured the old and new cities of Jerusalem with a private walking tour guide. Since we’re history lovers it was great to have someone dedicated to our every question and interest in both parts of the city.

With our old city tour, we visited all four quarters of the old city, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Cardo, and everything in between.

Our new city tour included Mount Herzl and the Machane Yehuda Market. Since Israel is a country built on the backs of its heroes it was remarkable to visit the military cemetery with a guide who brought the soldier’s stories to life.

Lastly, we closed out the day (the best way!) by learning about a melting pot of diverse cultures through our bellies. Even better, both sites are easily accessible by the light rail!

Tower Of David Museum

The Tower of David Museum – with its beautiful overlook – was a favorite from my previous trip to Jerusalem. Not only does it have some incredible ruins but it’s home to a huge model which my kids loved. Additionally, as a little fun nod to my first visit – if you look up from the lobby rotunda you’ll find one of Chihuly’s glass-blown sculptures which remains from the exhibit I saw in the 90s.

Ramparts Walk

We absolutely loved the Ramparts Walk. This historic and adventurous walking path (in the wall!) above the old city was such a unique fun Jerusalem experience and one of our favorites. The walk begins in the moat around the Tower of David Museum and continues around each quarter offering a birds-eye view. The stone path is filled with plaques, statues, and even some walkways as narrow as your arms!

Shabbat In Jerusalem

Celebrating Shabbat in Israel is pretty special, even more so in Jerusalem. We were lucky to visit with family over a handsomely prepared meal as our kids clicked over the universal dialog of Legos and foreign language curse words. It was beautiful to see them get along so well and share this special evening.

Fun Jerusalem Family Night Life

Much like any big city, walking around Jerusalem at night showed us a different, illuminated perspective. We loved discovering new areas, shops, and tasting a variety of desserts. Be sure to check out the Tower of David’s Night Spectacular, First Station, and experience the Machane Yehuda Market “after dark”.

As a college student, I remember Ben Yehuda Street being the nighttime hot spot. I loved revisiting and finding the same energy (and stores!) of my youth. Even better, my daughter bought an IDF sweatshirt at the same location where I bought an IDF T–shirt twenty-five years ago!

The Most Fun Jerusalem Hotel!

We couldn’t have found a more perfect place to stay for our five nights in Jerusalem than Abraham Hostels Jerusalem. I fell in love with their website and vibe, and couldn’t wait to see it translated in front of me. For more details, check out my upcoming family-friendly hotels in Israel post.

Food In Jerusalem

The food in Israel is amazing. We tasted new spices and vegetables and agreed to try anything put in front of us. In Jerusalem we loved Piccolino, Hatzot, Hummos Shel Techina, and Adom. For more details, check out my upcoming Israeli food post.

Fun Jerusalem Day Trips

On our first Jerusalem day trip, we joined Tourist Israel’s group bus trip to Ein Gedi, Masada, and the Dead Sea. Ein Gedi was incredible and it was fun to experience terrain (and waterfalls!) we don’t usually see on our hikes around Long Island. Additionally, Masada was fascinating for both the story and the landscape as well as the unbelievable technology that existed thousands of years ago. Finally, like all families traveling to the Dead Sea, we were excited to get the obligatory floating family picture for our scrapbook.

The next day we hired a private driving tour guide and headed South. We started at the super cool Caliber 3 counter-terrorism class and continued to the absolute highlight of our trip – Dig For A Day’s archaeological dig. At this dig, we uncovered real pieces of history in underground caves from the time of Chanukah. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done and can’t recommend it enough.

You can also visit these fun Jerusalem day trips from Tel Aviv or on your way north or south. For more details, check out my upcoming Tel Aviv, The South and Negev Region, and the North and Galilee Region posts.

Conclusion

The Jerusalem area is jam-packed with everything one could want for a fantastic family destination. I guarantee you will have fun, learn, spark interesting conversations, eat delicious foods, and return home with the best memories of this remarkable place! Plus, if you’re named Ben there are a LOT of good photo ops!

*I put together our Israel trip itinerary and then reached out to certain attractions and business owners to work together. All opinions above are my own. No compensation was received for my opinions. In some cases, a discount or hosted experience was provided in exchange for my honest review.

For more unique family trips click here!

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Tags Family Vacation, Travel

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Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Israel Tour For A Young Family

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date September 29, 2023
1 Comment on Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Israel Tour For A Young Family

Plan A Special Israel Tour For Your Family!

Israel is a unique country and captivating for visitors of all ages. It’s steeped in history and culture, and a place where the present and past coexist today. Israel not only has exceptional and original sites galore, but it offers some of the most delicious food in the world. All these things combined make Israel a fantastic family destination.

Since everyone’s ideal Israel tour looks different, I’ve broken out our trip into seven posts (they’ll be linked each week as they’re published):

Head To Israel: Super Unique Country-Wide Tips To Plan The Best Israel Tour For A Young Family
Jerusalem Area
Tel Aviv Area
The North and Galilee Region
The South and Negev Region
Israeli Food Across The Country
Unique Family-Friendly Israel Hotels

A Little About Our Israel Trip

My family of five (with kids aged six, nine, and thirteen) visited Israel in February for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and toured the entire country for two weeks. Initially, this trip was planned in place of a large party, but as we got closer, she decided she wanted both (shocking). Luckily, thanks to clever party planning and our DIY approach to our Israel tour, we were able to do it all.

Since we went big on her Bat Mitzvah in New York we decided on a small ceremonial Bat Mitzvah service in Jerusalem to mark this special occasion. It was perfect.

Planning A Unique Israel Tour For Your Family

Israel is one of the most interesting places in the world. With every step you take, you’re literally walking on history. With that said there are many ways to visit the county from super luxury to off the beaten path. Equally, there is a long list of “must-sees” for first-time visitors. Since this was my third time visiting but my husband’s and kids’ first, I aimed to create an Israel tour for both fresh and seasoned eyes.

I combined the most important historic sites with fun and unique experiences. My goal was simple – I wanted to keep my kids intrigued and entertained and to see the country through the eyes of a local.

When Should You Visit Israel?

We chose to tour Israel in February over our President’s Week school break. Accordingly, winter was a great time to go with mild weather, however, some things were closed. The truth is anytime you visit Israel is perfect, just check ahead to make sure your top sites are open.

Engage In Interactive History Lessons On Your Israel Tour

History lies around every corner – not to mention above, below, left, and right. Touring Israel is a great opportunity to teach kids about ancient civilizations and a place to bring stories from religious school to life. Take advantage of the opportunities to have meaningful conversations while standing on a piece of history.

Explore Nature Reserves and National Parks

Israel is filled with tons of outdoor beauty so be sure to fit in at least one hike or nature walk. You get extra points if it has a waterfall – which is easy to find! With that said, many historic sites are in national parks and have entrance fees. After much research, I found the Israel Pass (and more specifically the one-year Matmon pass) was a cost-effective addition to our trip despite our short stay. There are several different combinations available for purchase online and in Israeli hotels. We opted to buy the pass in advance, so our entry QR code was ready to go upon arrival.

Israel Tour: Jerusalem

We started our trip in Jerusalem – one of the most exciting places to visit – and stayed there for five nights including Shabbat. Thanks to careful planning ahead, we saw many things in a short time. We combined self-guided tours, private guides, and group tours to best cover the area.

Our Jerusalem itinerary included the incredible Kotel tunnels, the Bat Mitzvah ceremony under the wall, Yad Vashem, the Tower of David Museum with its beautiful overlook, the Ramparts Walk, Mount Herzl – the military cemetery, the Machane Yehuda Market, and full-day Old City and New City tours. For more details, check out my upcoming Jerusalem area post.

Israel Tour: Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a total vibe filled with colorful fun. During our three-night stay, we did an interactive graffiti tour and workshop with Grafitiyul, a Yaffa Walking Tour, and hung out by the beach on Shabbat. For more details, check out my upcoming Tel Aviv area post.

Day Trips From Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are great bases if you don’t want to change hotels. You can easily access Ein Gedi, Masada, and the Dead Sea from both cities. You can also head south and visit the absolutely incredible Dig For A Day archaeological dig or the counter-terrorism training class at Caliber 3.

Israel Tour: The North and Galilee Region

The North of Israel is huge and filled with gorgeous scenery. We spent two nights in the North with a private guide using Tzvat as our base. From here we explored the ruins of Caesarea, Hermon Stream Banias Nature Preserve, Misgav Am Kibbutz, Nimrod Fortress, Mt Avital – Mt Bental Nature Reserve, Keshet Cave, Rosh HaNikra, and Haifa. For more details, check out my upcoming North and Galilee Region area post.

Israel Tour: The South and Negev Region

We headed south from Jerusalem and hit everything from Mitzpe Ramon to Eilat in two nights. This includes star-gazing in the Mitzpe Ramon crater with Astronomy Israel, riding camels at Camel Ranch Eilat, and seeing dolphins in their natural habitat at Dolphin Reef Beach. We also took a full-day trip to Petra, Jordan to satisfy my Indiana Jones craving. For more details, check out my upcoming South and Negev Region area post.

Israeli Cuisine

The food in Israel is clean, fresh, simple, and excellent. Since Israel is filled with many cultures there are a variety of different cuisines to try. Keep an open mind and try them all! Some of our favorite meals included Piccolino, Hatzot, Hummos Shel Techina, Adom, Land of Tents, Varkada, HaShomer, Alma Beach, Brisket Bar, Lahuhe Original Yemenite Food Bar, and GalilEat. For more details, check out my upcoming Israeli food post.

Israeli Hotels

Our ideal active trip accommodations are low-key, inexpensive, and centrally located. Since we are New Yorkers and used to walking ten miles a day, we go full throttle from breakfast to bedtime. Thus, we don’t spend a lot of time in hotels and look for modest accommodations. Additionally, as a family of five, it’s challenging to find hotels that can fit all of us in one room. For these reasons, we were thrilled to stay with Abraham Hostels in Jerusalem, Eilat, and Tel Aviv, Silent Arrow Desert Lodge in Mitze Ramon, and the Maim Haim Suites in Tzvat. For more details, check out my upcoming family-friendly hotels in Israel post.

Shabbat

Shabbat comes every Friday night and is interpreted differently throughout Israel. If you’re lucky enough to celebrate multiple Shabbats abroad, I suggest varying your experiences. Additionally, check operating hours since some places close.

Introducing Israel To Children Before Your Trip

Since my youngest was six and not so familiar with Israeli history and sites, we read Good Night Israel as a crash course to Israel’s historic hot spots. This fun and simple book taught him about the famous places on our itinerary. Once there, he not only recognized them but remembered why they were important!

Israeli Borders

Israel is the size of New Jersey (making it easy to see the whole country in one trip) with visible bordering countries. If you look across the Dead Sea or the Red Sea you can see Jordan. In the Galilee Region in the north, you can see Syria and Lebanon – separated by simple roads – and emphasized with barbed wire. Our family had many interesting discussions about what it must be like to live next to someone you don’t always get along with, but also the idea that most people just want peace.

Public Art

Israel gets a country-wide A+ for public art. Everywhere we looked there were murals, fountains, mosaics, sculptures, outdoor pianos, or big signs for fantastic photo ops. These free, accessible, outdoor modern touches were great finds and even more fun if they were next to ancient ruins.

Conclusion

This first post in my series of planning the perfect Israel trip for your family is just the beginning. These tips will help blend history, culture, nature, adventure, education, and fun into the ideal Israel tour. So, start packing your bags and get ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime!

For more unique family trips click here!

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My blog (and taco habit) is supported by you! With each click on one of The Mint Chip Mama’s affiliate links above I earn the guac. Because just like you, it’s extra.

Tags Family Vacation, Travel

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The Best Winter Family Activities Around Long Island: Winning December Break And Starting 2023 Like A Boss!

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date December 26, 2022
3 Comments on The Best Winter Family Activities Around Long Island: Winning December Break And Starting 2023 Like A Boss!

Winter Family Activities

Outdoor Winter Activities For Families

Yes, it is cold but outdoor winter family activities are so much fun! From light shows to outdoor sports, exploring the outdoors in the winter is really great. There are so many kid-friendly things to do in New York in December.

Go to one of the many amazing holiday light shows in our area including Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Shimmering Solstice at the Old Westbury Garden, Magic of Lights at Jones Beach, and LumicoCity at Eisenhower Park.

Immerse yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

Go ice skating in one of the town ice skating rinks or in your backyard

Visit LEGOLAND New York in Goshen

Fun Indoor Winter Family Activities

Winter is the best time to visit indoor activity places. From spa treatments to ice cream tours, you have an unlimited variety available.

Fly through the sky at Urban Air

Visit LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester

Climb amongst colors at Hapik Yonkers

Learn Manhattan’s history including soaring over the city on a ride at Rise NY

Book a Mother/Daughter facial at Smooth Generation

See what’s popped up at TWA Hotel

Go to a New York Riptide Lacrosse Game

Go to an old time ice cream shoppe

Take A Class

Either as a family or with friends, taking a class is a fun way to spend a cold day.

Take a holiday glassblowing workshop at Urban Glass

Enjoy a class or spa day at Wow Mom World Long Island

Make some spin art at Casa De Spin

Museums

We have so many museums in our area. Lucky enough you can find free admission to many of these through your local library.

Planes, space, and stars at the Cradle of Aviation Museum

Learn about transportation and see carriages from the 1700s at the Long Island Museum

Check out Native American history at Garvies Point Museum

Learn about Long Island’s Whaling History at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum

See tanks galore at the Museum of American Armor

Visit an airport with its own museum at the American Airpower Museum

Learn about spies at Raynham Hall Museum

Dress up like a colonial person at Fraunces Tavern

Play all day at the Children’s Museum of the East End

Pretend You Own a House in Manhattan at The Frick Collection

Visit the New York Historical Society

Experience the Old Bethpage Restoration’s Candlelight Evenings

See the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

See if you can find art and make it a picture frame at the MOMA

Spend a day with the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History

Walk around inside and then around the grounds of the Nassau County Museum of Art

Dress up like a firefighter at the Nassau County Fire Museum

Make giant bubbles at the Long Island Children’s Museum

Spend the day at The Met

Visit A Nature or Science Center

My kids love science centers. We always seek them out when we travel. It’s also fun to find them close to home.

Liberty Science Center in New Jersey

Harsco Science Center in Pennsylvania

The New York Hall of Science in Queens

Stick your hand in a tank at the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SoFo)

Visit the turtles and frogs at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery

See all kinds of animals healing at the Sweet Briar Nature Center or Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Enjoy A Complimentary Experience

Don’t forget any type of activity counts as fun winter family activities! Taking a drive to look at lights or driving to the beach are some of our favorites. Furthermore – remember – sometimes the best things in life are free!

Check out a new (to you) Long Island playground

Walk around Gantry State Park

Get lost in a beautiful winter outdoor garden for a different perspective.

Walk to Fire Island

Watch an early beach sunset from your warm car

Visit a World War One shipwreck on the beach in Riverhead

Enjoy your favorite summer body of water in the winter or discover a new one

Take a hike on one of Long Island’s great hiking trails

Walk around Bushwick and take in the street art and graffiti

Visit Huntington’s pedestrian walkway and tree and then go to Heckscher Park and Museum

Walk on the boardwalk at Jones Beach

Drive over your favorite bridges for fun

Walk around Little Island in Manhattan

See Louis Vuitton’s “200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries: The Exhibition”

Visit a new library like the amazing Middle Country Public Library

Fun At Home

The easiest place to find winter family activities is at home. From a new game to a cooking or baking activity it’s a total win – and you can wear your pajamas.

Make a chocolate pop-it or chocolate bark

Start your summer garden now – yes now- from the seeds of things you eat.

Update your kid’s rooms

Show your kids an 80s movie and see if it’s the same as you remember

Watch a movie from the 90s and show them how fashion recycles

Download a personalized video game (with their face as a character!)

Decorate a Cinnaholic Wreath Cake

Make a vision board or collage with recycled holiday magazines

Look through your gently used books and donate them to The Book Fairies NY

Take A Road Trip

We are so lucky to have so many great cities near us in New York. They are not only packed with history and winter family activities but lots of hotels where I’m sure you can grab a last-minute room and head on down.

Philadelphia including the Franklin Institute, Eastern State Penitentiary, Franklin Square Park, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell

Washington, DC. including Mount Vernon, the National Harbor, Ford’s Theatre, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The International Spy Museum, and a White House Tour

Boston including a Duck Tour, Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, The New England Aquarium, and the Boston Children’s Museum

Head out east to Greenport, Long Island

Visit one of these great family destinations in Pennsylvania: Strasburg Railroad, The Crayola Experience, Camelback Resort, Dutch Wonderland, Turkey Hill Experience

Congratulations! You Made It Through December Break!

Of course after all of this, you will need to sit down, pat yourself on the back for being an amazing show runner of winter family activities, put your feet up, and have a nice little cocktail.

While you’re there check out all the great gifts from my Holiday Gift Guide, Father’s Day Gift Guide, or Mother’s Day Gift Guide now on sale and stock up your gift closet for the rest of the year!

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Please let us know what you think of this post! Was it helpful? Did you go to any of these places? Try any of these things? If yes, please like the post, comment below, and share it on your social media.

Also don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, and Tik Tok and email us at themintchipmama@gmail.com with what you want to see next!

Tags Family Activities, Family Vacation, Long Island, Mom Blog, parenting

All Blog Posts Family Attractions/Travel

Hot LEGOLAND New York Tips: Build Your Kids Or AFOL The Best Day In Goshen, NY (While Saving Time & Money).

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date October 20, 2022
2 Comments on Hot LEGOLAND New York Tips: Build Your Kids Or AFOL The Best Day In Goshen, NY (While Saving Time & Money).

LEGOLAND New York Tips

My kids are LEGO® obsessed. They play with LEGOs, talk about LEGOs, and use all their money to buy LEGOs. Their love is so strong that we ran an international daily LEGO build group on Facebook for a year!

LEGOs, LEGOs All The Time

So where does this love take us?

The best gift you can give my boys is a Pick-A-Brick cup from the LEGO store.

An even better gift is suggesting we go to one of our favorite places – LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester.

But the absolute best gift was taking them to LEGOLAND® New York for my son’s ninth birthday.

LEGOLAND New York

Ever since we learned LEGOLAND New York opened in Goshen we’ve been dying to go. We picked October – not only for the cooler weather – but also because we’re big Halloween people AND it’s my son’s birthday month.

In addition to the fantastic park, we enjoyed the scenic ride this time of year with the changing leaf colors on the New York State Thruway. Every year we say we should do that drive – usually when we’re on a local hike – imagining the grandeur. Well – there you go. Bam – efficiency!

As with all amusement parks, a good day starts with a good strategy. With that said, a little advanced planning goes a long way. Therefore, I put together a bunch of tips (including a secret one) ensuring you’ll also leave saying “Everything Is Awesome!” at the end of the day.

Before You Go

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 1 – Wear Good Walking Shoes

LEGOLAND New York has wide, easy-to-follow, stroller-accessible paved paths. It also has stairs for climbers looking to fast forward. With so many rides and attractions you will be walking back and forth multiple times throughout your day (we walked six miles!), so make sure to wear good walking shoes. With so many cool big builds everywhere, be sure to add walking around and looking at them into your day. Also, keep your eyes open for LEGO QR codes on the builds. These codes open a cool picture filter for your phone!

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 2 – Bring A Refillable Water Bottle & Lunch

We are huge water drinkers and bring our water bottles everywhere. Because of this, we were excited to see water refill stations all over the park. We also packed our lunch to save time and money and ate online while waiting for a ride. We did insist on trying one treat – the special Granny’s Goblin Toes (green fried apples) – and they were delicious! Just remember – LEGOLAND is cashless so bring your credit card.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 3 – Pack Minifigs to Trade

One of our trip highlights was trading mini-figures or “minifigs” with very friendly employees. Most employees have one displayed on their name tag waiting for a little fan to snag. Therefore, all you do is ask! My kids loved this not only for the excitement of the trade, but it was a fantastic way to purge their least favorite minifigs and hand-pick new ones. Of course, this was successful because they combed through their collection for days in preparation. In addition, we found the best “trading post” was inside the LEGO®Creative Workshops.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip – 4 Seasonal Events

LEGOLAND New York offers different seasonal events that are not to be missed. These enhancements really add to your amusement park experience. To be safe, double-check the celebration dates before going as some are only on the weekends. During the Fall, LEGOLAND New York transforms into a monster of a good time at the Brick-or-Treat Presents Monster Party (free branded bags and candy!). Coming up next, it becomes a Holiday Bricktacular with shows, characters, and special treats!

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 5 – Arrive When They Open, Leave When They Close

We like arriving when places open and getting a head start on the busy attractions. Because of this, I suggest checking the park hours before you go as they change seasonally. Also, while you’re on the site, save yourself time and money by pre-purchasing your tickets and parking pass. Keep in mind the closing time listed is the last time a rider can get on a ride line. Therefore, if you’re on the line by then, you are good to go!

When You’re In The Park

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 6: Sign Up For A Workshop Upon Arrival

LEGOLAND New York is as much about building and the experience as it is about the rides. My friend gave us a great tip that upon entry we should head left and find the yellow LEGO® Creative Workshops building. Here, you can sign up for one of their timed workshops throughout the day. Sessions fill up, so I suggest going early and grabbing a spot.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 7: Begin With The Big Rides

There are three large rides at LEGOLAND New York – The Dragon, LEGO NINJAGO® The Ride, and LEGO® Factory Adventure Ride. Start your day in the back of the park on The Dragon, then head to LEGO NINJAGO® The Ride, and then finally to LEGO® Factory Adventure Ride. This will give you a leg up on the crowd in case you want to ride multiple times. All rides have cubbies for backpacks.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 8: Continue With The Popular Rides

In addition to the “big” rides, my kids were excited about the rides they researched. They had tunnel vision for LEGO® City’s Driving School where they drove their own car AND got an official LEGOLAND® driver’s license. They were also super excited about Coast Guard Academy, Fire Academy, and Tower Climb Tournament. Since these are all popular rides as well one of us walked ahead to get in line while the other routed the kids to a playscape to wait. We find this divide-and-conquer strategy makes everyone happy.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 9 – Appreciate How They’re Saving The World!

Enjoying an amusement park is hard work. Don’t forget to sit and take a break occasionally. I loved how all the benches (and garbage pails!) have plaques showing the reclaimed, recycled milk jugs count used to make them.

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 10 – Do Miniland Last

As with our strategy to get in early and conquer busy rides, we also like staying until parks close. With that said, we did all the rides and saved Miniland for last. As the sun set, we enjoyed this incredible depiction of the most famous buildings and landmarks in America. It was cool (and less crowded at this point) and so pretty with all the lights. Clearly, it was a wonderful way to end our day.

Secret Benefits

If you’re celebrating a birthday head to guest services to pick up a complimentary birthday pin. My son loved this little souvenir and enjoyed everyone wishing him a happy birthday as we walked around.

LEGO Birthdays Galore!

In addition to celebrating my son’s 9th birthday, LEGO is celebrating it’s 90th birthday!

But wait, there’s more! If you catch the Louis Vuitton exhibit celebrating 200 years of his trunks, you will also see a LEGO birthday cake there!

We Must Return!

We saw so much but there was still so much more to see. That’s the best excuse for a return visit! Til next time, LEOGLAND.

Everything WAS Awesome

I’m quite sure there’s no better place to spend a little LEGO lover’s birthday than LEGOLAND New York. In truth, it was so much more than an amusement park. It was a museum, a building experience, a thrill ride, and a learning center, we loved it. In conclusion – everything WAS awesome!

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Please let us know what you think of this post! Was it helpful? Did you go to any of these places? Try any of these things? If yes, please like the post, comment below, and share it on your social media.

Also don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, and Tik Tok and email us at themintchipmama@gmail.com with what you want to see next!

Tags Amusement Park, Family Activities, Family Vacation, LEGOs, Mom Blog, New York, parenting

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Family Friendly Philadelphia: Boom! 48 Hours in Philly For History Buff Families Who Love Benjamin Franklin, Public Art, And The Movie National Treasure

Go Visit Family Friendly Philadelphia!

We are a New York based family of history buffs. Accordingly, our kids – ages 6, 8, and 12 – not only love United States history, but also movies about history, like National Treasure. Enter Philadelphia – the perfect destination for a quick 48-hour getaway!

Philadelphia hits the US history jackpot with unlimited things to see for people of all ages. Therefore, I’ve crafted this “greatest hits” itinerary – in the order we visited – so it’s easy to follow for young families.

Generally, most family friendly Philadelphia landmarks have a knowledgeable National Park Ranger stationed there. They are ready to answer the most challenging questions from little history buffs. Be sure to ask each ranger for a historical figure “playing card”. My kids loved hunting for these, and they made a nice (and free!) souvenir.

Philadelphia is a great walking city with lots of metered street parking. Even better, there’s an app called meterUP you can use to pay online and focus on sightseeing.

Family Friendly Philadelphia: Day 1

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State is America’s most historic – and one of the most influential – prisons ever built. It is both architecturally stunning and insanely haunting to visit. The included audio guide (narrated by Steve Buscemi, with additional stories told by former inmates) made the walls come to life. Today, Eastern State is not only a family friendly Philadelphia historical site, but also an unexpected space to see an art installation. While you are there, check out the current exhibits and visual commentaries about today’s international prison system. Additionally, check out the prison’s synagogue and Jewish life exhibit.

The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is a excellent science center famous for its walk-through heart exhibit. It’s a must for any family friendly Philadelphia vacation. This Institute brings many of Ben Franklin’s experiments to life through interactive exhibits and experiences. All are guaranteed to entertain your kids for hours. My kids loved learning about electricity (yes, they got a small shock, yes they did it 300 times), the brain, simple machines, space, Foucault’s Pendulum, and more. They were also thrilled to find a giant Luckey Climber – the biggest crowd pleaser in my house.

In addition to the permanent exhibits and planetarium, the Franklin Institute has great limited-time exhibitions (most recently Harry Potter: The Exhibition, and, opening in 2023: Disney’s World Premiere Exhibit Disney100: The Exhibition).

If you’re a fan of the movie National Treasure, you’ll recognize the steps and façade from the scene where the little boy goes into the museum to help crack the code on a Post-It note revealing the names “Pass and Stow”. This clue leads the treasure hunters to the Liberty Bell for their next clue.

Family Friendly Philadelphia: Day 2

Independence Hall

If you’d like to see the most influential chair in American history, head over to Independence Hall. Here, a National Park Ranger will outline the amazing things that happened in the complex in 1776. This includes the birth of our nation with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While many of the artifacts in this room are replicas, the Rising Sun armchair – where George Washington sat while signing is still there.

Additionally, National Treasure fans will “recognize” the rope jumped to sneak up into the bell tower searching for the next clue. Sadly, this scene was actually filmed at a church in Maryland.

The Liberty Bell

The most famous cracked bell in American history has been a family friendly Philadelphia stop for decades. Get your kids excited about it by picking up a National Parks Department Junior Ranger booklet across the street at Independence Visitor Center. Afterwards, once this fun interactive activity book is completed, a park ranger will deputize them like in Washington, DC. They get a little wooden badge, it’s cute.

Franklin Court Printing Office

Ben Franklin was a man of many talents. His fingerprints are all over Philadelphia, but are strongest by his Franklin Court Printing Office. Here you can see old fashion printing presses and learn about the painstaking task of printing. This includes picking out each letter one by one and setting it in place for printing newspapers, pamphlets, or anything else needed in historical times. In a world of fast technology and emails, my kids loved this old-fashioned family friendly Philadelphia stop. I loved learning the terms “upper case” and “lower case” originated from the literal placement of the bins in offices like this one. The capital letters were in the upper case and the rest were in the lower case).

Elfreth’s Alley

Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States – meaning people have lived here for over 300 years! It was a beautiful little stretch to walk through. I think it counts as a cute family friendly Philadelphia destination since it is colorful, made of cobblestones, and has little paths for kids to explore.

Betsy Ross House

The Betsy Ross House is the birthplace of the American flag. Kids will love this family friendly Philadelphia attraction. They can walk up and down the winding staircases to the rooms Betsy Ross occupied while living here. As always, my kids loved seeing the kitchen and the unique ways of heating and cooling food in the 18^th century.

Franklin Square Park

After two great days of sightseeing our Philadelphia grand finale was an evening at the historic Franklin Square Park. This family friendly Philadelphia park has deep roots going all the way back to William Penn himself. It is one of the five original open-space parks Penn planned while laying out the city in 1682.

While the park is relatively small, it is filled with several fantastic family friendly attractions. Not only is there a carousel and a historic dancing fountain, but it is home to the city’s only miniature golf course – featuring iconic symbols of Philadelphia.

This park is located right off the Ben Franklin Bridge. It is the perfect last stop vibe if you’re heading home to the North. Don’t forget to fill everyone’s bellies at SquareBurger before hitting the road.

Family Friendly Philadelphia Statues and Signs

Of course, one of my favorite parts of Philadelphia – and all the historic cities we visit – is walking around and stumbling upon history. Likewise, Philadelphia has so many statues, sculptures, and fountains (some historical, some modern) it became a little treasure hunt for us. Be sure to make time to walk around and look at the public art, it will not disappoint.

Some of our favorites were the OY/YO sculpture by Deborah Kass at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. The Rocky statue by A. Thomas Schomberg in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The History of the Philadelphia Fire Department mural next to Ladder 2 Fire Station on Arch Street. The Amor sculpture by Robert Indiana in Sister Cities Park (and her more famous sister – the Love sculpture, also by Robert Indiana in Love Park). Lastly, the Franklin Square Fountain – the oldest water fountain in the United States – in Franklin Square Park.

More Family Friendly Travel in the Northeast

If you also have little history buffs at home you should check out my family travel posts about Washington, DC and Boston, MA too! Learning history together as a family can be fun!

Please also take a moment and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Tags Family Activities, Family Vacation, Historical Attractions, Travel

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Calling All Young History Buffs! Experience The Best Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions On Your Next Vacation!

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date May 20, 2022
5 Comments on Calling All Young History Buffs! Experience The Best Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions On Your Next Vacation!

Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions

Visiting our nation’s capital is a rite of passage for every American. As a result, the Washington, D.C. area offers family attractions that are unique, interesting, and educational for everyone.

Families with kids learning about the United States of America and democracy will eat up visiting these Washington, D.C. area family attractions.

That is to say, my kids are HUGE American history buffs and Washington, D.C. was their dream destination.

While we missed the famed cherry blossoms (except for ONE tree) we did see museums, monuments, buildings, and all historic sites our eyes could absorb in five days.

Balancing Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions And City Visit

We picked a centrally located hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. (at the midpoint of The Mall). This allowed us easy access to all city attractions. With this in mind, plus the goal of not moving our car, we planned the outside area visits on our way there and back.

George & Martha Washington’s Home: Mount Vernon

Our first stop was Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George & Martha Washington. This beautiful, huge property (once 8,000 acres!) is nestled right on the Potomac. In addition, it is the most popular historic estate in America. Also, if you like historical movies, you’ll recognize Mount Vernon from the movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.”

Our mansion tour taught us George Washington was an innovative farmer who changed his crops to control the narrative. Also – he liked green and loved wallpaper – the high-tech rage of his time. We also learned some behind the scenes movie secrets and that the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (a private, non-profit organization) swooped in and saved Mount Vernon from ruin in 1858.

Gaylord National Resort & The National Harbor

With a car full of hungry bellies, we headed over to the National Harbor for some amazing waterfront dining, spectacular aerial views, and retro desserts.

We enjoyed a fantastic meal (including Maryland’s mascot the crab cake) at McCormick & Schmick’s overlooking John Seward Johnson II’s famous sculpture “The Awakening” as the sun set.

Followed by our first glimpse of Washington, D.C. from the top of the 180-foot-tall Capital Wheel.

Finally, we capped off our perfect night at Gaylord National’s 80s-themed rooftop lounge: Replay at Pose Lounge for insane milkshakes and retro arcade games.

Gaylord National Resort is not only stunning but also offers seasonal family-friendly activities all year long.

With full bellies and drooping eyelids, we headed into Washington, D. C.

Ford’s Theatre

We began our family exploration of Washington, D.C. family attractions with Ford’s Theater. Here, on April 14th, 1865, during a performance of the show “Our American Cousin,” Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. The course of history was changed by a six inch single shot Derringer pistol.

This excellent museum chronicles the highlights and legacies of Lincoln’s presidency, the events leading up to that fateful evening, and what came next – both immediately – and for the next 157 years.

History buffs can enjoy a self-led tour through the museum and theatre, then walk across the street to the Petersen House (where Lincoln died the next morning) and aftermath exhibits. The pocket-sized murder weapon – found on the floor of the President’s box that night – is on display at the museum as well.

My kids loved the interactive chronicling of Booth’s manhunt, which ended with his capture two weeks later at Garrett’s Farm. I loved the 35 foot tower of books highlighting how Lincoln’s popularity continues today.

Fo r d’s Theatre is still a cornerstone of live theatre with many upcoming performances.

We continued our Lincoln theme that night with a visit to his memorial.

NMAAHC

Our next stop was The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum was amazing.

The museum tour began three floors below street level in pre-slavery Africa, in the year 1400. Next, it outlined the sickening and shocking ways Africa became the hub of slave trading for hundreds of years.

The ascending exhibit continues up 609 years of history – highlighting African Americans’ vital contributions through all of America’s wars, the Civil Rights movement, and cultural contributions, culminating in a huge 2009 image of President Barack Obama’s inauguration as the first African American President of the United States of America.

Upstairs, you’ll find contemporary African American contributions to TV shows, art, movies, music, and more. Every corner of this museum greeted us with important artifacts – including one of Rosa Park’s dresses and a Greensboro lunch counter stool.

The International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum was the most requested stop on our Washington, D.C. area family attractions list. This interactive museum grabbed our attention immediately by immersing us into spy culture upon arrival.

Around every corner you’ll find a kiosk to register your intel, chart your course, and complete your mission. There are places to climb for optimum surveillance and places to assess your agility and strength determining your spy ability.

My kids did not want to leave this museum thanks to the interesting history and super cool spy artifacts. I loved learning about the importance of women’s contributions to spying throughout the decades, how important simple observation is, and how spies have impacted wars by secretly moving information across borders.

White House Tour

As avid presidential trivia buffs one of the highlights of our trip was our White House tour. The moment tours reopened, my husband contacted our Congressman for tickets.

Not only was this self-guided tour super cool, but my kids loved getting sworn in across the street as Junior Park Rangers.

More Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions

Since we strived to do it all, we also visited the National Museum of American History (for the First Ladies inaugural gown exhibit and Dorothy’s ruby slippers), the Library of Congress (for the Gutenberg Bible), the Supreme Court, the Capitol, our Congressman’s office, the National Archives, and all the monuments.

Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions Includes Foodies!

We ate so well in Washington, D.C. and enjoyed outdoor dining everywhere thanks to the perfect April weather. We loved Zaytinya and Farmers Fishers Bakers for dinner and LOVED Poki DC for lunch.

Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions After Dark

While the historical and Presidential monuments are special any time you visit, I especially liked them lit up at night. Our post-dinner walks around the Tidal Basin made our trip super special.

Arlington National Cemetery

Since my history buff kids love cemeteries as much as museums, our final stop (pun intended) before heading home was Arlington National Cemetery across the bridge in Virginia to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Washington, D.C. Area Family Attractions: Bring Good Walking Shoes!

In conclusion, chock full of so much of everything, the endless Washington, D.C. area family attractions list offers something for everyone – no matter the age.

Most importantly, my best piece of advice is bring good shoes. We walked over forty miles! In addition, if you’re looking for a tour company – I loved the choices Historic America Tours offered including their Soul Food Saturdays.

*Above all, be sure to check museum and attraction websites in advance. Many are free and open to the public, but some require advanced ticketing.

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Tags Educational Trips, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Washington DC

All Blog Posts Family Attractions/Travel Guest Blog Posts

The Ultimate Guide For Fun Loving Family Adventures In The Tri-State Area

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date December 10, 2021
No Comments on The Ultimate Guide For Fun Loving Family Adventures In The Tri-State Area

I’m so excited to host another GUEST BLOGGER on The Mint Chip Mama! Please welcome: JENNIFER FRISCH, who has some great tri-state area family adventures to share!

Family travel is one of my passions. I get so many great ideas and family travel tips from The Mint Chip Mama. I wanted to share my family’s most recent fun and exciting tri-state area itinerary with you, her readers.

Where Tri-State Area Family Adventures Begins – Sesame Place

We started with Sesame Place – a fun location to visit and a top one for tri-state area family travel. One of the highlights was the “dining with the character” experience (some characters were only visible with this option) which includes a character show and games. We were nice and relaxed and well-fed from the delicious buffet.

The Family Adventures Continue in New Hope, PA

My family and I rested our heads for the night in New Hope, PA, at the Clarion Hotel – 20 minutes from Sesame Place. Our suite had two separate rooms and a small kitchen. Our family loved having this feature since it’s more like home, and my daughter, Madison, got her own room.

Duck Soup Café

New Hope, PA, is a darling small town – perfect for family adventures – and filled with character. We started our day with a delicious home-cooked breakfast at the mom-and-pop shop, Duck Soup Café. In line with the cafe’s name – there were little wooden boxes of duck food on some street corners throughout the town. My daughter loved feeding the local ducks.

Peddlers Village

After breakfast we explored the charming little shopping area called Peddlers Village. There were so many shops and delicious specialty foods – like gourmet popcorn. We also enjoyed their scarecrow contest.

Waterfront Dining at Martine’s Riverhouse Restaurant

Next, we went to dinner on Main Street at a wonderful restaurant named Martine’s Riverhouse Restaurant, right on the river. Martine’s was delicious and had an amazing view.

Lost River Cavern

The next morning, we got up bright and early and headed to a family-run, family friendly, local cave named Lost River Cavern. My family thought it was so cool to be down in the cave – where they even held weddings many years ago! We explored and learned so many interesting facts about the cave and its history.

Moving On To The Colors of Easton, PA

The next part of our trip was very colorful – in more ways than one. We continued to Easton, PA. Our first stop was the Easton Public Market for lunch. Recommended on a mom’s Facebook page, this place did not disappoint. The market was awesome and it lived up to the hype. We were in the mood for noodles, so we chose ramen. We shopped and found some good coffee drinks and oddball items like birthday cake flavored gum. Finally, we were ready to go to the next mecca for family adventures in the tri-state area – the rainbow factory, A/K/A, the Crayola Experience.

The Crayola Experience – Another Must For Family Adventures!

We entered the building and participated in every activity offered. From climbing up a rope tower structure to scribbles to recreating our own crayons (with custom labels) into the form of a seahorse – we did it all. We also viewed a fantastic behind-the-scenes video of the factory where Crayola makes it’s famous crayons. It kept everyone entertained.

Book & Puppet Company

As closing time approached at Crayola Experience, we had to say goodbye to our new favorite place and find another activity. Luckily, we found that right next door at a local bookstore called Book & Puppet Co. The owner was a nice gentleman who was doing a Zoom Storytime. This store had a great selection of books, toys, and games.

On to East Stroudsburg, PA

Our next stop was East Stroudsburg, PA where we stayed at Staybridge Suites. The Staybridge was a nice suite hotel with a separate sleeping area for my daughter and a big kitchen. It included a hot breakfast which we loved. I mean – who doesn’t love free breakfast?

Lakota Wolf Preserve

We had a wonderful experience at Lakota Wolf Preserve (run by a lovely & knowledgeable husband and wife team) where we got very close and personal with some very cool wolfpacks. Since many of these wolves were raised here from cubs, the couple knew everything about them as well as the other animals on premises. It was so educational and kid-friendly too. You can hike up to the reserve or take a shuttle from the parking lot. It was so interesting hearing the wolves howl and interact with one another.

Bushkill Fall

After we said goodbye to the animals, we headed to an incredible (and reasonably priced) waterfall park called Bushkill Falls. Bushkill Falls had beautiful trails and wooden walks around the falls where we enjoyed our packed lunch. It was very well maintained and a unique experience. There was also a gift shop, café, and museum-like rooms to walk through.

Pocono Snake And Animal Farm

Our next stop was the roadside zoo Pocono Snake and Animal Farm. We fed all types of exotic animals from bears to pigs to goats to monkeys. It was so cool and unique. All of us loved the experience. The monkeys even caught their food with their little hands if they liked what we were throwing!

Dinner On The River At Willow Tree Inn

Dinner time came as did more wonderful waterfront dining – this time along the river at the Willow Tree Inn in East Stroudsburg, PA. It was so gorgeous. Not only was the food delicious but they have a seasonal menu and grow their own herbs. This wonderful experience was enhanced by a piano player serenading us throughout the night (and the waitress mentioning they had a Groupon for the restaurant!).

Wild West City

We headed out early to the fantastic and interactive Wild West City. This place has been open for decades and is such a unique experience (including a live carousel with ponies). My mother-in-law reminded me that my husband visited when he was younger! I’m pretty sure they are still doing the same things as when he was a boy. The kids got to experience what it was like in the old west for the day – from helping solve crimes and apprehend the bad guys (including a visit to the jail) – to visiting the bank and print shop. We even got to ride on a stagecoach and get robbed. It was a hoot.

Cracker Barrel – A Classic For Family Adventures

Our final dinner was at the infamous Cracker Barrel – and it lived up to the hype. It was fabulous and the perfect restaurant for a family adventure. We enjoyed some of their signature dishes like the chicken and dumplings, and the catfish and loaded sweet potato with jumbo marshmallows on top with a pecan sauce. After all the yummies, and a quick pit stop at the gift shop, we jumped into the car to head home.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip with so many adventures in four days. I can’t wait for the next one.

My name is Jennifer Frisch. I’m a loud and funny 40-year-old mom and wife from Dix Hills, Long Island who has lived in Manhattan for the last 18 years. My daughter Madison is four and a half. All my life I have loved exploring my city and surrounding towns and that has not changed after becoming a mom. I still love traveling near and far with my husband and daughter and visiting new, fun, and quirky places I find online.

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Tags Family Time, Family Trips, Local Travel, Tristate Vacations, Waterfront Dining

All Blog Posts Explore Long Island Family Attractions/Travel Moms Can Have Fun Too

The Top 5 Holiday Light Shows on Long Island

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date November 29, 2021
1 Comment on The Top 5 Holiday Light Shows on Long Island

It’s wonderful to live in an area with so many holiday light shows. What’s even better is we are so lucky to have many beautiful historic mansions on Long Island offering the perfect back drops for such events. Coupled with that, these holiday light shows are a safe way to enjoy an evening outside with family and friends. With walk through and drive through options there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Photo Credit: Rick Rosa Photography for Redmax Events at Bright Lights LI

We chased many holiday light shows this season and are happy to present our top five (in chronological order of our visits). The best show for the evening may change based on who is attending with you. With that said – they are all really pretty and fun and you can’t go wrong with any of them! Unless your kids complain that they are cold…

1. NYC Winter Lantern Festival: A Bug’s Night at the Nassau County Museum of Art

If you are looking to relax in your heated car while seeing a beautiful holiday light show, animatronic dinosaurs, sunflower fields, sea creatures, and endless flowers, “A Bug’s Night” is for you! This was a fun light show to kick off the season. This show is located on the grounds of one of our favorite museums – a former Long Island Gold Coast mansion – with history dating back to 1862. I loved how they incorporated some of the sculptures in their large garden (one of the largest publicly accessible sculpture parks in the Northeast) into the holiday light show. In addition, they have some food vendors and a bathroom at the end in the museum’s parking lot. This show runs October 22, 2021 – January 9, 2022.

2. Shimmering Solstice at Old Westbury Gardens

If you are looking to leisurely walk-through a big garden and enjoy multiple types of light installations or loved the game Simon as a kid, Shimmering Solstice is for you. This is one of our happy places so to see how they masterfully utilized their expansive grounds (off season) to bring this Gold Coast mansion (completed in 1906) to life was fantastic.

The holiday light show culminated with a gorgeous cinematic extravaganza projected onto the back of Westbury House. Add in the hot chocolate and s’mores from Lessing’s and we could not have been happier. Well, except maybe me – as I ate a gourmet pulled chicken sandwich. There is also a nice mobile bathroom at the entrance that my kids said was nicer than the bathroom in our house. Kids will love this show but it also fits the bill for a date night or girls night out. This show runs November 20, 2021 – January 9, 2022.

3. LuminoCity Festival at Whitney Pond Park

This winter wonderland offers multiple beloved characters and themes across a 24-acre park. Highlights of LuminoCity Festival situated in the historic “West Egg” park include the iridescent “fortress of solitude”, the light up floor planks, and illuminated things to stick your face in for pictures (my favorite). While this park is not a large piece of land, there were many paths to take.

With each direction came a different adventure and we loved seeing everything in one place before us. This holiday light show is a great option if you want to maximize your light show experience and minimize your walking. There were lots of delicious food vendors and the park’s bathrooms were open once inside the event. This show runs November 12, 2021 – January 9, 2022.

4. Bright Lights: A Magical Holiday Celebration at The Vanderbilt Museum

The third holiday light show installed throughout the spacious grounds of a Gold Coast mansion (built in 1910) is Bright Lights. This event was unique because there was a lot going on in addition to the lights. We were greeted by favorite holiday characters near the crepe truck and coffee and donut truck as well as while we walked around. There is also a charming courtyard (with a European feel) waiting for you with hot pretzels and carolers. If you want to be transported to old world charm, this show is for you. There were bathrooms at the entry gate house. This show runs November 27, 2021 – December 23, 2021.

5. Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

While not on Long Island, I would be remiss not to include the holiday light show that started it all for us. The Bronx Zoo (which opened in 1865) is one of our favorite places in New York. The Bronx Zoo Holiday Light Show transforms the beloved zoo into miles and miles of lights, performers, shows, and our favorite – ice carvers. You could spend hours here meandering through all the paths and watching the shows. All the zoo bathrooms and food vendors are open (including additional fire pits for s’mores). This show runs November 19, 2021 – January 9, 2022.

Experience Long Island History

Each holiday light show mentioned is unique and enjoyable for a different reason. Tickets to any of them would make great experiential gifts for the holidays. Above all else, I love how the light shows are woven into the historical context of Long Island. What’s even more interesting – some of these historic properties did not have electricity themselves in their heyday!

Drive Your Own Light Show

With the holidays coming and the temperatures dropping, don’t forget how much fun it is to pile into your car and drive around hunting holiday lights. We love venturing into new areas and finding all the crazy, creative, and beautiful things people do for the holidays. Each year I put together a map for my friends to follow based on many hours of research. I’ve yet to finish this year’s list but here is my list from last year, as well as the LI Lights Map. While I can’t confirm all houses on here are up and running this year, I can confirm driving the routes will showcase beautifully lit homes. Hopefully you will find some specials ones of your own.

Also don’t forget you can make your own home and yard into a lighted oasis with some fun solar string lights (we are obsessed with them!) and a firepit!

Happy Holidays!

Tags Gold Coast Mansion, Holiday Light Show, Lifestyle Blog, Long Island, Mom Blog

All Blog Posts Explore Long Island Family Attractions/Travel

The Mint Chip Mama’s Family Hikes on Long Island (for All Skill Levels) – Part 2

Post author By Stacey Wallenstein
Post date September 30, 2021
6 Comments on The Mint Chip Mama’s Family Hikes on Long Island (for All Skill Levels) – Part 2

As I said last year in my first hiking post, family hikes on Long Island have saved us since the world closed due to Covid-19. I still agree that these family hikes – and spending time outside in nature – have preserved our sanity. It’s the perfect marriage of exercise, enjoying beautiful scenery, and being far away from other humans.

Similarly, like my first hiking post, these family hikes on Long Island are for all skill levels and probably more nature walks than hikes. We are a family of five – with kids ages five, seven and eleven. If you also have small kids – any of these will work perfectly for you. This means the trails are not very strenuous or with dramatic terrain.

Finally, we continued to use our little tripod to take family pictures. It’s a great addition to your hiking back pack.

More Family Hikes on Long Island: Nassau County Hikes

Charles T. Church/Shu Swamp Nature Preserve

One of our favorite hikes this year. Partly because it was beautiful and partly because of the company. We can safely say we got very lost in these woods, but at every turn there was so much beauty it made it all worth it. This is one of North Shore Land Alliance‘s many properties I’ve come to love.

Fox Hollow Preserve

This preserve is all woods and very pretty. The highlight was finding an owl pellet the same week my son was learning about them in school. This is one of the many North Shore Land Alliance properties.

Hempstead Lake State Park

Another big lake to walk around. It was very pretty and allowed me to channel my inner Salvador Dali. Definitely a great place to visit if you are going for a “walking around a lake” vs. hiking on a trail vibe. I believe the park is actually very big and has lots of other trails but we just focused on the lake.

Hope Goddard Iselin Preserve

Another of the North Shore Land Alliance properties, this easy loop hike was perfect for a little after school exercise.

Humes Preserve

Lots of native Long Island plants here on a very pretty trail with lots of historic significance. Another of the North Shore Land Alliance properties.

Manetto Hills Park

One of my favorite finds this year. This park is cool because it’s so hidden. No marker, no sign, you just see a little opening on Washington Ave in Plainview heading North – just past the Northern State Parkway. A great place to get lost in the woods. It also has a few surprises like some fun signs added in by a local boy scout troop.

Mill Pond Park

A very pretty & relatively small park with a big pond. The walk around the pond is short and easy and it is a beautiful spot to spend some time. Plus there’s a gazebo, small waterfall, and lots of ducks.

Muttontown Preserve

While technically this should be under the “Repeat Favorites” section below, I do not count our previous hike last year successful as we did not find the fabled King Zog ruins. This time we did! There are now spray painted markers (on trees) with arrows directing you to find them. This would have been helpful had we come in that way… but we found them nonetheless and they were really cool!

Plainview Park Trail

Very small but pretty. The perfect spot to get in some exercise while one of your kids is playing a ball game on the baseball or softball field. When I was growing up someone scared my 4th grade class (at our class picnic) into thinking Ninjas lived in these woods. It took me thirty years to get up the courage to see that was not -in fact – true. However, you may find bats thanks to a local Boy Scout Troop bat house installation. I can’t find any information on this trail so to find it follow the path behind the softball field all the way up to the top. The trail links around to the tennis courts.

Red Cote Preserve

Another North Shore Land Alliance property. This is a relatively flat hike that would be great for little kids. It’s a great place to see Long Island native plants.

Stillwell Woods Preserve

Nice if you’re on foot, better if you’re on a bike. This was a pretty hike but we felt like we either took the wrong trail or we should have been on wheels. Most people here were riding their bikes. Lots of trails, and lots of parking. Plus some fun random abandoned stuff to see.

Sand Point Park and Preserve

A beautiful and expansive property – once the Guggenheim Estate from Great Gatsby‘s “East Egg” fame. It has everything you’d want in a hike – tons of trails, bridges, water, and old mansions. There is also a playground. It is a very famous place for good reason and a great place to visit. They have programs going on all year and an annual membership if you plan to go multiple times. This is one of the only hikes on my lists that has a year round admission (parking) fee.

Tackapausha Nature Preserve

A bit over grown when we visited but an interesting walk with fun graffiti to find. It’s spread over a few areas so you have to cross the street and choose your own adventure.

More Family Hikes on Long Island: Suffolk County Hikes

Belmont Lake State Park

As the title would suggest – there’s a big lake. It is beautiful with a nice walk around it. We took family pictures here many years ago shortly after we moved to Long Island so this park holds a special place in my heart. Once again – a great place to visit at sunset.

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve

Another park that sometimes fills to capacity in the high season – this park is huge and you could spend a month exploring it. We went for a beach cleanup and got to see the north tip of the beautiful park. This would be a great park to bring a picnic and spend your day enjoying.

Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Many speak of the beauty of this park and now we see why. There are so many beautiful trails here, water, animals, bridges, sculptures, jettys, etc.

Gardiner County Park

This was an interesting park with a long trail heading straight down to the water. There was lots to see and many smaller paths heading in different directions, but if you went straight you were afforded a gorgeous beach view. The landscape looked foreign to me and for a moment I pretended to be on the Scottish Plaines.

Heckscher State Park

A huge park with a ton of different areas to hike, bike, and enjoy a day by the water. This is a spot where you can bring lunch and spend the whole day just exploring around the space.

Makamah Nature Preserve

A great hike with lots of (easy) inclines perfect for a family who wants a little more of a hike but is accompanied by people who have small legs.

San Souci County Park

A beautiful park with lots of trails. Kids can find some special things hiding in the ground too to excite them. We liked winding around and around here, finding water, teepees, and pipes to balance on and sit.

Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge

Another of the “hot ticket” parks (aka the parking lot fills up in the summer), we decided to return at an off peak time after being turned away last year. We came on a weekday after school and were the only people there (yay!). It was so beautiful and there was so much to see. This is a hike offering a great aerial view that winds down to the water. We went during the holidays as a (planned) surprise for my kids the day after we gave them binoculars as a present. We also saw a deer.

Wawapek Preserve

Hidden up in Cold Spring Harbor, this is a nice and relatively short hike. It opens into a big field with a beautiful wooden trellis – sure to be a crowd pleaser for the kids. This is another North Shore Land Alliance property.

West Hills County Park

As the name implies, it’s hilly. A pretty straightforward hike that was easy enough but also a bit more challenging than others because of the inclines. Very nice with some nice views. Home of the famous Jayne’s Hill – the highest point on Long Island. This is a pretty cool landmark with a quote from Walt Whitman’s Paumanok poem on the boulder landmark.

More Family Hikes on Long Island: North Fork of Suffolk County

Hallock State Park Preserve

we did a beach cleanup here on January 1st to kick off the new year. Lots of pretty trails in different directions, but we focused on the path that got us down to the beach. It was a nice hill so it was a good work out.

Inlet Pond County Park

The Eastern most park on my lists, this gorgeous hike is in Greenport, were we love to go in the summer. This is a pretty easy hike that at points goes along the shore giving you beautiful views of the Long Island Sound. Great boulders for the kids to climb on, lots of fun stuff. Just beware – lots of ticks out there.

Repeat Favorites – Hikes to Visit Each Season

King’s Park Bluff/Sunken Meadow State Park

I was so glad to return to this park – one of our favorite and first hikes last year. This time we found a trail that went from the top of the bluff down to the water and we walked back along the water. It was the perfect marriage of fire & ice. Or mountain and water… This park is so beautiful and special.

Lakeland County Park

Probably our favorite hike. We have visited this park multiple times and recommended it to everyone who has requested a good place to start on their hiking journey. It is so special and offers so many things for the senses even the whiniest of children will love it. This is a great spot to visit each season. It is so unique and beautiful. Every time we go there are changes, it is different every time. Lots of graffiti as well. You will also most likely see some animals – turtles, otters, ducks, etc. If you go no where else from these posts – just go here.

Massapequa Preserve

Beautiful in all seasons, and guaranteed to show you different paths with each visit. A large park with many different trails where you can choose a different adventure each time.

Trail View State Park

Many different trail legs in each direction from North to South on the Nassau/Suffolk border. You can go up to Cold Spring Harbor and down to Jones Beach. We go on these trails regularly and find new things to see each time. Each leg offers a different experience and is filled with great flowers, trees, and foliage. We are so grateful this trail is practically in our backyard. It also offers paved and unpaved sections to make it whatever level you’re looking for at that moment.

When You’re Sick of Hiking On the Ground

Grand Rapids Trail – Adventure Park Long Island

Hiking in the Air

If you’re looking for another type of adventure, we suggest an aerial “hike” at Adventure Park Long Island! Instead of hiking on the ground, hike in the trees! We love it here so much. It’s a really fun way to be outside and get some great exercise in a super fun way. I’m going to be honest with you – I love it as much as my kids. So when they ask to go it’s not a hard sell. I especially love their Firepit Fridays (how we annually celebrate my son’s birthday).

Family Hikes on Long Island: To Be Continued AGAIN…

I hope this list has been helpful and given you some inspiration to get out and hike with your family on Long Island. The most important thing is – just GO! Get outside, walk around, and enjoy the fresh air. Look for frogs and turtles, find new creatures, and watch them in their own homes. Don’t forget to bring water and snacks because your kids are guaranteed to get hungry the moment you back off the driveway. Which is not a good way to start your fun day.

Happy hiking!

Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly destinations we’ve researched!

Tags Family Hikes on Long Island, Family Walks, Get Outside, Hike, Nature Walks, New York

1. Playgrounds

2. Take A Hike Or Nature Walk

3. Beaches

4. Library Are The Best!

5. Bake Something

6. February Break New York City Day

7. Board Games

8. Read

9. Coffee And Dessert Shops

10. Food For Fun!

11. Build A Fort

12. Make Ice Cream

13. Movies

14. Art Projects

15. Start Your Garden Inside Over February Break

16. Your Backyard

17. Museums

18. Street Art

19. Parks

20. Zoos & Animal Refuges

Party, Vacation, Summer, And Gift Planning Over February Break

Added Bonus: Attractions And Road Trip Destinations For February Break

You’ve Mastered February Break, See You For April Break!

Fun Jerusalem For Families!

Your Personalized DIY Israel Tour

Do My Visits In The 90’s Count As Part Of Fun Jerusalem History?

The Kotel And The Kotel Tunnel Tours

Mitzvah Ceremony At The Kotel

Yad Vashem

Jerusalem Old City Tour And New City Tour

Tower Of David Museum

Ramparts Walk

Shabbat In Jerusalem

Fun Jerusalem Family Night Life

The Most Fun Jerusalem Hotel!

Food In Jerusalem

Fun Jerusalem Day Trips

Conclusion

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A Little About Our Israel Trip

Planning A Unique Israel Tour For Your Family

When Should You Visit Israel?

Engage In Interactive History Lessons On Your Israel Tour

Explore Nature Reserves and National Parks

Israel Tour: Jerusalem

Israel Tour: Tel Aviv

Day Trips From Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Israel Tour: The North and Galilee Region

Israel Tour: The South and Negev Region

Israeli Cuisine

Israeli Hotels

Shabbat

Introducing Israel To Children Before Your Trip

Israeli Borders

Public Art

Conclusion

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Outdoor Winter Activities For Families

Fun Indoor Winter Family Activities

Take A Class

Museums

Visit A Nature or Science Center

Enjoy A Complimentary Experience

Fun At Home

Take A Road Trip

Congratulations! You Made It Through December Break!

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LEGOs, LEGOs All The Time

LEGOLAND New York

Before You Go

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 1 – Wear Good Walking Shoes

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 2 – Bring A Refillable Water Bottle & Lunch

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 3 – Pack Minifigs to Trade

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip – 4 Seasonal Events

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 5 – Arrive When They Open, Leave When They Close

When You’re In The Park

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 6: Sign Up For A Workshop Upon Arrival

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 7: Begin With The Big Rides

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 8: Continue With The Popular Rides

LEGOLAND New York Tips: Tip 9 – Appreciate How They’re Saving The World!