ML Interest Tag: story-telling

Summer Camps for Preschoolers

by sommy rhee

Don’t have time to plan out each summer day with special something to do? Yeah, us either! Which is why we scoured Los Angeles for summer programs and camps geared specifically toward toddlers and pre-schoolers, and are sharing the amazing camps that welcome the not-quite-in-kindergarten crowd with open arms. Scroll through to see which camp will work best for your kid’s budding personality and get ready for a summer of learning and fun.

photo: Summer at Brentwood

Precocious Pre-Schoolers
For an educationally fun time, check out Summer at Brentwood, held at Brentwood School. Run by teachers at the synonymous school, the weekly lower division day camp gives kids who will be entering Kindergarten a preview of what’s to come in the fall through a variety of activities from activities that includes mathematics, reading, writing, science, dramatic play, visual arts, and outdoor education. There are five one-week sessions to choose from and each offers different courses.

Cost: $550 per week
Brentwood
Online: summeratbrentwood.com

Pre-School Prepsters
For parents looking to get their toddlers prepped and ready for preschool and kindergarten, St. Matthew Parish School offers an enriching summer program that will set them up for success. Hands-on science, language arts, math, dramatic arts, and visual arts are all part of the specially designed program that is offered in either half or full days.

Cost: $570 & Up
Pacific Palisades
Online: stmatthewsschool.com

Toddlers That Need Variety
Tocaloma Summer Day Camp, located at Berkeley Hall School, offers sessions for kids ages 4-14 (a bonus when you have older siblings). The preschool group features a ratio of 1-to-4 staff to campers during activities and is sure to keep your intrepid kiddo entertained. There are tons of fun events lined up from the basic like music, arts, sports, movement) to the not-so-basic like theme day carnivals and mystery week. Another perk? Transportation is an option.

Cost: $1595 & Up
Brentwood
Online: tocaloma.com

photo: Camp Shi’ini via Yelp

Future Park Rangers
Camp Shi-ini, another option for kids from ages 4-13 with a great counselor to camper ratio of 6:1 camp-to-counselor ration, is held at Arroyo Park. The Native-American themed camp keeps kids happily entertained with adventures like archery, horseback riding, extraordinary treasure hunts, bear hunting (say what?!), canoeing plus plenty of plain old fun and games. Choose from two days per week all the way up to five, but hurry—this camp is 90% booked as of this publishing.

Cost: $1140 & Up
Pasadena
Online: campshi-ini.com

Little Tree-Huggers
Nature-minded parents will love sending their kids to the Arboretum Summer Nature Camp. Explorers from ages 5-11 will dig in the dirt, plant seedlings, test their cooking skills and play plenty of games. There are nine one-week sessions throughout the summer and there’s a choice of daily attendance without committing to a couple of days or the full week. Prices are quoted for non-members but will go down if you join the Arboretum.

Cost: $70 per day; $180 & Up
Arcadia
Online: arboretum.org/

photo: Camp Keystone

Thrill-Seeking Tots
Toddlers can slip and slide with the best of them at Camp Keystone located in Agora Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains.  Jr. Camp consists of kids ages 3-5 in groups of 12 campers to with a minimum of 2 staff members will have the ultimate summer experience with a variety of activities (from arts and crafts and fishing to sports and water play) to enhance their developmental skills and coordination. Choose from two days per week all the way up to five. Bonus? Transportation is also available for an additional fee.

Cost: $220 & Up
Agoura Hills
Online: campkeystone.com

Young Athletes
Super energized tots ages 4-6 can get their wiggles out at Junior Camp at Prime Time Sports Camp offers basketball, baseball, soccer, flag football, tennis, golf, volleyball and much more. Plus there’s a“Theme Of The Week” that drives the daily art and enrichment projects. You can even pay to have lunch included!

Cost: $475 & Up
West LA, Santa Monica, Silverlake and Hancock Park
Online: primetimesportscamp.com

For the Pre-Schooler Who Loves Being All Over the Place (That’s All of Them!)
Campers ages 4-12 can experience fun beach days, field trips to amusement parks, and fun dress-up days (such as super hero day) at the Summer AdventureCamp at AdventurePlex. They get a full day of crafts, exercises such as yoga, obstacle courses, hands-on activities, and outdoor fun all in a day’s play. Choose from daily enrollment to weekly sessions—perfect for those parents who can’t commit.

Cost: $60 per day; $250 & Up
Manhattan Beach
Online: adventureplex.org

Drama Queens and Kings
The Early Stages workshop at Santa Monica Playhouse for 4-to-6-year-olds focuses on the delights of creativity, self-expression, and imagination, instilling a true love of sharing, caring, and performance. Structured creative activities such as story-telling, crafts, songs, movement, make-up, and costumes culminate in a live performance. The workshop stimulates cognitive, language, social, emotional and physical skills in the early stages of a child’s development in a fun, comfortable, and supportive atmosphere. The Early Stages Workshop has one session, Jun. 25 to 29 and meets Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – Noon.

Cost: $345
Santa Monica
Online: santamonicaplayhouse.com

 

What are your summer plans? Got a favorite pint-sized camp we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

—Sommy Rhee & Andie Huber

RELATED STORIES:

Things To Do With Kids in LA

Tracking LA’s Most Instagrammable Walls

Now Open: Museum of Failure

The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

 

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Here’s How I Got My Tween Back into the Magic of Stories at Bedtime

By Jennifer Porter

“The good and kindly prince rode over the dune and was lost from sight. That was just the beginning of his quest to solve the riddle of the golden owl.” Sound a little spooky? Hope so! That was how I ended the third installment of a bedtime story I’m telling my tween this winter.

I’d been longing for tuck-in sessions that seemed to have dropped off our bedtime routine. With after school activities, homework, team sports and dinner to check off our nightly to do list, our family’s bedtime routine had suffered.

Just a short year ago, I would lay down nightly with my son to recap the day, share a laugh and talk about what we were both looking forward to in the next day and beyond. A few months ago, I realized I was feeling disconnected emotionally from him as I seemed to be focusing so much on getting things done in our family life.

It’s not lost on me that as a working mom with elementary school kids, our quality family time is the few hours after work and school and before the Sandman arrives. These precious few hours had been diluted into routine that needed a little more inspiration.

I can’t remember who cried uncle first, but one night this fall I found myself in a most familiar, if not entirely comfortable, space on a sliver of my son’s twin bed. Our chat had covered the day’s events, which would have been enough for me. Then my little boy asked for a story.

My husband and I have read to our kids nearly every night for as long as we can remember. Though they still enjoy being read to our son and daughter’s reading needs have tapered as their own reading skills have developed.

We still laugh as a family about how many times we have all read the book HUG by Jez Alborough, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, and let’s not forget every one of Mo Willems’ treasures, among many others.

His was a cry to connect and be entertained. I’d posit that’s what we’re all looking for in art and artistry. And I was up for the challenge.

I paused to brainstorm a setting. Then I needed a protagonist and admittedly phoned it in with my good and kindly prince. I took my time and a few minutes later had enough in my quiver to pull the first bit of a tale together.

Once I had a few pieces laid out, it was easy to fill in details from my own imagination and from there, I took my cues from my audience too!

As our story has progressed over the months, I’ve jotted down notes in my bedside journal to make sure I remember where we were in the story. Sadly, we both forget now and then as our epic tale is not a nightly affair. Remember the homework, hoops practice and other demands? But, we travel more than a few nights a week to a wonderful world that we have created together.

And while I’m the one telling the story, he helps guide me as my inspiration. Depending on my son’s reaction to story details, I’ll head one way or another. It’s an organic ‘choose your own adventure’ and I love being open to telling this story on the fly.

As I’m telling our story, there’s no right or wrong, no good or bad except for the evil-doers, of course, just us traveling slowly on a journey whose end is uncertain. Thankfully, we seem to have already arrived…together.

Here’s how you can begin your own epic tale with your tween.

Build a framework. Select any of the following to boost your imagination and inspiration: time-period, location, protagonist (Female? Male?), etc. (Our epic tale involves a prince who is sent on a three-year journey to solve a riddle with the help of his ancient navigator.)

What he doesn’t know is that his little sister has stowed away within the caravan and will be critical to the party’s success. It’s no coincidence that our tale echoes our family’s make up of big brother and little sister. Embrace what you know and love!

Base your story on something that interests your tween right now. It’s perfectly fine to create a contemporary tale that mirrors her/his own world view. It might even help guide conversations about what’s happening socially and emotionally.

Keep it tight. Don’t try to tell too much in one story telling session. If you get excited about one thread, by all means go with it, but it’s nice to capture that excitement the following session so take a note and keep your story to 10 to 15 minutes per session.

End your story telling sessions on a high note. It’s fun to pose a question to close your nightly tale. For example, I might ask ‘How do you think our good and kindly prince will discover his sister has joined him on his quest?’

And above all else… have fun!

Featured Photo Courtesy: Annie Spratt

 

RELATED STORIES:

No Matter How Busy the Day Is, There’s Always Time for Books with My 4 Kids

11 Books That Will Make Your Kids Better People

New Book Uncovered From Famed Author of “Where the Wild Things Are”

 

 

Jennifer Porter is the owner of Satsuma Kids Shop in Seattle where they believe that today is a gift, so let's put a bow on it! Jennifer is also a writer and surface designer who blogs about ways to celebrate little and big every day. Thanks for sharing the love!

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Do This Now: Family & Baby Tours at the Portland Art Museum

by Katrina Emery

You might not think your 6-month-old or 6-year-old are ready to explore their passion for art, but the Portland Art Museum disagrees. With a small manageable size, great rotating exhibits (catch the Andy Warhol one before it leaves in January!), and a variety of ways to experience the pieces, a fantastic afternoon art experience is possible for both the big and little art lovers in your family! The staff at the art museum knows that keeping a child occupied and quiet in a hush-hush museum is almost impossible, so they’ve created Family Tours that guarantee fun for everyone. Read on to find out more.

photo: Mike Krzeszak via Flickr

Family Tours
The tours are geared towards fidgety ones and their caregivers: anyone under 17 is free! Join a family-friendly docent tour every Sunday at 12:30pm. Each hour-long tour ranges across the whole museum and include rotating and permanent exhibitions. They’re themed for the younger crowd with topics like “Colorific,” “Animals in Art” or “Art Across Cultures.” The tours are free with admission, just show up in the lobby to join.

Baby Tours
It’s an extra challenge to get anywhere with a baby under one. For parents of the very young the museum offers Baby Mornings on the first Thursday of every month at 10am. The informal group meets in the Andrée Stevens Room, complete with tea, blankets, games and toys for your baby. The tours are also themed, and provide a time for some adult conversation as well as helping baby enjoy their first artworks.

And they get it—you aim to be there at 10, but by the time you get out the door it’s more like 10:30. The tour will wait until they get a big enough group to go, and they also offer a second tour around 11:15 (or when another group is ready). Enjoy the museum with your baby, stress-free.

photo: Parker Knight via Flickr

How to Talk to Your Kids About Art
Talking to kids about a difficult topic can be a huge challenge. The Portland Art Museum’s goal is to create a space for dialogue, reflection, and coming together, and their Family Tours reflect that. When you see the artwork, ask your kids what they think. What do they see? What do they think about it? The Corita Kent: Spiritual Pop exhibit (running through Jan 2017) is a great example of tough topics. Kent was a nun, teacher, and activist in LA in the 60’s, known for her vibrant revolutionary screen-prints. Look for her messages of peace and hope among the billboard-style bright colors.

The museum has created a guide to facilitate hard conversations here, along with links to more resources.

Current exhibits
Cranes, Dragons, and Teddy Bears: Kids will love the small, beautiful children’s clothing from Japan, currently on display. Some kimonos show off detailed dyeing techniques, while others have hand-painted novelty figures on them. Challenge your little ones to find the teddy bears and dragons! On display until March 26, 2017.

Restoring the Breath—Sacred Relationship: Beautiful Salish coast weavings are on display until February in the Center for Contemporary Native Art gallery. The gallery features four accomplished artists with examples of their weavings, and honors their combined teacher and the sacred relationship to their work. Salish history and culture is brought to life in these intricate blankets!

Don’t miss the ongoing but always changing Object Stories, an exhibit where people bring in objects and record a story telling why they are meaningful. Browse through the past recorded stories, or encourage your kids to tell their own story! This is a great conversation-sparker on what makes items special. Check out the current highlighted Stories until Jan 30 on Sound Beyond the Auditory. The objects displayed are experiments in making sound visible and tactile, important explorations for the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

photo: Cliff Williams via Flickr

Getting hungry
It’s best to enjoy art with a happy belly (that’s true for kids or adults!), so fill up at the Museum Cafe onsite. Coffee drinks, bagels, breakfast, snack and lunch options are all available. Other nearby options include Elephant’s Deli in Director’s Park, and the 11th and Alder food cart pod!

The Details
The museum is located downtown in the Park Blocks. While there is no dedicated parking garage, there are some nearby ones as well as street parking. Public transportation is plentiful with several bus lines running nearby, as well as a MAX stop a few blocks away.

Bags and large backpacks must be checked upon entry, so pare down to the essentials. Strollers are allowed inside, but littler ones might do even better in a carrier (and you’ll get a break from navigating!).

Tickets are $19.99 for adults, with discounts for seniors and students. Members are free. Tip: buy online to avoid the wait when you arrive!

Portland Art Museum
1219 Southwest Park Avenue
Portland, Oregon
503-226-2811
Online: www.pam.org

What’s your favorite art museum experience? Tell us in the comments below!

—Katrina Emery

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Cindy Lou, Merry Minions and Hot Butterbeer: How the Grinch Didn’t Steal Christmas

by Meghan Rose

Here’s a holiday treat that will appeal to everyone in the family: a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood.  Cindy-Lou and all the Whos will have you story telling, signing, dancing, ornament making, and Grinch and Max meeting. Young mischief makers will thrill to the merry Minion festivities over at Super Silly Fun Land and witches and wizards can feel the magic of the season on Hogswart grounds and wandering through Hogsmeade, keeping warm with some new hot butter beer. The holiday spirit permeates every corner of Universal Studios Hollywood now through Dec. 30, and we’ve got the scoop on where to go and what to do!

Head Straight To Whoville

Don't pass "Go," don't collect $200. When you get to Universal Studios, beeline for Universal Plaza in the center of the park, as that's where the Grinch will be hanging out with Cindy-Lou and all the other Whovillians. The park tends to get more crowded as the day progresses, so you want to get here first thing to have Max-imum time to meet the Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou and all the other Whos who are walking around. You can also take part in the activities before lines get crazy.

Dates: “Grinchmas” runs weekends on Dec. 1, 2, 8-9 and then continues daily from Dec. 14-30, 2018
Hours: The park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at various times
Cost: Tickets start at $109

Universal Studios
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City
Online: universalstudioshollywood.com

Merry Grinchmas! Have you been to see the Grinch at Universal Studios Hollywood?  We’d love to hear your favorite seasonal activity.

—Meghan Rose

All photos by Meghan Rose. A special thanks to Universal Studios Hollywood for hosting our visit.

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

50 Things Bay Area Kids Must Do Before They’re 10

by Emily Myers

If you’ve spent your first decade in the Bay Area, there are a handful of things you must do before you blow out those ten candles in order to be considered a true NorCal kid. We’ve rounded them up for you, from eating Indian food to playing ancient arcade games at the Wharf. How many have you already checked off?

Photo: Woodleywonderworks via Flickr

1. Get out on the Bay. The fleets of ferries making the trip under the bridge aren’t just for the tourists. If you’re the adventurous type, ditch the ferry and rent a kayak or go fishing.

2. Jump on your bike. Don’t bother with the lycra, just stabilize with training wheels (if necessary) and put your foot down.

3. Go to the Cable Car Museum and look in the heart and belly of this feat of San Franciscan engineering.

4. Explore American Indian history at the Ohlone Village in Fremont’s Coyote Hills Regional Park, or a Miwok Village in Point Reyes.

5. Eat in Chinatown. Make this vibrant city neighborhood, with low-slung lanterns and highly delicious dim sum, your sensory playground for the day.

6. Set off for a gold panning adventure within a few hours of the Bay Area. If you can’t make it to Gold Country you can still step back in time and see nuggets the size of gobstoppers on display in Berkeley and San Francisco.

7. Dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean.

8. Find your favorite museum. Cal Academy, Oakland Museum, Exploratorium, SFMOMA, Lawrence Hall of Science, Bay Area Discovery, the list goes on…

9. Eat ice-cream! Swensens, Smitten or Humphry Slocombe? Pick your favorite and add sprinkles.

10. Hear the sound of a Wave Organ.

11. Sleep under the stars. Go camping (or glamping). The Bay Area has so many options from beaches to redwood forests. Don’t forget the s’mores.

12. Built a fort in the Presidio. While you are there check out the land art of artist Andy Goldsworthy. Tick two things off your list and set up camp here.

13. Catch some live music.

photo credit: Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

14. See the Golden Fire Hydrant, credited with saving the Mission District from the fire that followed the 1906 earthquake. Then head over to fabulous Mission Dolores playground, grab a bite and take a look at the famous murals in this vibrant neighborhood.

15. Play 100-year old arcade games at the Musée Mécanique. Don’t forget your quarters!

16. Climb aboard the historic ships at San Francisco’s Hyde Street Pier.

17. Visit the San Andreas Fault walk at Bear Valley Visitor Centre near Point Reyes Station.

18. Do a fun run. A great way to explore a new ‘hood.

19. Stack stones at Crissy Field.

20. Learn the difference between seals and sea lions. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marine Mammal Center for clues.

21. Spend the night at a museum. Unroll your sleeping bag for the ultimate slumber party!

22. Hike a trail. See if you can name some of the wildflowers and spot some of California’s wildlife on the way.

23. Visit Mrs Grossman’s sticker factory in Petaluma.

24. Eat fish and chips at the Pelican Inn followed by an afternoon on Muir Beach.

Photo: Yinghai via Flickr

25. See the Giant Redwoods.

26. Get out to a ballgame.

27. Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge.

28. Visit a farm. Some will even let you stay the night, others give you the controls to a hydraulic tractor!

29. Get your geek on in San Jose at the Tech Museum of Innovation. While you’re nearby, check out the tech capital of Palo Alto.

Photo: Boudin’s

30. Eat sourdough bread, then see how it’s made.

31. Catch a crab in the Bay Area’s wonderful tide pools, from Santa Cruz to Bolinas.

32. Visit the San Francisco zoo and get up close and personal with some furry friends!

33. See the fog roll in. If you want to feel it too, the Exploratorium has a Fog Bridge installation mocking it up for those who need yet more summer gloom.

34. Watch an outdoor movie. Stretch bedtime and settle in under the stars for family film nights with your favorite movie characters.

photo credit: Pizzaiolo

35. Eat Pizza. Make Little Italy your starting point and let your taste buds lead the way.

36. Fly a Kite.

37. Visit a Lighthouse. Point Bonita is within a few miles of San Francisco. Further afield is Point Pinos in Pacific Grove, or Point Santa Cruz – home to the first ever surf museum. Or go one better and stay the night at one of the oldest nightlights on the west coast, Pigeon Post near Pescadero.

38. Watch elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Park.

Photo: Chabot Science Center

39. Stargaze at the Cabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. Look out for special sleepover offers in partnership with Red Tricycle.

40. Watch for whales.

41. Watch the Blue Angels’ dare-devil maneuvers in the skies above the bay during Fleet Week celebrations. A Bay Area tradition for 34 years.

42. Climb some steps. And descend in style. Pick your favorite life-sized chutes and ladders from around the Bay Area.

43. See the monarch butterflies when they overwinter in Pacific Grove. October to February, the kings and queens of the butterfly world arrive by the thousands. If that’s too far to go, check out these other Bay Area butterfly sanctuaries.

44. Take a spin on a carousel.

45. Plan a trip to Yosemite. Get prepped before you go with some high octane athletics and maybe some climbing practice.

46. Build a sandcastle. Go one better and enter a castle building competition.
Photo: Chino

47. Eat sushi, saag or carne asada—prove your kiddie foodie cred at one of the Bay’s great international restaurants.

48. Take a road trip.

49. Visit 826 Valencia for pirate gear and story telling.

50. Go behind bars at Alcatraz.

Can you add to the list? Let us know what you’ve tried, tested, tasted or traversed in the comments below.

—Emily Myers

Photos are the author’s unless otherwise credited.

 

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

The Story Times You Have to Check Out at Least Once

by Katie Brown

Kids who are read to are more likely to recognize the letters of the alphabet, count to 20, and write their own name. Plus, it’s fun! When you just aren’t in the mood to “do the voices” yourself (or perhaps you’re desperately searching for an unreserved copy of Americanah for your book club), make plans to hit up one of these popular story time events (um, get there early!) and know you’ve done something good for your book worm today.

Photo: Mosaic District via Facebook

Stories from Strawberry Park 
Every Tuesday at 10 am, a different story teller or story telling group (from Voices in the Glen, a local story telling guild) entertains kids 10 and younger with interactive tales based on a theme (think: dragons, pirates, holiday seasons). The crowd typically convenes at the Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park between Target and the Angelika Film Centre, but meets inside the theater itself from October through April or during inclement weather.

2910 District Ave. (Fairfax, Va)
Online: mosaicdistrict.com

123 Andrés 
Performing all over the DMV (and beyond), Andrés Salguero is a musical celebration of Latin culture—he’ll captivate your kids (and you) in both Spanish and English as he sings about friends, colors, and the origins of your salad! Check out his online calendar to plan ahead and start practicing your salsa.

Online: 123andres.com

Young Readers Center 
Every Friday at 10:30 am, the Library of Congress hosts an early literacy program for infants and toddlers. The librarian reads several books that revolve around a theme (Independence Day, France, etc.), and families are free to access the incredible non-circulating children’s collection before and after the event.

Thomas Jefferson Building Room LJ G29
10 First St., NE (Capitol Hill)
Online: read.gov

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 
Did you know your little astronaut’s favorite Smithsonian also hosts story time? Admission is free and the dates vary, but each session includes a hands-on activity based on the selected read-aloud story (with themes such as hot air balloons, famous aviators, creatures with wings, and the planets).

Independence Ave. at 6th St., NW (Federal Center)
Online: airandspace.si.edu

Rockville Library 
The flagship Montgomery County library hosts Family Storytime on Saturdays at 10:30 am, making it a great option for weekday working parents. The stories, songs, and rhymes are geared for all ages (but most appropriate for elementary school-aged kids). Bonus: you can “bookend” your story time with Saturday brunch or lunch at one of Rockville Town Square’s nearby restaurants.

Online: rockvilletownsquare.com

Where is your favorite place to take your kid for story time? Tell us in the comments below. 

—Katie Brown

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Yurts, Tents & Trailers! Cool Camping Destinations for Every Type of Family

by Gabby Cullen

There’s no wrong way to camp. Some of us like to bring the comforts of home along for the trip while others enjoy leaving it all behind. There’s still time to load up your backback (or ginormous camper) and head for the hills, so we’ve scouted out cool spots perfect for every kind of camping family. Scroll down to find your camping style.

Glamping

Sure you enjoy the Great Outdoors. From the front stoop of your souped-up cabin complete with AC and flushing toilets.

Photo: courtesy El Capitan Canyon

El Capitan Canyon – Santa Barbara, Ca
A favorite from our SoCal and LA editors, glamping doesn’t get any more well, glam, than this spot on the California coast.  Where else would you be able to order ready-made gourmet meal kits complete with s’mores for roasting? Choose from twenty-six tents, over one-hundred cabins or the recently added Adventure Yurts. Guests can lay back and relax poolside or explore the local surroundings on complimentary beach cruisers, scope out constellations while star-gazing, or enjoy story telling and the Saturday night live music sessions.

Family Travel Tip: Forgot your toothbrush, or perhaps, the gourmet organic dipping sauce? Head straight for Canyon Market, where you’ll find better supplies than you left behind at home—it’s that awesome.

Online:  elcaptiancanyon.com

 Photo: courtesy Fuller’s Resort and Campground

Fuller’s Resort and Campground – Buchanan, Mi
At just one-and-a-half hours outside of Chicago, this glamping spot is a Red Tricycle fave. Fuller’s Resort allows families to choose their own level of luxe camping comfort—from trailer rentals to the popular log cabin and fully loaded cottages, even the pickiest of campers will be thrilled. Kids will enjoy the candy counter and ice cream that’s offered at the pavilion and parents will love the ample shade and space down at the four-hundred feet of sandy beach.

Family Travel Tip: While there’s a mile-long list of things to do nearby, you don’t have to leave Fuller’s to have fun! Rent a canoe, kayak or water toy to float the spring-fed lake, play volleyball, hit up the playground or go fishing, for a start.

Online: fullersresort.com

Natural Wonders Nearby

When you camp, you need amazing, go-big-or-go-home kinda scenery.

Photo: loppear via flickr creative commons

Mammoth National Park – Mammoth, Ky
Getting a good look at the world’s longest cave system is on the bucket list, so head for Mammoth National Park and park yourself in one of their three campgrounds. Mammoth Cave campground is ideal for families—it’s near the little-caver friendly frozen Niagara Tour, which, at an easy quarter-mile, even the tiniest walkers can marvel at natural formations Rainbow Dome, Drapery Room and the Frozen Niagara Formation. The campground itself comes with running water, tables, showers and it’s the only one in the park with a camp store.

Family Traveling Tip: Strollers and baby backpack carriers are not allowed in the cave system.

Online: nps.gov/maca

Photo: NPS photo via flickr creative commons

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve – Mosca, Co
Fancy a roll down the tallest dunes in North America? Then you’ll want to set up camp at Great Sand Dunes National Park Preserve in Colorado. Pinyon Flats campgrounds is filled with perks, including shaded camping spots, and it’s located only one mile away from the Visitor Center. After sledding or sand-boarding down the nearly seven-hundred foot dunes, head for Modano Creek, which in normal seasons has plenty of splash-worthy spots for cooling off. If everyone wants to escape the heat, try the Monteville Nature Trail or the Mosca Pass Trail.

Family Travel Tip: Want to get away? The family can hike into Buck Creek, a trail designed for first time backpackers. Look for the trailhead just a half-mile north of Loop 2 in Pinyon Flats.

Online: nps.gov/grsa

Bike Camping

Taking a two-wheeled expedition is the way to go. You don’t even mind toting the kids along for the ride.

Photo: Madi Carlson via Family Bike Ride

Bainbridge Island – Bainbridge Island, Wa
It’s no surprise Seattle Kidical Mass director Madi Carlson looks forward to her annual family bike-camping trek to Bainbridge Island. A fairly short journey of just over seven miles, riders can hitch a ride on the ferry across the water to Winslow, then set off on their adventure. Head’s up parents! There are a few hills—be prepared to drop a gear or two while pedaling with your littles. Located on and above a sandy stretch of beach, the new and improved Fay Bainbridge Park campground offers thirty spots on a first-come-first serve basis and the hike-in/bike-in spots are budget-friendly at only $7 per person. The stellar views of Mount Rainier (on a clear day!) complete the package.

Family Travel Tip: Every Saturday in August (8:30-9:15pm) features an owl show with facts about local wildlife and a visit with Orion, a great horned owl. For more tips (or to join in on a planned 2015 trip) head over to Madi’s blog Family Bike Ride.

Online: biparks.org/parks/fay-bainbridge

Photo: Todd Fahrner via flickr creative commons

Angel Island – San Francisco, Ca
San Francisco offers several of the best bike-camping trips around and we love the super family-friendly trip to Angel Island. With no more than two-and-a-half miles of paved trails, it makes lugging the supplies (and maybe a kid or two) easier. Take the ferry to Ayala cove and head out. There are eleven sites, all with fantastic views of the Bay Area. Ridge Site Five, located on the southwest side of the island is a favorite, offering light shelter and a partial view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Worried about making new animal friends looking for snacks? Rest assured, your food will remain un-nibbled because each site has a food locker. There’s also a water tap, picnic table, and campfire ring.

Family Travel Tip: If you feel like eating out instead of hauling dinner across the bay, head for Angel Island Cafe, where you’ll find a kid’s menu, hot and cold sandwiches and much more.

Online: parks.ca.gov

Beach Camping

Because no vacation is complete without the sand and surf.

photo: Mrs Gemstone via flickr creative commons

Assateague Island National Seashore – Berlin, Md
Open year-round, the camping at Assateague Island is for beach bums of all styles. There’s both drive and walk-in sites as well as backpacking trails for the hardy types. The beaches are easily accessible via the boardwalks through the dunes so families can search for shells, try to catch a glimpse of the wild ponies, go kayaking or birding or both! Thinking about fishing? Anytime is a good time, as surf-fishing is allowed twenty-four hours a day.

Family Travel Tip: Camping is only allowed on the Maryland side of Assateague Island National Seashore and reservations are required through the busy months of Apr. – Oct..

Online: assateagueisland.com/camping

Photo: Clinton Steeds via flickr creative commons

Navarro Beach Campground – Albion, Ca
You want a sandy stretch off the beaten path, and you’ll find it at Navarro Beach Campground, which is part of the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. The campground has ten spots with no running water but is located at the mouth of Navarro river and only a short walk from the beach, where, despite the typical Northern California cold water, parents can find plenty of shallow pools for tiny toes and exploring eyes. Collect shells, driftwood or just take in the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs that dangle nearby.

Family Travel Tip: Forgot to make that reservation? Pack up anyways, Navarro Beach Campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Online: parks.ca.gov/navarroriverredwoodsstatepark

Mountain and Forest Camping

It’s not camping unless huge trees are involved.

Photo: Doug Kerr via flickr creative commons

Savoy Mountain State Forest – Savoy, Ma
With fifty miles of wooded trails, it’s safe to say you might not be out of the woods until…well, you pack up and leave! There are forty-five camping spots and year-round cabin rentals near South Pond.  Pitch your tent and start exploring the park, which boasts a swimming beach, nature center and access to Bog Pond trail, which is perfect for beginning hikers. Busby Trail offers snap-worthy views of Spruce Hill and for remote forest scenery, Tannery Falls is a must. A series of cascades, this easy-to-moderate uphill hike is off the beaten trail but not too hard for kids.

Family Travel Tip: Finding Tannery Falls can be tricky. The gravel road continues for two miles from the campsite and dead ends at the trailhead. If you need more guidance, grab a map from the campground.

Online: mass.gov.eaa/massparks/savoymountainstatepark

Photo: Robbie Shades via flickr creative commons

Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
Located in a Ponderosa Pines region, if you want trees, you’ve got them at Bryce Canyon National Park. Pick from two spot, North and Sunset campgrounds, both of which are close to the visitors center and the phenomenal (and natural) wonders of the geological formations—called hoodoos. For an easy hike, hit the Mossy Cave Trail. At just over one mile, it ends at a little waterfall and set against the red mountains, it’s quite the scenic route. Southern Utah is also one of the best places to try stargazing, so be sure to sign the kiddos up for any of the numerous programs offered. Head straight for the Visitor’s Center for the latest info.

Family Travel Tip: Want get a meal to go? Order a pre-packaged picnic at Bryce Canyon Lodge and hit the road.

Online: nps.gov/bcnp/planyourvisit 

Photo: Enota Mountain Resort via Facebook

Enota Mountain Retreat – Hiawassee, Ga
Nestled in the North Georgia mountains and surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest, it doesn’t get more woodsy than Enota. Nature nuts, you’ll love the fact that the entire facility is certified organic. There’s a ten acre working organic farm on-site—complete with chickens, cows and miniature horses. Families can pick and choose between pop-up campsites, RV spaces and cabin lodging. With four waterfalls, five streams, two trout ponds, playground, trampolines, campfires and hayrides, there’s no end to the exploration, phew!

Family Travel Tip: The organic farm offers daily tours, animals feedings and guests are invited to purchase produce at market value.

Online: enota.com

RV/Trailer Camping

Your tent comes on four wheels with beds and comfy couches. Yup, it’s your little home away from home.

Photo: courtesy Yosemite Pines RV Park

Yosemite National Park – Yosemite Valley, Ca
You (like most everyone else), have a jaw-dropping shot of Half-Dome at sunrise pinned to your “places I want to go camping” board on Pinterest but tents ain’t your thing. Well, kick back and drive on, because one of the best places to camp and take in nature at its finest is also one of the most trailer-friendly. Even though there are no running water or electric hook-ups for trailers, being close to much of the popular hikes makes it worth the extra effort. With ten RV sites in the park, you could come back year after year and not see it all. If you really want to rough it, the water sources at Tamarack Flats, Yosemite Creek and Tuolumne Meadows are creeks, not taps.

Family Travel Tip: Even though it’s twenty-two miles outside of the park, a popular park for families is Yosemite Pines RV Park, where activities like panning for gold and petting an alpaca win big points with the small set.

Online: nps.gov/yose/rvcamping

Photo: Myrtle Beach Travel Park via Facebook

Myrtle Beach Travel Park Campground – Myrtle Beach, Sc
The ultimate in beach-front camping, Myrtle Beach Travel Park is also one of the best RV spots in the United states. It’s an all-day playground. When the kids get tired of the sand and surf, they may want to hit up the lazy river and kiddie pool, try their hand at freshwater fishing, compete in the family olympic events, play bocce ball or get play games at the arcade. There are wacky themes like “Christmas in July”, dive-in movie nights and even Easter Egg hunts if you happen to find yourself there over the holiday. This park has everything you’d want in a camping vacation, and you can even pitch a tent if you don’t want to park the trailer. Be sure to book it now because there’s a seven-day stay minimum from June – Oct. and spots fill up quickly.

Family Travel Tip: Be sure to try a slice of the pizza at the cafe, or, have it delivered to your camping site!

Online: myrtlebeachtravelpark.com

Boat Camping

You love the VIP access boat-in camping gives you and your crew.

Photo: John Menard via flickr creative commons

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area – Manila, Utah
Positioned between the Utah and Wyoming borders, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is one of those jaw-dropping spots best explored by boat. With at least four boat-in-only spots—Kingfisher Island, Jarvis, Gooseneck and Hideout Canyon—campers can enjoy the seclusion of being in a small group of visitors who boat in their supplies.  The ninety-one mile long lake has a range of awesome terrain, from high desert to heavy forest mountains. Known for it’s trophy lake trout, it’ll be a blast watching the kids attempting to snag a fish that could be almost thirty pounds! The Green River feeds into Flaming Gorge and there are plenty of family-friendly rafting trips available.

Family Travel Tip: Even though the boat-in campgrounds are secluded, be ready for lots of water traffic, as there are three marinas around the reservoir.

Online: flaminggorgecountry.com

Where’s your favorite spot to camp with the kids? Share with us on the comments!

—Gabby Cullen

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Explore the Power of Play at Tacoma’s Children’s Museum

by Rachael Brandon

Although spring has sprung we know there are still a few more indoor play days left on the calendar before Olaf’s favorite season bids us farewell. If you’ve already played out your local rainy-day fun spaces, consider heading to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma and taking advantage of this lesser known, but drive-worthy kid mecca. Did we mention admission is pay as you will? Read on to learn about the museum’s playscapes and special programs, including camps to fill your summer schedule.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Playscapes

Woods
The adventure begins in the Woods playscape where exploration and learning meet Swiss Family Robinson. Tots will settle in like they’re at grandma’s house when they discover small nooks, dark caves, a kitchen, and a cozy corner full of sensory toys and books. The older set will love that this area encourages lots of movement, whether it’s over the rope bridge, under elevated platforms, or through the log pile.

photo: Andrea B. via Yelp

Water
Parents love water exhibits, right? How could we not? Our munchkins get to splash, experiment and delight in their play and we don’t have to hassle with the set up or clean up. In this uniquely designed Water playscape, the minis will love getting to control the flow of cascading water tables, creating pathways for toys to maneuver, and experiencing water in motion. Water troughs with bubbling fountains also invite curiosity into sinking and floating objects.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Voyager
A prominent and intriguing play-structure located in the center of the museum is a dream-like winged vessel called Voyager. The Littles will love to explore the lower area (of the ship? or is it a plane?) that’s loaded with props and dress-up materials to engage those big imaginations. And older kiddos will be eager to climb aboard the main cabin where they can create make-believe flight crews, pretend play an adventure, and burn off energy using recumbent bikes to ignite the engines and power-up the wings.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Becka’s Studio
A fully windowed, garage-like art haven uniquely called Becka’s Studio, makes for a cozy hideout for those Messy Marvins and mini-Monets. There’s always a few projects planned with a common theme and an ever-rotating supply of recyclable materials to sculpt, paint and create away with. Leave those fridge-worthy creations on a drying rack, then pick them up before you go. Picture perfect!

photo:  Rachael Brandon

Invention
Baby Edisons who spend their days pulling switches and turning nobs to see what happens will flip for the Invention playscape. Those busy bees wont want to stop working the air tubes with scarves, building with small and large materials, and creating pathways on the Whoosh! wall for balls to travel through. Now why didn’t we think of that?

photo: Rachael Brandon

Special Programs

Membership
When you purchase one of the museum’s membership packages you’ll be cashin’ in on free We Ones Weekly classes, Power Play experiences and member parking, plus members-only on Mondays, all for an annual fee of $100-$125/year. Did we mention the discounts? You get them on everything from entrance fees to other children’s museums, birthday parties, parents’ night out events and more. Cha ching!

photo: Michelle H. via Yelp

Wee Ones Weekly
Get more out of your museum experience with an engaging and thematic Wee Ones Weekly program for toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers. Kidlets will love the singing, dancing, art making, and story time plus having free run of the museum 30-minutes before it opens. Classes take place on Mondays (members only) and Fridays (general public) from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m., and cost $15 per non-member family of four, plus $5 for each additional child. No registration is necessary.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Play to Learn
We love library programs, but when they’re tied to activities, songs and toys presented by the Children’s Museum of Tacoma it’s eureka! Each week, Pierce County-area libraries host free drop-in classes for the six and under set that they’ll beg to go back to again and again. Want to know more? Check the museum’s website for the details and see for yourself.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Summer Camps
Those precocious kiddos who love to create, experiment and imagine will not want to miss out on an exciting adventure this summer at one of the five camps offered at the museum. Campers ages 3-6 can spend a week developing skills in art, science, cooking, story telling, or on an imaginative adventure. Costs vary based on class length with some camps running from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. ($130/non-member; $117/member) and others from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ($200/non-member; $180/member).

Preschool
What could be more thrilling than spending those emergent preschool years learning in a classroom at a kid’s museum. Learn more about the museum’s play-based program by visiting an upcoming open house on April 14 or May 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or check their website.

 photo: Dana M. Via Yelp

Parking
Street parking along Pacific Ave. will likely be your best bet and will only set you back $1 per hour. Everyone tries their first time, but parking isn’t allowed in the United Way lot adjacent to the Museum on weekdays (except for members). Cost is $5 for 3 hours on weekends. Parking garages at Umpqua Bank, Union Station, and the Tacoma Art Museum are all available for standard fees.

photo: Rachael Brandon

Good to Know
Kid museums are busy places, so if your want some extra move-around room arrive early. After a couple of hours of playing you’ll find the necessary refueling essentials (coffee please!) for purchase at Café Play located in the entrance area, or pack a lunch and store your goodies in a free locker.

Children’s Museum of Tacoma
1501 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, Wa 98402
253-627-6031
Online: playtacoma.org

Hours: Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Closed Tuesday; Third Thurs. of each month, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Member Only Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-10 a.m.
Cost: Pay as you will

Looking for other fun things to do in Tacoma? Check out our Guide to Tacoma’s Must-See Attractions.

When was the last time you visited the Children’s Museum of Tacoma? What is your family’s favorite exhibit? Let us know in the Comments below.

— Rachael Brandon

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

5 Ways to Ring In the Year of the Ram With Your Little Lambs

by Christina Montoya Fiedler

Whether you call it the year of the ram, goat or sheep (in the Chinese zodiac this year is referred to by all those names, so pick your child’s favorite!), it’s time to celebrate the Lunar New Year. These are our favorite “kid” friendly celebrations; so herd them over to dine on dim sum, see traditional dragon dancers, cheer on Chinese acrobats, meet some furry friends and learn about Chinese culture.

photo credit: Meghan Rose

A Zoodiac Lunar New Year Celebration
Join in a Lunar New Year celebration at the Zoo! Explore the connections between the new year and the animals of the Zodiac in this, the year of the sheep (or goat, or ram—all depending on what zoodiac calendar you’re looking at!)  with dragon dance parades and shows, Chinese Taiji Quan classes, Kung Fu shows and audience participation classes, lion dance parades and history/culture lecture, and a “Legend of the Dragon” show. Kids can enjoy making mini Chinese lanterns and a traditional Chinese New Year crafts project called upside-down Fu, which predicts luck, happiness, and prosperity in the immediate future.  Plus meet the animals of the “zoodiac.”

The Zoodiac celebration takes place February 21 & 22 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $14/child, $19/adult.

LA Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., Griffith Park
Online: lazoo.com

photo credit: juicyrai via flickr

Spend the Day In China Town
Celebrate the year of the Ram at the annual Chinatown Golden Dragon Parade featuring traditional dances that give the event its name. Watch as festive marching bands, traditional Chinese entertainers, and colorful floats make their way down Broadway Street in a celebration worthy of New Year complete with a firecracker finale. Last year’s event drew a huge crowd, so get there early to grab a seat with a good view.

After the parade, head down to the Chinese New Year Festival in Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown. Cooking demos, singing competitions, fruit and vegetable carvings, traditional story telling, and cultural workshops, are just some of the reasons to attend. Not to be missed are the Chinese acrobats and Lions dancers in the Central Plaza main stage. And the food! From traditional delicacies to food truck fare, there’s something for everyone. Thirsty parents take note: there is also a craft beer garden featuring local breweries pouring their favorite brew.

The New Year Festival takes place from noon-9 p.m. on February 21. The Golden Dragon Parade takes place at 1 p.m.  But if you can’t make the parade or the celebration today, there are other wonderful Chinatown celebrations, from a Firecracker Run, to a midnight welcoming ceremony (hey, if you’ve got newborns, you’re up anyway!) to tours and a scavenger hunt, so check the website for other activities.

Good to know: Skip the parking nightmare and take the Metro Gold Line, hopping off at the Chinatown Station.

Chinatown Central & West Plazas
943-951 N. Broadway, Chinatown
Online: chinatownla.com

photo credit:  Raul Ocampo via flickr

Head to the Huntington’s Beautiful Chinese Garden
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Huntington Garden’s newest garden, the Chinese Garden,  This is the perfect place to usher in the Year of the Ram. The two-day family event includes lion dancers (at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.), martial arts demonstrations, mask changing performances, traditional music, authentic Chinese cuisine, and more. And while you’re here don’t forget to swing by the beloved Children’s Garden with your kids (and definitely don’t forget a change of clothes, as they love to get wet in the misters).

The celebration takes place on February 21 & 22 from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and all activities are included with admission, which is $8/child and $23/adult on the weekends.

Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino
Online: huntington.org

photo credit: Loren Javier via flickr

Disneyland Lunar New Year Celebration
Make the drive to Disneyland’s California Adventure for a Lunar New Year’s celebration at the Happiest Place on Earth. See your favorite Disney characters decked out in traditional Chinese garb, traditional decorations through out the park and authentic music and dance performances. As a special treat, festive food and beverage options (think fresh baked almond cookies, dim sum, and ram themed goodies) are available for a limited time.

Good to know: The Disneyland Southern California pass is back!  So you can save a little money this year, if you plan on visiting the parks multiple times.

The Lunar New Year celebration takes place at Disneyland from February 19-22 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and all activities are included with general admission.

Disneyland’s California Adventure
1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Online:disneyland.disney.go.com

photo credit: Derral Chen via flickr

Chinese New Year at Santa Monica Place
For Westsiders, Santa Monica is hosting three full days of fun and festivities to ring in the Year of the Ram. Be sure to check out the Chinese dragon and ribbon dancers, stilt walkers, children’s crafts, food tastings and a whole lot more. There’s a detailed list of events online that will really help plan your day.

The celebration takes place from February 21 & 22 from 1:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica
Online: santamonicaplace.com

What are you looking forward to in the Year of the Ram?  Tell us how you will be celebrating the Lunar New Year in the comment section below.

-Christina Fiedler

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in NYC All Month Long!

by rtkatiejohnson

New York does everything big, and the holiday season is no exception. Lights, decorations and good cheer take over the city for the next few weeks, making this, as they say, the most wonderful time of the year. Here are our top holiday picks to get you and your little ones filled with the holiday sprit, NYC-style — all month long.

photo:  Justina Wong

The Three Bears Holiday Bash
Songs, dancing, puppets, and all in Central Park…what more could you ask for in a holiday show? “The Three Bears Holiday Bash” returns to the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater with its festive puppet show celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. Mama and Papa Bear’s holiday show, along with the audience sing-a-long of “12 Days of Christmas,” is guaranteed to get your whole family in the holiday spirit.

Nov. 12 – Dec. 30
$10/adults; $7/children under 12
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater
81st Street and Central Park West
Upper West Side
212-988-9093
Online: cityparksfoundation.org

photo: Charles16e via Flickr

Origami Holiday Tree
Looking for a new way to decorate your tree this year? Get inspired by the Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History. For more than 40 years, this museum tradition displays a tree that is decorated with more than 500 hand-folded models created by origami artists from all around the world. With the help of volunteers from OrigamiUSA, your little artists will have the chance to make their own origami to spice up your tree at home.

Nov. 24 – Jan. 11
Free with museum admission; click here for ticket prices
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
Upper West Side
212-769-5100
Online: amnh.org

photo: Filip Wolak

Winter’s Eve
The 15th annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square has something for every one of your holiday helpers to enjoy. The celebration begins with the beautiful Upper West Side tree lighting, which is followed by a list of festive activities to choose from for the rest of the evening. Your little ones can decorate mini-cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, watch performances from the Big Apple Circus, make holiday cards, get their faces painted, listen to Suzy Shelton band sing their catchy tunes, and watch Okamoto carve ice into a sculptures of a giant polar bear and nutcracker.

Dec. 1, 5:30 – 9 p.m.
Free
Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street
212-581-3774
Online: winterseve.nyc

photo: Bronx Museum of Arts

Family Affair: Winter Wonderland  
The Bronx Museum of Arts is helping families celebrate the holidays with its Winter Wonderland event. The whole afternoon will be filled with art activities for the entire family to enjoy. This is a great opportunity to craft some hand-made gifts for friends and family. Register here ahead of time to skip the line.

Dec. 6, 1- 4 p.m.
Tickets: Free for children under 12 accompanied by a parent or guardian
Bronx Museum of Arts
1040 Grand Concourse
718-681-6000
Online: bronxmuseum.org

 photo: Play Me a Story

MetLife Early Learner Performance Series: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
This interactive musical performance at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum will get your little one ready to spin the dreidel and light the menorah. Play Me a Story will perform this story from the popular children’s book for one afternoon, inviting the kids in the audience to join in the fun. They will learn about the magic of Hanukkah by acting out the characters and singing and dancing along.

Sun., Dec. 7, 1 & 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $9 for museum admittance; free for members & children under 1
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave.
Crown Heights
718-735-4400
Online: Brooklyn Children’s Museum

 photo: Historic Richmond Town

Christmas in Richmond Town
Nostalgic for an old-fashioned Christmas? Historic Richmond Town will give you a traditional holiday experience that will fill your whole family with joy. With carolers singing in the streets and horse-drawn carriages rolling past, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. There will also be story-telling, tours of historic homes, a choir performance, plus a visit from Santa (arriving on a fire engine!) for you and your little elves to enjoy. Be sure not to miss the free traditional tree lighting at 5 p.m.

Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $2/person; free for children six & under
Historic Richmond Town
441 Clarke Avenue
Staten Island
718-351-1611
Online: historicrichmondtown.org

photo: Joshua Winata

Winter Family Day at the Morgan Library & Museum
The annual Winter Family Day is an afternoon filled with holiday fun. This year’s theme celebrates the Middle Ages. Little knights and princesses will get to truly transform themselves by dressing in handmade costumes and creating their own holiday cards with inspiration from the museum’s manuscripts.  There will also be a heartwarming puppet show of The Magic of Hans Christian Anderson, and the afternoon comes to an end with a strolling reading of Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol.

Sun., Dec. 7, 2- 5p.m.
Click here for admission prices
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave. at 36th St.
Midtown
212-685-0008
Online: themorgan.org

photo: TalismanPHOTO

Holiday Train Show
Take your family on a magical trip through New York landmarks at the The New York Botanical Garden’s 23rd annual Holiday Train Show. With over 20 large-scale model trains and trolleys as well as models of favorite NYC destinations such as Rockefeller Center and Yankee Stadium, your little ones will be enchanted by seeing their (mini) city covered in sparkling lights. A variety of children’s activities such as scavenger hunts and puppet making, plus a performance of All Aboard with Thomas and Friends makes this an event that will be sure to become one of your family’s favorite holiday traditions. Tickets can sell out quick, so make sure to plan ahead!

Through Jan. 19
Tickets: Click here for admission prices
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx
718-817-8700
Online: nybg.org

photo: Alan Miles via Flickr

Madison Square Holiday
Everyone knows about the giant tree at Rockefeller Center, but what about the one in Madison Square Park? For over 100 years, the park has celebrated its own holiday tree tradition, and this year is gearing up to be tons of fun! There will be performances from Broadway’s Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Audra Rox. Your little ones can also listen to festive stories, learn how to plant Red Twig Dogwoods and enjoy yummy holiday treats. It’s all topped off by the Tree of Light illumination.

Dec. 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Madison Square Park
Flatiron District
212-538-1884
Online: madisonsquarepark.org

photo: City Winery New York

Holiday Sing-A-Long with Dan Zanes & Friends
Looking for something a little different to get you in the spirit this season? Sing in the holidays at City Winery for their 4th annual Holiday Sing-A-Long with Dan Zanes & Friends. This interactive musical performance will have you and your kindie rocker singing and dancing with the Grammy winning band, whose music has been featured on Sesame Street and Nickelodeon, just to name a few.

Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
Tickets: $20/person                                                                                                                          
City Winery
155 Varick St.
Tribeca
212-608-0555
Online: citywinery.com

photo: Nicole Capatasto

Doctor Kaboom’s The Science of Santa
Are your little elves curious about how Santa works his magic? Doctor Kaboom in NYU Skirball’s show wonders the same thing, and decides that Santa Claus must be the greatest scientist in the world! He performs experiments to try and explain how Santa climbs down those skinny chimneys, how his reindeer can fly around the whole world and how he knows which boys and girls have been naughty or nice.

Dec. 20, 11 a.m.
Tickets: $20-$28/person
NYU Skirball for the Performing Arts
566 LaGuardia Pl.
Washington Square
212-992-8484
Online: nyuskirball.org

photo: Queens County Farm Museum

Holiday Open House    
Don’t let the after-holiday blues get you down! Visit the Holiday Open House at the Queens County Farm Museum to keep the merriment going. There will be tours of the festively-decorated Adriance Farmhouse, as well as craft activities for children. Plus: mulled cider to keep visitors nice and cozy.

Dec. 26, 27 & 28, noon – 4 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy.
Floral Park
718-347-3276
Online: queensfarm.org

photo: New York Hall of Science via Flickr

GingerBread Lane
Four words: underground candy subway station. That’s just one amazing element of the Queens New York Hall of Science’s massive Gingerbread Lane exhibit. The 300-square-foot village made entirely of edible gingerbread, royal icing and candy, is drafted, designed, baked and built over the course of an entire year. The village includes an estimated 1,900 pounds of icing, 400 pounds of candy and 500 popunds of gingerbread dough, and is (not surprisingly) a contender for the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread exhibit. Intrigued? Check out GingerBread Lane special events, like workshops to make your own gingerbread house! GingerBread Lane is free with museum admission.

New York Hall of Science
Through Jan. 11
$11/adults, $8/children
47-01 111th St.
Corona
718-699-0005
Online: nysci.org/

What’s your favorite NYC holiday season tradition? Tell us about it in the comments below!

—Katie Johnson

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement