Earn those Thanksgiving pies! Photo courtesy of Turkey Trot Los Angeles
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Los Angeles: Parades, Turkey Trots, and More Things To Do
Stroll through vibrant foliage and gardens. Photo courtesy of Descanso Gardens
What's Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles? Places Open for Family Fun
Photo courtesy of Surfing Santa Contest via Facebook
GUIDE
Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families
Dine in or take out some of the best turkey in Tinseltown. Photo courtesy of the Huckleberry Cafe
Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
LA Zoo Lights dazzle. Photo by Jamie Pham
16 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors
LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow makes a festive family evening. Photo by Jamie Pham
10 Holiday and Christmas Events in Los Angeles to Book Now!
Get in the holiday spirit with a stroll through Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo. Photo by Gina Ragland
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Los Angeles
Ventura Botanical Gardens photo by Gina Ragland
GUIDE
Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families
Holiday lights glow bright at the Mission Inn Hotel. Photo courtesy of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Christmas Towns & Festive Hotels Near LA That Will Blow Your Mind
Raise your hands if you want to have fun in Big Bear. Photo courtesy of bigbearguide.com
Best Things To Do in Big Bear, CA with Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide for Every Season
Nothing says fall like apple picking, and believe it or not, there's great apple picking near LA!
Apple Picking near Los Angeles: Best Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
Dig in to slime-making! Sloomoo Institute LA photo by Chelsie Hill, courtesy of BFA
21 Trending and Out-of-the-Box Activities for Kids in Los Angeles
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
There is so much free fun to be had at places in LA like LACMA. Photo by Joey Zanotti via Flickr 2.0
100 Fun Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Dive into tons of fun in Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific
39 Things to Do With Kids in Long Beach
Embrace the mess! Sloomoo Institute photo by Kylie Williams
NEW Sloomoo Institute Opens in Los Angeles for Kids to Enjoy Slime Fun
Dive into fun at the Cayton Children's Museum. Photo by Matthew Tucciarone
Best Children's Museums in Los Angeles and Orange County
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up
Snoopy and his ensemble of elves are gliding onto the ice for Snoopy's Night Before Christmas. Photo courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Merry Farm, CicLAvia x Stranger Things, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

This Week: Best Summer Getaways, NYC's Free Pools and Renn Faire

8/6/15 - By Raven Snook

Every year around this time of summer, I start to wonder if my family and I are the only New Yorkers left in town. Judging from my social media feeds, everyone I know is away! If you too are suffering from vacation envy, there's an easy cure: take a family day trip. Hit a nearby beach, explore a quaint upstate town, go peach picking, get doused at a recently expanded New Jersey water park or see how many rides you can stomach at a Pennsylvania amusement park. Don't worry if you're car-challenged, many of these destinations are accessible via public transportation.

Can't get it together to get out of the city? Go on a virtual vacation to Kiawah Island, South Carolina courtesy of our Travel site. Once you click through our slide show of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort Sanctuary Hotel, you may be inspired to put in for some real time off, not just a weekend.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Take a journey back in time at the annual New York Renaissance Faire in Sterling Forest, just an hour's drive from NYC.

Or how about a modern weekend getaway to a charming town like New Paltz, NY, or NJ's Wildwoods?

It's peach season and you can pick your own at these tri-state-area farms.

We rounded up five nearby beaches that are super family-friendly to help you survive these final dog days of summer.

Too much of a schlep for you? Try one of NYC's FREE public pools. If you're going with a baby or toddler, we have some important tips to keep in mind from our reviewer who tested out Williamsburg's McCarren Park Pool.

FREE outdoor movie season wraps up this month with more than 50 flicks for families screening throughout the five boroughs.

Our weekly news post includes info on BAM's big expansion, renovations in Prospect Park and other tidbits of interest to NYC families.

Best bets for the weekend include the 25th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Queens, the opening of a new section of Brooklyn Bridge Park and a retro drive-in movie experience on Staten Island.

About the Author

Raven is a writer, editor, performer and mom, who was born and bred in NYC, just like her husband, her mother and now, her daughter. In addition to Mommy Poppins, she has written about parenting and pop culture for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, The Village Voice, the New York Post, TV Guide and SheKnows. She's also the founder of Hot Mama Burlesque, the world's only all-moms burlesque show.
Recent Articles By :
Read more articles by Raven Snook.