Ally Noel
Ally Noel has lived in Connecticut for over two decades. Before becoming a parent, she worked as an Educational Technology Specialist, helping schools and teachers integrate technology into learning. Now, she’s all about discovering the best family-friendly adventures, activities, and hidden gems. Share your tips, questions, or just say hi at ally@mommypoppins.com, and follow along for family fun at @mommypoppinsct.
Latest posts by Ally
Parenthood may have put an end to lazy lounging in the sun, but visiting a great Connecticut beach with a curious, playful toddler or preschooler in tow is a whole new kind of fun. What makes a good beach or lake experience with a little one? These tot- and mom-approved spots have features like bathrooms, concessions, gentle (or no) surf, tide pools, or spraygrounds that allow for more independent exploration with fewer meltdowns. Just pack some toys, sunscreen, and your patience, and your bound for a fun beach day.
Packing for summer camp means gathering up the towels, swimsuits, water bottles—labeling everything!—and finally, ensuring your kid has a healthy snack to power them through an action-packed day.
After a year of making school lunches for kids, it might feel overwhelming to come up with creative summer camp snacks, especially if you have a picky eater who turns up their nose at the likes of a cheese stick or tube of yogurt. So we came up with two dozen camp snack foods to woo both kids and parents with cooling, energizing, and (mostly) healthy snacks.
We separated the list into four handy sections: high-protein snacks, fruit snacks, no-refrigeration required, and allergy-aware and nut-free snacks for kids. Some might be more suited to a post-camp nosh but most can be packed up and sent out the door to summer camp with your kid.
Can you feel the excitement in the air? Summer vacation—and with it, loads of options for family fun—is almost here. It’s the last weekend of the school year and Connecticut is getting ready to party! Summer movies are starting, strawberry patches are ripening, and Summer Festival season has already kicked off. There is music in the air this weekend in Norwalk and Mystic, while Wing Dings are on parade in Bridgeport. Make sure to check out Connecticut Open House Day and take advantage of free or discounted admission to museums, parks, and galleries all across the state.
We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Enjoy the sunny weekend!
Connecticut is celebrating the unofficial start of summer in a big way! Whether you are heading to the beach or the park, there is no shortage of family fun across the state for Memorial Day weekend. Families can take their pick of parading through town, cruising the coastline, or expanding your palate at a Food Truck Festival.
If you're looking for an educational way to honor the men and women who died in service to our nation, think about attending a kid-friendly parade or ceremonies, like the Revolutionary War Encampment in Wethersfield and the Decoration Day event at Mystic Seaport.
We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic long weekend!
April is going out with a bang in Connecticut, and the last weekend of the month offers lots of ways to celebrate. Get your cotton candy and ride tickets ready, because carnival season kicks off this weekend in Meriden, Redding, and Fairfield. If you want to keep things more down to earth, make sure to check out the Spring Fling, Sheep Wool & Fiber Festival, and other Earth Day celebrations.
I’ve heard that this weekend many trees and bulbs in Connecticut will be in full bloom and the waterfalls will be flowing. Make sure you save some time to get out there and explore the natural beauty of the state we’re lucky to call home.
There have been widespread sightings of a certain bunny hopping around Connecticut! The Easter Bunny sure is making his rounds! Just about everywhere has a brunch, breakfast, train, or hunt this weekend. Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, you can get the whole family outside and explore more. Our Spring Guide is loaded with seasonal fun from fairy signings in Putnam to Spring Play Dates in Greenwich.
This weekend also kicks off Spring Break for many public schools in the Nutmeg State. If the kids are home from school, make sure to check out our 20 Fun Spring Break Events and Family Day Trip Ideas. We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!
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