Elsa Simcik

Elsa Simcik has been freelance writing for 20-something years, covering a hodgepodge of fields--health & fitness, human interest stories, and even dating. After becoming a mom she segued into writing for local magazines and websites, focusing on parenting, fun things to do with kids, and travel. The travel part is fun, but not as glamorous as it sounds, because it's traveling with kids. Still, she'll take it.

Latest posts by Elsa

3-Day Itinerary in St. Kitts with Kids for Your Perfect Family Caribbean Getaway

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sat, 10/04/2025 - 7:32am

Your family and followers will know exactly where you're vacationing when you send them a pic at the St. Kitts sign at the Timothy Hill Overlook.

St. Kitts may only be a 69-square-mile island in the Caribbean, but it packs in a ton of family fun. I know this firsthand: I recently visited St. Kitts with my teenage son, and we did more in three days than we have ever done on other Caribbean vacations. St. Kitts is an ideal destination for travelers of all ages, offering a mix of outdoor adventure (hello, zip-lining through the rainforest!), picturesque beaches, and kid-approved food.

On our trip, we primarily stuck to St. Kitts, with a quick hop over to its smaller, just-as-beautiful sister island, Nevis. Read on to see our three-day itinerary for St. Kitts with kids, including my picks for the best family-friendly St. Kitts hotels and restaurants. Now you don't have to plan your vacation or worry about anything, as I tried it all out and have some great tips.

Want more ideas for your next family vacation in St. Kitts? Check out our list of 21 Things to do in St. Kitts with Kids. Our Caribbean Family Travel Guide has even more ideas for tropical adventures.

40 Best Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids October 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 9:19am

Kick off Halloween at Duluth's Howl on the Green featuring food, music, and live entertainment, including fire dancers and aerialists! Photo courtesy of City of Duluth

Families are in for a treat this October in Atlanta with a packed calendar of fun events to enjoy, including Halloween and fall festivals!

Kick off October events in Atlanta with fried food, amazing rides, and spectacular shows at the Georgia State Fair and the Cumming Country Fair and Festival. The delicious Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay takes place across two weekends in October, so families have their pick...of apples and fun! Then it's Halloween with Boo at the Zoo, Goblins in the Garden, and sooooo many more Atlanta Halloween events and activities.

If you are excited about fall in Atlanta and want to make the most of it, check out our Atlanta Fall Guide, which includes tons of ideas for family fun like the best fall day trips from Atlanta and our favorite pumpkin patches.

Top Free Halloween Events in Atlanta 2025: Candy Crawl, Trunk-or-Treats, and More

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 09/26/2025 - 11:45am

Head to the Virginia Highland shopping district for the annual Candy Crawl that's fun, free, and full of candy. Photo courtesy Virginia Highland District

Halloween is fast approaching, but before fretting about the rising costs of Halloween costumes, candy, and decorations, check out our list of FREE Halloween events in Atlanta! Atlanta hosts tons of Halloween events that are completely free to attend. Our list includes Halloween parades, trunk-or-treats, and more. Many of these free Halloween events are hosted by fun cities and neighborhoods to explore, including Duluth and Virginia-Highland. If you plan accordingly, your family can freebie hop most weekends in October!

Need more ghoulishly good holiday fun? Check out the Atlanta Halloween Guide for great ideas to do with kids this spooky season.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 40 Top Things To Do in Atlanta This Fall

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 09/07/2025 - 9:25am

Celebrate fall by touring the Atlanta Botanical Garden for its Scarecrows in the Garden fall event. Photo courtesy of the garden

Fall in Atlanta is pretty much the peak of our seasonal activities—there are just so many things to do in Atlanta this fall with kids! We've got leaves changing colors, amazing weather (not too cold, not too hot), and lots of fall festivals. Atlanta families are also abuzz about football season, apple picking, Halloween, and all the opportunities to get outdoors without breaking a sweat. In fact, there are so many fun fall things to do in Atlanta with families that we decided to narrow it down with a list of merely 40 ideas.

Forty ideas aren't enough for you? We've got more where that came from in our Fall Fun Guide for Atlanta Kids!

The Ultimate Guide to Fall Festivals for Atlanta Families

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 08/31/2025 - 9:01am

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival runs weekends September 13-November 2. Photo courtesy Stone Mountain Park

Fall festivals in Atlanta mean pumpkins + football + months ending in the suffix -ber! Every weekend Atlanta families can fill their calendars with the best Atlanta pumpkin festivals and harvest fairs, taking advantage of cooler temps and fall colors.

We've rounded up our favorite fall festivals in Atlanta, including pumpkin festivals, harvest events, wholesome county fairs, and even a festival all about a covered bridge! Some of our favorite fall festivals are in Atlanta and some involve a fall day trip (we kept these to 1.5 hours or less from Atlanta). Need more fall ideas? Use our Atlanta Fall Fun Guide to make the most of the season. And get ready for our upcoming monster Atlanta Halloween Guide for all things sweet and spooky!

24 Best Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids September 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 08/29/2025 - 10:04am

The fun of the beloved Georgia State Fair kicks off on September 26 and runs through October 5! Photo courtesy of Georgia State Fair

Labor Day kicks off September activities, launching Atlanta's season of apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

Families have lots of opportunities to make memories this September in Atlanta. The only way to properly start September events in Atlanta is Dragon Con, the five-day, comic/costume/superhero extravaganza that happens Labor Day weekend. Every weekend in September Atlanta families can get into fall fun with the Buford Corn Maze (animals, jumpy pillow, hay rides) and the Apple Pickin' Jubilee in Ellijay (train rides, mini golf, pig races). Get your fill of fried food at several different fairs in September —Gwinnett County Fair, North Georgia Fair, and the Georgia State Fair!

Since we're on the subject of fall and apples, check out our list of the Best Apple Orchards Near Atlanta with Kids as the ultimate fall activity. Get more ideas in our Atlanta Fall Activities Guide!

Labor Day Weekend 2025 in Atlanta: Dragon Con, Art in the Park, and More Fun Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 08/27/2025 - 12:31pm

Kids can enjoy making art at Marietta's Art in the Park this Labor Day weekend! Photo courtesy Art in the Park

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this Labor Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the three-day holiday weekend!

Labor Day weekend brings extra fun events for an extra long weekend, like Labor Day Weekend at Stone Mountain Park. Guests enjoy an extended fireworks finale for three nights (Saturday - Monday) after the popular laser show. Labor Day weekend in Atlanta means five days of costumes, comics, and characters as part of our fair city's beloved Dragon Con. (Kids especially enjoy the colorful parade on Saturday morning.) And get artsy at Art in the Park, held in Glover Park on Marietta Square, with artist vendors, food trucks, and a children's art section happening all weekend. Read on for more memory-making events happening this weekend!

Take Kids to Your 3rd Spot for Major Gaming Fun

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 08/24/2025 - 1:14pm

Your 3rd Spot is a massive entertainment attraction in Atlanta, with an arcade, yard games, bowling, and much more. Photo courtesy of Your 3rd Spot

Your 3rd Spot (Y3S) in West Midtown has 100+ games and experiences plus yummy food and a fun outdoor play area. Why the name? Here is how they explain it: If home is your first spot and work is your second spot, then this colorful entertainment venue where families can connect is Your 3rd Spot! Y3S is part of the dining and retail district, The Works, and offers 27,000 square feet(!) of fun, including arcade games, corn hole, bowling, ping pong, curling...and that's just inside. Outside guests enjoy lawn games, porch swings, and firepits. Top it all off with a large dining room offering shareable bites, creative cocktails, and a kid-approved menu.

Y3S is 21+ during the weekdays and after 6pm on weekends. On weekends before 6pm, it's all about family fun —kids and parents have the run of the place, enjoying games, food, and fun. Read on for more info on how to have an awesome family day at Y3S!

Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

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