Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: How to See the Dyker Heights Lights with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/24/2022 - 1:37pm

The Dyker Heights Christmas lights attract throngs of visitors to the Brooklyn neighborhood each holiday season. Photo by Rosalind Muggeridge

We're over-the-top excited that the awe-inspiring Dyker Heights Christmas lights, aka the "Dyker Lights," are already going up. Annually, the Brooklyn neighborhood mounts block-after-block of stunning holiday lights. It's a joyful exercise in holiday excess that lands it on our list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up. The Dyker Heights Christmas lights annually draw throngs of visitors to gawk at the nightly displays.

Read on for the details on this festive neighborhood-wide installation of holiday cheer, plus tips on the best ways to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Find more can't-miss holiday fun in our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC for Families.

NYBG Holiday Train Show: What To Know Before You Go with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 3:59pm

See model trains zooming through a botanical wonderland at the NYBG Holiday Train Show. Photo by Robert Benson Photography/courtesy of the NYBG

The NYBG Holiday Train Show returns for its 31st run in 2022, and this charming holiday installation always ranks high on our list of must-do holiday activities. The addition of the stunning, sprawling holiday light show NYBG Glow makes a seasonal visit to the New York Botanical Garden even sweeter.

Read on for our top tips for visiting the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show with kids, plus all our favorite things to do at NYBG this season. You'll find more top holiday picks for kids in our NYC Kids Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.

Hershey, Pennsylvania with Kids: 22 Things To Do on a Sweet Family Getaway

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 1:09pm

Pose for a post-card worthy photo in front of the Hershey-themed mural at Tru by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue during your stay.

You might think of Hershey, Pennsylvania, with its towering, roller-coaster-filled Hersheypark as a summer-only destination, but family travel to the sweetest place on earth is always in season. Located in the south-central region of the state, Hershey, Pennsylvania, is an easy road-trip destination from the New York metro area and Philidelphia and has enough family-friendly entertainment and candy-fueled fun to leave your kids asking for a return trip. Here are our top things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania with kids.

Find more fun family road trip destinations, like nearby Harrisburg, in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

20 Things To Do Thanksgiving Weekend in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/14/2022 - 7:37pm

The Winter Lantern Festival: Journey to the East transforms SIUH Community Park into an immersive world of light. Photo courtesy of the festival

The Thanksgiving holiday break is nearly here, and while Thursday is likely filled with giant helium balloons and hearty portions of Thanksgiving dinner, you're going to need more things to do Thanksgiving weekend to keep kids and guests entertained after everyone's stuffed.

From only-in-NYC experiences to fun must-do holiday happenings and a slew of kid-friendly shows, we've rounded up 20 fun things to do Thanksgiving weekend in NYC.

Wonderland Dreams Invites Guests to Fall Down the Rabbit Hole and Embrace a Unique Art Experience

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/07/2022 - 5:18pm

Fun, playful photo-ops await at the immersive art experience Wonderland Dreams.

Immersive art experiences have been popping up all over town in the past year, but the new Wonderland Dreams exhibit that's taken over a cavernous Midtown space is like nothing we've ever seen before. This Alice in Wonderland-inspired canvas is brought to life by the magical brushstrokes of artist Alexa Meade. Its sprawling 30-room walk-through is full of colorful props, stunning photo-ops, and inspiring backdrops that left us smiling long after we left the exhibit.

Read on for more details of our visit to Wonderland Dreams and bookmark our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for more kid-friendly art adventures to enjoy.

American Christmas in Mount Vernon Opens Santa's Village to Visitors

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/01/2022 - 11:05am

Strike a pose with the stunning decorations in Santa's Village at American Christmas in Mount Vernon.

There's no doubt New York City is one of our favorite Christmas towns and if you've ever wondered where it gets its holiday lights and spectacular decorations, we've got the scoop: American Christmas in Mount Vernon supplies much of NYC's magical Christmas decor and holiday lights. This local business is a veritable Christmas wonderland, with large-scale holiday decorations hanging from the rafters of its 100,000-square-foot workshop. There's so much Christmas cheer here, it's built its own Santa's Village, and we've got some sweet news: American Christmas is opening up its workshop and showroom to visitors, creating a Christmas village walk-through that's a picture-perfect holiday outing.

Read on for a sneak peek into American Christmas, and bookmark our Guide to Christmas and Holiday Activities for all our top picks for holiday happenings, brilliant light displays, and must-do fun.

Best Things To Do on Halloween in NYC with Kids: Halloween Events on October 31

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 4:33pm

Join the Halloween party at Bryant Park to enjoy eerie magic tricks, face painting, arts & crafts, and spooky stories. Photo by Angelito Jusay

Few holidays rival the scope and spectacle of Halloween in NYC, and while we've already told you about tons of fun things to do in NYC on Halloween, consider this your must-do guide to the big day. Our NYC Halloween Fun Guide overflows with Halloween parades, FREE Halloween events, and we've even spilled the beans on the best trick-or-treating spots in each of the five boroughs.

The countdown to Halloween is officially on. Some things are certain: The trick-or-treating in Tribeca will be packed with amazing costumes. The Jackson Heights Halloween Parade will be as big as ever, and the BAMboo! block party and Myrtle Monster Mash are going to rock Brooklyn.

Whatever you decide to do on Monday, October 31, arrive early and expect crowds. For the best ways to plan an epic Halloween night with your NYC kids, scroll on. Most of our picks are FREE or inexpensive.

50 Things To Do in Midtown Manhattan with Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 11:56am

A family-friendly Broadway show is one of our favorite things to do in Midtown Manhattan with kids. Photo by the author

Whether you're a visitor, a commuter, or a local, it's hard to avoid the action-packed things to do in Midtown Manhattan. Bordered by 59th Street on the northern end and 34th Street to the south, encompassing Times Square and Rockefeller Center, and extending from river to river, Midtown Manhattan has an expansive personality that matches its footprint.

Between the towering office buildings and the tourist traps on seemingly every street corner, it might seem hard to uncover worthwhile, family-friendly things to do in Midtown Manhattan, but take note: This neighborhood is loaded with entertainment, art, attractions, and activities.

We've done the legwork and rounded up 50 fun things to do in Midtown Manhattan with kids in tow. Bookmark our NYC Neighborhood Guide for more fun places to explore.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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