Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner

Kaylynn Ebner, a mom of three, has been writing for Mommy Poppins since 2016. She’s passionate about exploring new spots with her family and sharing NJ’s best attractions and hidden gems with the Mommy Poppins community.

Latest posts by Kaylynn Chiarello

A Dozen Must-Do Holiday and Christmas Experiences for NJ Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 11/16/2018 - 12:00pm

Visit Santa on the North Pole Express. Photo courtesy of Black River & Western Railroad

This year, 2018, has the earliest possible date for Thanksgiving: November 22. What we lost in turkey prep time, we'll make up for in a lovely, elongated holiday season on the road to Christmas and New Year's. In between your Christmas shopping and holiday to-dos, we've assembled our annual list of activities kids will love—and won't cost an arm and a leg. From holiday light shows to breakfast with Santa to Christmas trains, we’ve compiled 12 great memory-making activities for this month.

Check out our full calendar of events and our holiday guide for even more options.

20 Family-Friendly Things To Do with NJ Kids in Westfield

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 10/03/2018 - 12:00pm

Experience living history at The Miller-Cory House Museum.

Warning: It may take just one visit to fall seriously in love with Westfield. This Union County town off the Route 22 corridor is known for its beautiful tree-lined residential streets and smart downtown with great restaurants and shopping. Though Westfield is just 6.29 square miles, families have a host of options for enjoying this great town with a sophisticated but homey feel.

25+ Fun Things To Do with NJ Kids on Columbus Day

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 12:00pm

Head to Terhune Orchards for apple picking and many other kid-friendly activities on Columbus Day.

If you're scratching your head to come up with some fun ways to spend Columbus Day with kids who are home from school, look no further. We've pulled together a list of more than two dozen fun family outings that NJ kids are bound to love, from picking pumpkins to visiting sea turtles. You can find many more options in our Fall Fun Guide—and if the weather's looking iffy, check out our Indoor Playspace Guide for a backup plan!

Harvest Festivals, Hayrides, and Fall Fair Fun in New Jersey

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sun, 09/16/2018 - 12:00pm

Pick pumpkins and enjoy other fall fun every weekend at Johnson's Corner Farm.

The air is crisp, the apples are ripe, and fall fair and harvest festival season is about to get underway! We've rounded up 26 great harvest fests in New Jersey, all packed with signature autumn activities like hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin decorating (and picking), pie contests, scarecrow making, live animals, live music, and more. Some even incorporate a little early Halloween fun.

Read on to find an event near you, including the Great Pumpkin Festival, the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, and more.

For more seasonal activities around the Garden State, be sure to check out our Fall Fun Guide and our list of 40 Things We Can't Wait To Do with NJ Kids This Fall.

Best Fall Fairs and Festivals for NJ Families in September

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sun, 08/26/2018 - 8:00am

PlayDay South Orange turns the street into a bouncy, fun-filled day! Photo courtesy of the Village Green

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, NJ families can look forward to plenty of fun in the Garden State this fall. Explore nature at the NJ Wild Outdoor Expo, chow down on delicious seafood at the Atlantic City Seafood Festival, or listen to some exciting tales at the NJ Storytelling Festival.

Check out the 13 awesome festivals below, and visit our Events Calendar for more fabulous fall ideas! And sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the best local events and reviews delivered right to your inbox.

Stargazing in NJ: Best Views, Observatories, Astronomy Clubs

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sun, 08/19/2018 - 12:00pm

New Jersey offers many majestic outdoor stargazing spots. Photo via Bigstock.

If you have a little Galileo on your hands, you're in luck: New Jersey is home to a myriad of majestic outdoor stargazing locations, as well as many public observatories and astronomy clubs. Continue your celestial exploration indoors at area planetariums, including those at Liberty Science Center and the Newark Museum.

Happy stargazing, NJ!

Explore Lush Gardens and Nature with Kids at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 1:30pm

Kids and grown-ups alike will love exploring the lush gardens at Reeves-Reed Arboretum.

The perfect antidote to the stress of crazy family schedules might well be Mother Nature herself—and Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit is just the place to stop and smell the roses.

The Arboretum is not your average park outing; this serene Union County oasis offers some unique and interesing ways to learn about and experience the outdoors while giving the whole family some much needed R&R.

Six Flags NJ: An Amusement Park with Big and Little Thrills

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Thu, 08/02/2018 - 10:35am

The NITRO, a "hypercoaster," takes you on an 80-mile-per-hour thrill ride. Photo courtesy of the park

Braving the thrill rides at Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari in Jackson, NJ, is practically a rite of passage for kids who live in and around the Garden State. Perhaps for this reason, I wasn't 100-percent sure my young children (ages 2, 5, and 7) were old enough to fully enjoy it—but we decided to test the waters. And as I did my planning, I realized, "Holy cow! There's a ton of things to do at Six Flags!"

New Jersey's largest theme park, Six Flags is known for heart-dropping roller coasters like Nitro and Kingda Ka (the world's tallest coaster)—but there are also plenty of attractions geared toward the smaller set and those who enjoy tamer thrills. You can see zebras, giraffes, and other cool creatures on the Safari Off-Road Adventure; ride the Porky Pig Ferris Wheel in Bugs Bunny National Park; make a splash on the Saw Mill Log Flume; and much, much more. You also might want to set aside another day for Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags' massive water park.

Read on for details of our visit, along with tips for making your trip super-fun for kids of all ages.

Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner

Latest posts by Kaylynn Chiarello

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