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

Family Dinner Table Games for Restaurants and At Home

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:00pm

Playing dinner table games can really help the family bond at mealtime.

Dinner table games can mean the difference between a pleasant meal with kids or a chaotic one, especially if you're aiming for a screen-free dinner. These 25 dinner table games for kids and families will help keep the peace (and your sanity), jump-start conversations and family bonding, and make dinner time fun again. They are perfect to slip into a restaurant or play at home.

If you want to continue the fun after dinner, here's a list of the 100 best board games for kids and family game night. You can find it—plus lists of more fun games, toys, crafts, and more—in our Boredom Busters for Kids Guide.

12 Affordable Family Vacation Ideas for End-of-Summer Escapes on the East Coast

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sun, 07/21/2024 - 7:05am

The boardwalk, the beach and the rides-Wildwood makes for a memorable summer vacation. Photo courtesy of WIldwood

Summer's in full swing, and if you haven't planned a great getaway, there's still time to pull off a memorable and budget-friendly family vacation on the East Coast.

From Washington, D.C. to New England, there are lots of great places for East Coast families to unwind and enjoy some family time not too far from home. Here are 12 family vacation ideas that won't break the bank.

Find more great vacation ideas in our Family Travel Guide.

Best Blueberry Picking Farms and Festivals in New Jersey for Pick-Your-Own Berries

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 07/03/2024 - 12:14pm

Pick blueberries to your heart's content at Happy Day Farm in Manalapan.

The best blueberry-picking farms in New Jersey offer the perfect summer activity for the whole family: The bushes are low, the berries easily pop off the plants, and your family can literally pick hundreds without breaking the bank. Luckily for us, blueberries are the official state fruit of New Jersey, and they are plentiful throughout the Garden State.

We’ve assembled this Guide to the Best Pick-Your-Own Farms in New Jersey, so read on for our recommendations on where to go blueberry picking in New Jersey with kids. Find tons of other great things to do in the Garden State this season in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

22 Best Things To Do in Princeton, NJ, with Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Tue, 05/14/2024 - 10:18am

Palmer Square is a great place to relax in the heart of Princeton. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square

Princeton, NJ, is well-loved for its perfect mix of historical charm, trendy artistic feel, and sophisticated shopping and dining. At just 17 square miles, there's no shortage of things to do with kids in this Central NJ town.

Read on for fun ways for families to have a great time in Princeton and the inside scoop on hotels and where to eat. And be sure to check out the Mommy Poppins Day Trips in NJ Guide for other great destinations in the Garden State.

Ultimate Family Bucket List: 100 Experiences You'll Remember Forever

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:00pm

Bringing a fur baby, or other animal, into the family is a fantastic experience for kids and parents.

We've rounded up a whole bunch of childhood bucket list ideas here that run the gamut from baking cookies to big family trips. The bucket list ideas here are all suggestions for a whole host of fun family activities that will give your kids memories that they will remember for their entire lives.

So take some inspiration from our ultimate family bucket list of 100 fun ideas for something fun to do this weekend or a future family vacation. From little things you can do at home to adventures in bravery to Intergenerational outings, here are 100 deposits for your family memory bank!

For more family checklists, check out our Ultimate Summer Bucket List and this fun "I’m Bored, What Should I Do?" List, plus more fun family ideas in our Mommy Poppins Parenting Guide.

Expansive Dinosaur Museum and Fossil Park to Open in NJ this Summer

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Thu, 04/18/2024 - 5:06pm

Edelman Fossil Park and Museum of Rowan University will let visitors dig for real fossils when it opens this summer.

A new dinosaur museum is coming to New Jersey that's perfect for dino lovers of all ages. The Edelman Fossil Park and Museum of Rowan University, in Mantua Township, N.J., is slated to open in summer 2024, and early signs point to it being a blast from the prehistoric past.

Read on for all the details about this dinosaur museum, which will include life-size recreations and virtual reality experiences. And, check out our Guide to Museums and Art for New Jersey Kids for more on museums throughout the state.

South Jersey's Construction Theme Park, Diggerland USA, Reopens with a Brand New Water Park

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sat, 03/23/2024 - 2:00pm

Ever wonder what it would be like to dig with an excavator, drive a real dump truck, or find out for yourself just how high a telehandler really goes?

From Six Flags to Legoland: Top Attractions Coming Soon

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 4:35pm

Take to the skies on Legoland New York's new Minifigure Skyflyer. Rendering courtesy of the resort

Each year, amusement park goers line up by the thousands to get their fix of adrenaline-pumping roller coasters, dizzying spinners, and fast water slides. It's always fun to ride old faves, but if your family is craving something brand new, you're in luck. From Six Flags Great Adventure rolling out a huge new coaster and a unique glamping resort to fun little kid attractions at Sesame Place, and sky gondolas at Legoland, we've found more than a dozen brand-new attractions to explore at nearby amusement parks during summer 2024.

Get a first look below and find more local theme park news in our Kid-Friendly Guide to Theme Parks and Water Parks.

Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner

Latest posts by Kaylynn Chiarello

Pages