Kylie Williams

Kylie Williams is a mom of four who loves exploring Los Angeles with her kids and reporting back about the exciting events, attractions, and hidden gems she discovers. When she's not schlepping the kids around the city, she's probably at the gym, reading a book, or putting together snack bags for one of the kids' sports teams. If you know of a place she should check out, drop a line at Kylie@MommyPoppins.com.

Latest posts by Kylie

Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 05/18/2025 - 8:40am

One of the coolest spots in town is by the beach, a beach playground, and a pool. Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Community Beach House, Facebook

Free and fabulous splash pads in Los Angeles can be found at many parks and playgrounds across the city— and some of them are open year-round. Entire playgrounds (plus a few swimming pools and wading pools) are dedicated to ways to keep it cool, with plenty of fountains, geysers, pumps, and water sprayers. Kids adore these Los Angeles splash parks and "spraygrounds:, and parents love that they're a great way to beat the heat without a drive to a favorite beach (not to mention, the car won't get all sandy!).

Looking for more summer fun? Check out our list of the best swimming lakes in Los Angeles, our ultimate playgrounds guide, and our Ultimate Mommy Poppins summer guide!

18 Summer Festivals and Fairs in 2025 in Los Angeles for Families

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 05/16/2025 - 1:55am

Kick off summer fun with carnival rides. Photo courtesy of the Fountain Valley Summerfest

Fairs and summer festivals in Los Angeles are an essential SoCal tradition. A good festival has something fun for kids of all ages: rides, interesting foods, live music—all this at an event that parents are genuinely excited about.

Summer and fairs go hand-in-hand, and a take place near Los Angeles. Choose the Orange County Fair or the Ventura County Fair, "a country fair with ocean air." If you've had your fill of fried fair food, grab a slice a sweet slice of summer's favorite fruit at the California Watermelon Festival in Lakeview Terrace.

For more summer fun, check out our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids, which includes the best beaches in LA, favorite water parks in SoCal, and everywhere you can jump in a lake in Los Angeles.

Best Family-Friendly Hotels for a Palm Springs Getaway

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Thu, 05/15/2025 - 8:52am

Could this scream vacation any louder? Photo courtesy of the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort

The Greater Palm Springs area is a desert oasis a few short hours from Los Angeles, and it is our family's favorite "local getaway." Warmer weather means no need for jackets and bulky winter wear; simply pack some shorts and swimsuits, hop in the car, and go!

From Palm Springs hotels with kid-friendly pools to those that have kids' clubs to those with family suites, each and every one of these hotels has something that makes it a standout for families. I have personally stayed at every one of these resorts with my 4 kids, so rest assured, these are all tried and true recommendations!

For a roundup of the best kids activities for a Palm Springs family vacation, plus family-friendly dining options in Palm Springs, work your way through our list of the best activities for families in Greater Palm Springs.

Why You Should Stay on Property at One of the Legoland Hotels

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 05/11/2025 - 10:22am

Staying at the Legoland hotels are fitting for young princes and princesses who want to immerse themselves into LEGO bricks. Photo by Kylie Williams for Mommy Poppins

If you ask my six-year-old his favorite memory of the past year, he will immediately tell you that it was our stay at the Legoland Hotel. I'm not always one to spring for an on-site property at a theme park. Usually, an off-site Homewood Suites will do just fine for our large family, but when we were given the opportunity to check out the Legoland Hotel earlier this year, we jumped for it.

Staying at Legoland elevated our theme park experience tenfold. There are two wonderful, engaging, and bricktastic hotels on the property at Legoland: the Legoland Castle Hotel and Legoland California Resort. Walking to the theme park in the morning is an obvious perk, but staying on-site provided so much more than just convenient access. From LEGO "pools" in the lobby to a nightly dance party to the elevator disco, a Legoland stay is unique in every way.

Want to hear more about all the fun in the parks? Check out our article on the ultimate Legoland visit with your family. Also, check out our review on Legoland's newest area, Dino Valley, or read more about fun things to do with your family in San Diego.

SeaWorld’s New Baby Shark Show and Jellyfish Experience Bring More Family Fun to San Diego

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sat, 05/03/2025 - 11:00am

SeaWorld visitors can now catch <i>Baby Shark and Pinkfong’s FIN-tastic Adventure</i>.

Like most toddlers, my two-year-old constantly commands Alexa to “play Baby Shark,” and has her “doo doo doo doo doo doos” down. Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to head to SeaWorld San Diego to check out the two brand new attractions now open: the limited time Baby Shark Mini Live Show and Jewels of the Sea, the immersive Jellyfish Experience!

After an action-packed day exploring the park’s latest additions, plus a few fan favorites, my four kids–ages 9, 6, 4, and 2–confidently declared our visit “one of the best days ever!” So, read on for my rundown on what to expect at the new exhibitions, and take a look at my personal tips for navigating SeaWorld San Diego with kids.

Best Horseback Riding and Trail Rides for Families in and Near Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 04/13/2025 - 1:29am

Go horseback riding in the hills above Los Angeles. Photo by Eden Janine & Jim via Flickr 2.0

Riding off into the sunset is about as Hollywood as you can get. Yet, many of us city-slickers have never even hopped on a horse! The hills of Los Angeles are the perfect place to hit the trail, and I've rounded up (pun intended) the best horseback riding in the LA area for families.

As a longtime equestrian, I can attest that these options provide a memorable experience that doesn't require alot of horse sense. Stable staff only select their most docile mounts for the trail rides, use western tack, and ensure horses keep a slow and steady pace. Some of these spots even provide pony rides around the ranch for the littlest cowpokes that may not be up for a trail ride just yet.

Horseback riding is among the best things to do in Hollywood with kids. For more horseback riding experiences, check out summer horse riding camps in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Best Kid-Friendly Easter Brunches in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Sun, 04/06/2025 - 9:51am

Easter and brunch are words that just go together. After those egg hunts work up an appetite, head to a restaurant in LA for Easter brunches. Some Easter brunches are affordable and have kids' menus while others are indulgent splurges. Whether you are looking for a place to meet the "bunny of the hour," a gourmet meal you don't have to cook yourself, or a special family Easter brunch that will be a holiday memory, we've got the ultimate list of Easter brunches in Los Angeles.

Hop over to more Easter fun by checking out these Easter Easter egg hunts in LA, and find a fun family activity in our Spring Guide for LA Kids and Families.

21 Trending and Out-of-the-Box Activities for Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on Fri, 03/28/2025 - 10:59am

Dig in to slime-making! Sloomoo Institute LA photo by Chelsie Hill, courtesy of BFA

LA is a city where trends begin. We are a land of influencers, movie stars, fashion icons, and top musicians. If it's trendy, there's a good chance it started here. So, it makes sense that LA is also a trendsetter when it comes to new activities to do with your family in Los Angeles. Before "everyone is doing it," we are doing it here, and we have a list of our favorite, family-friendly, out-of-the-box activities to share with you!

Whether you want to try tufting, sneaker customization, axe throwing, or slime-making, LA has brand-new and super cool places to check out. Keep in mind that most of these activities are for older kids, such as elementary school and above. Many of these activities are perfect for bonding with teens and tweens and creating a viral moment that your kids will be proud to showcase to their friends and maybe even share on TikTok.

For more activities that get older kids out of the house and away from their screens, try these teen birthday party ideas in Los Angeles and check out these things to do in LA with tweens and teens that they'll actually enjoy.

Kylie Williams

Latest posts by Kylie

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