Lisa Warden

Lisa Warden is a biology lecturer at Rider University who has traveled the world and lived abroad. While her three kids have made global exploration trickier, she’s embraced local adventures to experience all her area has to offer. A passionate writer, Lisa loves discovering new things and seeing excitement in her kids’ faces—writing for Mommy Poppins lets her do all of that while keeping her family on their toes.

Latest posts by Lisa

19 Best Things To Do in Wildwood, NJ, with Kids

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Sun, 08/04/2024 - 9:57am

Get your fill of classic amusement park rides on a trip to Wildwood, NJ.

The Wildwoods have a rep for being a raucous section of the Jersey Shore, but I didn't find that to be the case on a recent family trip. A summer weekend tends to be filled with flocks of multigenerational families who fill the boardwalk with bikes in the early morning hours and the amusement parks, beaches, and restaurants the rest of the day.

Wildwoods is comprised of three towns, North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. There are five miles of beach, and a roughly two-mile boardwalk that's loaded with the typical kitschy beach supply shops, but also Morey’s Piers and all the amusement park fun that comes with it.

Read on for all the details on what to expect from your summer getaway to this Jersey Shore hot spot, and check out our article covering 70 Things To Do at the Jersey Shore with Kids for more ideas.

Visiting Harpers Ferry, WV with Kids

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Sun, 06/16/2024 - 10:00am

Take advantage of a stunning photo opp from St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. Photo by Lisa Warden

The idyllic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in the lower Shenandoah Valley has a lot to offer with its unparalleled history and breathtaking beauty. Located along the Appalachian Trail, there are miles of hikes to explore with kids. And for history buffs, there is so much to learn, as Harpers Ferry, WV was a crucial spot for Civil War clashes, abolitionist raids, and civil rights struggles.

Take a family day trip or weekend trip from DC to Harpers Ferry to enjoy natural beauty, get some exercise, and learn about American history. Here are the best things to do in Harpers Ferry with kids, plus tips on visiting.

Find more great places to visit in our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for DC Kids, which includes our list of 40 fun things to do in the Shenandoah Valley with kids.

Experience the Joy of Glamping at Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Tue, 05/21/2024 - 6:38am

Lewes is a beautiful beach town near Jellystone Park.

Glamping at Delaware's Jellystone Park is one of the few times camping has been easy, breezy, and, overall, a very enjoyable experience for our family with three kids. We weren’t stressed about setting up our campsite or exhausted from a night of not sleeping and everyone had fun, even us adults. It made for a great and easy long weekend vacation from our home in New Jersey.

Read on to find out why our weekend at Jellystone Park Delaware Beaches was a delight. For other suggestions for glamping destinations, see our review of the best glamping sites in the U.S.

Why Rancocas Nature Center is an Awesome Family Destination

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Tue, 04/30/2024 - 7:22am

Rancocas Nature Center sits on 210 acres of forest in a South Jersey state park.

Rancocas Nature Center has it all for outdoorsy kids and families. The center has many programs for children to learn about the environment and socialize with other kids, or you can go on a peaceful family hike away from the hustle and bustle.

The non-profit nature center sits on 210 acres of forest in the Rancocas State Park in South Jersey. There are miles of trails where you can meander through multiple different ecosystems. The nature center also provides year-round nature programs for all ages to educate families about their environment.

Read on for tips on visiting this incredible nature center. If you're interested in visiting other nature centers in New Jersey, check out our round-up of the best nature centers in the state.

All Aboard These Train Rides and Day Trips near NYC for Locomotive Lovers

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Thu, 04/25/2024 - 12:45pm

Train-lovers of all ages love to explore the roundhouse at Steamtown.

All of my three children have gone through a train-loving phase around 2 years old, and while we are lucky enough to live on a train line where we can watch the trains zoom by all day long, I've been known to go out of my way to feed our kids’ love of choo-choos. From local train rides to seasonal Polar Express train rides, train museums, and model train displays, families in the tri-state area have plenty of options to entertain pint-sized train lovers.

Read on for our top picks for train-inspired day trips, including all the best things to do with train-obsessed kids in NYC and beyond.

Visiting Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton with Kids: What You Need to Know

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Tue, 04/02/2024 - 7:06am

Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University has great places for kids to play or to sit quietly with a book.

Cotsen Children’s Library is a gem tucked away inside the Princeton University Library that my family and I stumbled on one day while wandering around Princeton's picturesque campus. Our kids were thrilled, and we adults were impressed too.

The library boasts whimsical places for older kids to sit and read, as well as exciting places for younger children to explore, like a Bonsai tree house. Cotsen also hosts regular events, including weekly storytimes. Read on for more details on this exciting children’s library.

And, if you're traveling to Princeton for the day, check out our Princeton roundup for more fun things to do with your family.

Visiting Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in DC with Kids

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Fri, 02/23/2024 - 10:00am

Our kids couldn't get enough of the interactive globe in the One World Connected exhibit. Photo by author Lisa Warden

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has been one of our family’s favorite spots to visit in Washington, DC since our son was 2, when he decided he wants to be an astronaut. The museum houses one of the world’s premier collections of flight and space-related artifacts and history. It closed down for a period in 2018 as it undergoes a monumental, multiyear renovation, but reopened in late 2022 with eight of the planned 23 exhibits completely redone.

We were excited to go back and bring our newest family member (now 2) to the museum. While we were a bit disappointed that so much of the museum was still closed, our children really enjoyed the redesigned exhibits. And the best part is, like all Smithsonian museums, it's completely FREE!

Read on for a peek into what to expect when visiting Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Then check out our DC Museum Guide for more great museums to visit with kids, including our lists of free museums near DC and the best museums for kids in the DC area.

Visiting the Battleship New Jersey with Kids: What To Know Before You Go

Submitted by Lisa Warden on Fri, 02/16/2024 - 7:15am

The Battleship New Jersey was the most decorated battleship in American history and has been turned into a museum that's docked in Camden.

The Battleship New Jersey is a decommissioned ship-turned-museum docked on the Delaware River in Camden, and your kids will love it even if history isn't usually their thing. What’s not to love? It's a giant ship that's bigger than the Titanic, with chains so large each link weighs more than your child, plus bunk beds galore, tall chairs on the deck to sit on, and buttons all around (so many buttons!).

Visiting the battleship is a great experience for a wide range of ages: those old enough to understand and appreciate the history and even little ones who are just having fun running around and touching everything. And since the battleship is right next to the Adventure Aquarium, if you aren’t too tired you could make a day of it and do the aquarium as well. Or you can hop aboard the ferry on the waterfront and ride it over to Philadelphia for an adventure.

Read on for our tips about visiting the Battleship New Jersey, which was a big hit with all our three kids, ages 7, 5, and 2.

Lisa Warden

Latest posts by Lisa

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