Meghan Rose

Before becoming a parent, Meghan Rose worked at pioneering internet companies like AOL, eToys.com, and eBay. After having twins, she shifted her focus to literacy, co-authoring Home is Where the Books Are (Choice Literacy, 2013) and launching LitforKids.com. Now based in Los Angeles, Meghan is all about finding fun things to do with kids. Please send her ALL your ideas and suggestions for national parenting and travel articles, or drop a note just say hi: meghan@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Meghan

Yes, You Can Ride Camels near LA at the Oasis Camel Dairy

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Fri, 02/21/2025 - 7:19am

Have your cameras ready because these guys move fast when they smell food! Photo by Chuck Rose

The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, CA is a total hidden gem. I’ve been looking for fun things to do with my kids now, and writing about it, for over a dozen years. I know every fun hole in the wall in LA, OC, San Diego, Ventura Counties, and a good bit of the rest of California, too. And I still hadn't been to this camel farm.

Well, let me save you from wasting any more time. Make a plan today to visit Oasis; it’s more than just camel rides, camel feeding, and camel petting. We went when the turkey races were happening, and my son laughed until tears were streaming down his face. There’s also a highly impressive bird show, as well as the cutest little sheep you can meet and feed.

Read on for all the details, including when to visit, where to stay, where else to go in the hood (hint: someplace else with LOADS of animals is right down the street), and more…

Elmo's Birthday, Pancake Day, and More Holidays & Activities for February 2025

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 01/30/2025 - 8:40am

Who doesn't love Elmo? Well, celebrate him this month, it's his birthday! Photo by Kristen Schrass

The shortest month of the year packs a heck of a punch! There are a lot of holidays and fun things to celebrate in February. Sure, you know there's the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, and Presidents Day, but you can also celebrate Elmo's Birthday, Poop Day (great for potty training), and Pancake Day!

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for winter fun, check out our roundup of 30 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities that Get Kids Moving and your local Winter Vacation Guide.

10 Best National Parks in the US for Kids: Family-Friendly Adventures Await!

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 01/25/2025 - 8:02am

Climb through the magnificent rock formations at Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo by Tim Knauff

Finding the perfect getaway that’s both fun and educational for kids or all ages can be a challenge. My favorite solution: America’s national parks! From awe-inspiring landscapes to hands-on activities, national parks in the US offer countless, varied opportunities for family adventure. Hiking, wildlife, camping, skiing, startling sunshine, vast canyons, unforgettable fountains—our national parks have it all!

Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 best national parks to visit in the US for kids. From the shores of Cape Cod to the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon to the glaciers in Denali, read on for our picks for the best national parks in the US to visit as a family!

For more reviews and inside tips from parents and families who have traveled to our national parks, check out our United States National Parks Family Travel Guide.

33 Things To Do in Chicago This Winter with Kids

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sun, 01/19/2025 - 11:40am

Snow tubing is a favorite winter activity in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Canva

Don't let the cold stop you: We've got indoor, outdoor, and at-home picks for winter fun.

Mommy Poppins Is Now in Dallas Fort Worth!

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sun, 01/12/2025 - 7:14am

Dallas, Fort Worth, Mesquite, Garland, Plano, Irving... here we come!

New year, new city! We're so thrilled to announce that Mommy Poppins is now in a whole new metro area. Say hello to Mommy Poppins Dallas Fort Worth, serving parents and families in the greater DFW area.

Mommy Poppins is a guide to life with kids—created by parents passionate about finding cool inside scoops and sharing all the best budget-friendly, creative, and just plain fun things to do with children, both at home, in your city, and when you travel.

Now we're bringing this to DFW! Sign up for our DFW newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to discover the best stuff to do with kids, free activities, deals and discounts, off-the-beaten-path ideas, and so much more.

Check out articles like 60 Awesome Things To Do in Dallas with Kids and Places in Texas Where You Can See Snow—we've got fun things to do in Dallas for locals and visitors alike. Our team of local parents is working hard to uncover all of the best opportunities for family fun all year round!

Pass Gas Day, Year of the Snake, and More Holidays & Activities for January 2025

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Tue, 12/31/2024 - 8:16am

Can you believe National Pass Gas Day is a real holiday? It will be your kid's favorite. Photo by Canva

Welcome to a NEW year! 2025 still sounds like the future, but it has arrived! There are a lot of holidays this month, and some of them are kooky fun! There's Pass Gas Day (what kid won't want to celebrate Fart Day?), an early Lunar New Year, Rubber Ducky Day, and of course, a long weekend for Martin Luther King Jr Day, to make it feel like the holiday season isn’t over yet!

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. In January at Mommy Poppins, we also celebrate all things FREE, so check out our national guide to freebies and also your local guide to free things to do near you!

Best Places for Snow Tubing Near Chicago for Families

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Fri, 12/06/2024 - 8:04am

Enjoy a kid-friendly tube fest at Sunburst Ski Hill. Photo courtesy of Sunburst Ski Hill

Hit these slopes near Chicago for family-friendly snow tubing this winter season.

Slime Day, Llama Day, and More Holidays & Activities for December 2024 (Like Christmas!)

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 11/28/2024 - 6:08am

Get gooey for Slime Day! Make your own at home, or get that goop out of your house at a local slime museum. Photo by Kylie Williams

With Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve, December is the holiday-est month of the year. But wait, there’s more! Here are celebratory, and sometimes surprising, things to do with kids each and every day in December!

In addition to the major holidays, you can also celebrate Slime Day, Walt Disney Day, Llama Day, and more — all this month. Plus, we’ve sprinkled in plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah leading up to the actual day!

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for Christmas activities, check out our Christmas Activities Guide for Families.

Meghan Rose

Latest posts by Meghan

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