Melanie Preis

Melanie Preis is a writer, editor, wife, and mom of three (including her beloved bernedoodle). Before joining Mommy Poppins, she worked at StyleBlueprint, Turner Broadcasting, and HowStuffWorks. She loves reading, anything Bravo, art fairs, and, of course, her bernedoodle.

Latest posts by Melanie

Prom Dress Shopping Guide for Atlanta Teens

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 03/03/2024 - 11:26am

Prom season is here and that means major shopping for prom dresses in Atlanta. Check out these great options to find the perfect Atlanta prom dress!

Shopping with Atlanta teens for prom dresses can be a fun and challenging experience. A teen may have her own vision of the "perfect" prom look but making the dream a reality requires lots of style options and knowledgeable staff. We've rounded up our favorite Atlanta shops for prom dresses that offer gorgeous options at all price points, especially those Atlanta stores that focus on the specific needs of teens, with classic and trendy colors, lengths, fabrics, and cuts.

Visit the New Balloon Museum Atlanta for Fun, Floating Art

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 2:24pm

Visit the beautiful Wonderland that is Atlanta's Balloon Museum, open through April 14, 2024. Photo by Melanie Preis

Balloon Museum Atlanta is a fun, funky adventure into the wonderful world of inflatable art. Atlanta kids and families will LOVE exploring exhibits (many of which are interactive) that showcase amazing works of art through the coolest medium: balloons! My family was thoroughly impressed by the ingenuity, creativity, and beauty of these amazing works of art (and who doesn't love a ball pit?!). Go inside the new Balloon Museum: Let's Fly at Pullman Yards in Atlanta now!

60 Fun Facts About Me: Conversation Ice Breakers for Kids!

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 8:44pm

Nothing makes friends faster than sharing secrets, even if that secret is as simple as a favorite color! Photo by Ron Lach

Sharing "fun facts about me" can be anything but fun, especially for kids —it's tough for most of us to sum up our entire personality in a few words when trying to break the ice. Throw in the fact that many kids on the quieter side may hide behind mom or dad's leg rather than have to make small talk and the whole introduction process can get stalled.

Help is here! We've collected some of our favorite ways to get kids out of their shells and into the conversation. These silly and easy fun facts about me that kids can think about or ask new friends can make for easy ice breakers.

Another way kids open up to sharing fun facts about themselves is to share crazy facts they know about the world— check out even more cool trivia for kids in our Ultimate Collection of Fun Facts and Mind-Blowing Trivia for Kids. Jokes for Kids are another awesome way to break the ice and get kids giggling, and we've got jokes, tongue twisters, and riddles galore in our Ultimate Collection of Jokes and Humor for Kids.

51 Top Things To Do in Arizona With Kids

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sat, 02/17/2024 - 12:00pm

Take in the jaw-dropping geological views from Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Photo courtesy of Canva

While I consider myself an expert on Arizona, it's tough narrowing down the best things to do in Arizona with kids. Arizona is a wonderful place for families of all ages and interests. Kids who love the outdoors, trains, dinosaurs, art, science, animals, and so much more will never want to leave this amazing state. From picturesque views of Sedona's red rocks and the Grand Canyon to outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, swimming, and gold panning, Arizona has it all.

Since I'll rise to any challenge, I've gathered some of the most amazing Arizona places my own children love to visit (and I loved visiting as a kid growing up there). Here are 51 of the best things to do in Arizona with kids, including top attractions, activities, restaurants, and hotels in Sedona and Northern Arizona, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Tucson, and the Grand Canyon.

Find even more great places to visit out west in our Western US Family Travel Guide.

Top Tween and Teen Summer Camps in Atlanta

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sun, 02/11/2024 - 10:07am

YMCA summer camps in Atlanta offer speciality camps for tweens and teens. Photo courtesy YMCA of Atlanta

Tween and teen summer camps in Atlanta offer some independence AND some organized activities. Teens and tweens (generally ages 12-17) can be tough to entertain come summer break, but there are awesome Atlanta summer camps that cater to the specific interests of this age group. Some local summer camps offer specific teen programs, among the other camp programs for younger kids, to entertain the older bunch. In addition to having a blast, many of these tweens and teens pick up leadership training and skills— allowing them to become the next generation of amazing summer camp counselors.

Take a look at some of the best summer camps in Atlanta for teens below; for more summer goodness, check out our Atlanta Summer Camp Guide to get the details on additional Atlanta camps!

Best Coffee Shops in Orlando to Bring Your Kids When You Need Caffeine

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 02/02/2024 - 11:36am

Nautilus Coffee features a cool vibe, where kids can touch interesting design pieces and fill up on yummy items. Photo by Charlotte B

Fun coffee shops in Orlando provide a much needed jolt of caffeine for parents and a charming spot for kids to unwind. We've gathered our favorite Orlando coffee shops -- offering sweet treats, kid-friendly drinks, quirky ambiences, on-site games, or even cute cats and dogs(!) -- all perfect for families. We've even rounded up awesome coffee shops and cafes at theme parks to get parents through the exhausting walking and waiting in lines with a jolt of joe. Take a look at the top coffee shops in Orlando and Central Florida now!

Scottsdale with Kids: 40 Best Things to Do in Scottsdale, AZ

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Sat, 01/20/2024 - 12:00pm

Enjoy the stunning beauty of Scottsdale, Arizona. Photo by Robert Murray via Unsplash

A trip to the Southwest isn't complete without a stop in Scottsdale, Arizona—especially as an add-on to a Phoenix family vacation. There are so many things to do in Scottsdale with kids, from hiking and biking the gorgeous surrounding trails to learning (and possibly meeting) the cowboys that call it home.

I grew up in this beautiful city northeast of Phoenix, which was once a suburban region. Now, Scottsdale's picturesque appeal, great schools, elite resorts, and countless attractions have made it one of the most popular Arizona cities to both visit and live in.

Check out this list of 40 things to do in Scottsdale, AZ, including some awesome Scottsdale hotels for families. And if you're already traveling westward, take a look at our Guide to the Best Vacations Out West, including articles about nearby Sedona and Colorado Springs.

45 Best Things To Do in New Orleans with Kids

Submitted by Melanie Preis on Fri, 01/19/2024 - 11:40am

Try the beignets at the iconic Cafe du Monde. Photo courtesy of neworleans.com

Visiting New Orleans with kids is a wonderful cultural trip for a family vacation. There are foods you've never heard of, hard-to-place accents, and street names you may not even know how to pronounce (Tchoupitoulas Street, anyone?) making New Orleans a must-visit city. There are so many fun things to do in New Orleans with kids any time of year, but if you visit during one of the city's big festivals—like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, or Bayou Boogaloo—your family is guaranteed an even greater time!

Read on for our list of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids, including the best family friendly New Orleans restaurants and foods to eat as well as family-friendly New Orleans hotels. If you're interested in taking the kids to Mardi Gras, find our 3 Day New Orleans Mardi Gras with Kids Itinerary.

For more great family vacation options, from warm and sunny vacation ideas to must-try dude ranch vacations for families, check out our Family Travel Guide.

Melanie Preis

Latest posts by Melanie

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