Rose Sala

Rose Gordon Sala is a mom to three but also a longtime editor and journalist. She's covered all the capital 'P' subjects, including pets, politics, PR, and parenting. She's written for MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, the New York Post, and Mom.com.

Latest posts by Rose

36 Summer Day Trips from NYC to Take as a Family

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Fri, 06/14/2024 - 12:06pm

Keep everyone cool at the 95-acre Splish Splash water park on Long Island's East End. Photo courtesy of Splish Splash

Summer road trip season is on the horizon, and it's time to start planning one of these summer day trips from NYC. We're itching to get out and explore, from beaches and water parks to cool nature spots and pick-your-own fruit farms, we’ve rounded up three dozen of our favorite summer day trips from NYC. All of these summer day trip destinations are less than two hours away because, well, who wants to drive longer than that with kids in the backseat?

Find more ideas in our full Day Trips and Getaways Guide, or try checking something off our list of 100 things to do with kids in New York State.

100 Best Dad Jokes for Kids That Are Bad, Corny, and Funny!

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 06/11/2024 - 12:00pm

Laugh—or cringe—together with these dad jokes!

The best dad jokes for kids are sometimes the silliest or most cliché jokes around. The cringier the better, right?

But we’re showing up for you, Dad. We've rounded up 100 of our favorite one-liners, puns, corny dad jokes, and even bad dad jokes that are sure to make someone in the family chuckle this Father's Day and all year long. Maybe.

Read on for 100 of the best dad jokes for kids, from animal and food jokes to sports and pop culture gags. Find even more laughs—including our list of 75 jokes for kids that will keep the whole family in giggles—in our Boredom Busters for Kids guide.

Your Essential Beach List: Best Baby Beach Gear, Umbrellas, Wagons, and Tips for a Fun Beach Day

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 05/13/2024 - 11:34am

A pile of buckets goes a long way with young kids at the beach.

I vaguely remember going to the beach with a cute little beach bag that held just a towel, a bottle of sunscreen, a book, a water bottle, and maybe a snack. Going to the beach with my three kids, however, requires a mountain of beach chairs, towels, a heap of toys, two coolers, and a wagon to haul everything.

I’ve tried my share of beach gear over the years (I grew up in a beach town and now we live near the Jersey Shore), but to make sure I had left no stone unturned, I also polled our readers and everyone at Mommy Poppins for their picks on the very best things to bring to the beach with kids. Everything on this list will make your next day at the beach easier, less sandy, and a little more like, well, a day at the beach.

Legoland New York: A Guide to Visiting the Hudson Valley Theme Park with Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Fri, 04/19/2024 - 9:20am

Friends young and old enjoy the attractions and Legoland New York, the first major theme park in the Northeast in 40 years.

Legoland New York delivers Orlando-sized theme park fun right outside of New York City—and its on-site Legoland Hotel makes it easy to extend your visit into a multi-day Hudson Valley vacation.

From its supersized (and aptly named) BIG Shop to its wet-and-wild Lego City Water Playground, and its only-in-New York Lego Factory Adventure Ride, here are all the things to do and see during a visit to Legoland New York. Find more thrilling theme park adventures in the tri-state area in our Guide to Amusement Parks and Water Parks for Families.

25 Christmas Jokes for Kids and Holiday Riddles

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 10:24am

Christmas jokes for kids make the season a bit jollier all around!

Give everyone a little comedic relief with these Christmas jokes for kids. Shopping deadlines, cookie baking, and lights untangling can make the final weeks of anyone's holiday season stressful. Lighten the mood by telling a few holiday jokes for kids while frosting gingerbread men or just enjoying a family meal.

We rounded up our favorite reindeer jokes, snowmen jokes, Hanukkah jokes, holiday riddles, and plenty of Santa and Christmas jokes for kids. All of these two dozen jokes are rated G and most are simple enough for kids to memorize and retell to their friends.

Once you're done giggling at these Christmas jokes, check out these cool (under $10) stocking stuffers, the best Christmas cookie recipes, the funniest Elf on the Shelf antics, and more Christmas Activities and Holiday Fun for Kids.

67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 08/31/2023 - 2:32pm

Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander

Searching for kid-friendly science experiments to do at home? Whether you're prepping for a fifth-grade science fair or want something fun to do with preschoolers, these cool science experiments for kids are super easy and a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Parents may end up learning a new thing or two, too!

Children are born scientists. They're always experimenting with something, whether they're throwing a plate of spaghetti on the wall, blowing bubbles in the bathwater, or stacking blocks into an intricate tower only to destroy it in one big swipe. Happily, you can do some pretty mind-blowing, hands-on science experiments at home using stuff you probably have lying around the house.

Want even more science experiments for kids like this? Check out our list of 25 Preschool Science Experiments, and more, in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids, which is packed with fun STEM activities.

Free Admission for Connecticut Kids: Over 100 Museums Participate this Summer

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 06/26/2023 - 11:00am

Connecticut kids get hands-on fun for free this summer! Photo courtesy of the Mystic Aquarium, Facebook

It's back, and Connecticut kids have another summer freebie. More than 125(!) of the state's museums will provide free admission for Connecticut kids and an accompanying adult this summer. Read on for more details.

And don't miss our roundup of the 50 best things to do for FREE in Connecticut with kids this summer. And our Ultimate Connecticut Kids Summer Vacation Guide is here to help you with the best things to do in Connecticut, from beaches and pools to water parks and festivals, plus cool deals, and giveaways—all summer long.

Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 02/11/2023 - 12:00pm

A water park, beach activities, and more await at Coconut Bay's all-inclusive resort in St. Lucia.

All-inclusive resorts are the way to go when you need a family vacation that's both relaxing and activity-packed, where delicious food and drinks flow freely, and where you don't have to worry about pulling out your wallet. The best all-inclusive resorts offer so many fun activities for grown-ups and kids, such as swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Many of them even have kids' clubs so the adults can get a break. Plus, the plethora of fabulous all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico make it easy to escape the cold weather for a warm and sunny winter getaway.

We've rounded up some of our favorite all-inclusive resorts in the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean for families. Of course, they don't always come cheap, so we've included a couple of more budget-friendly options, too. These soup-to-nuts getaways will please the most discerning pint-sized guests (and their paying adults).

Check out our Guide to Family Resorts and Hotels for even more great places to stay on your next family vacation.

Rose Sala

Latest posts by Rose

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