The weather is warming up and now’s the time to spread out a blanket and enjoy a meal al fresco on the grass. Read on to discover the best, most under-the-radar picnic destinations around LA that you and the kids can enjoy. And if you are as garden-obsessed as the rest of us, bookmark our “Guide to LA’s Botanical Gardens & Flower Fields to Visit Now.”

Vista Hermosa Natural Park

This 10.5-acre park just outside of downtown LA features walking trails, streams, meadows and oak trees that offer plenty of shade for your picnic. 

100 N. Toluca St. 
Echo Park
Online: mrca.ca.gov

READ: Our Favorite Things to Do with Kids in DTLA

South Coast Botanic Garden

Looking to escape the heat in LA? Make advance reservations before heading to this 87-acre garden on the the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where you'll find a koi pond, rose garden, flowering fruit trees and more. Picnics are permitted in designated areas. 

Good to Know: Don't miss the hide-and-seek art exhibit around the grounds of the South Coast Botanic Garden—fun for all ages!

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $15 for adults; $5 for children 5-13; and free for children 4 and under.

26300 Crenshaw Blvd.
Palos Verdes
Online: southcoastbotanicgarden.org

The Old Zoo at Griffith Park

Admittedly, an abandoned zoo might not be the first place that comes to mind when choosing a picnic spot for little ones, but we promise your pint-sized explorers will totally dig it. This was the original site of the LA Zoo that opened in 1912 and later closed in 1966, but its remnants, including an empty bear grotto, stone caves and old monkey cages still remain.

Insider Tip: The Old Zoo can be a tad tricky to locate, but if you park in the lot next to the merry-go-round in Griffith Park, it's just a short hike up the hill nearby.

4730 Crystal Springs
Los Angeles
Online: laparks.org/griffithpark

Arlington Gardens in Pasadena

outdoor picnic spots in LA
MarMar Q. via Yelp

Pasadena's only dedicated public garden offers free access to three acres of of native trees and plants for the whole family to enjoy—including pets! Although there are benches and tables on the grounds, you can always bring your own blanket and tuck into your own private spot.

Hours: Open 7 days a week, during daylight hours
Cost: Free

275 Arlington Dr.
Pasadena
Online: arlingtongardenpasadena.com

Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park

Oliver M. via Yelp

This 8.5 acre park is an urban oasis, located on the corner of Slauson Ave. and Compton Ave. There's a short hiking trail, a pond where kids might spot some ducks and turtles, and plenty of grassy areas for picnicking.

5790 Compton Ave.
South LA
Online: laparks.org

Wattles Mansion and Community Garden

Cyrena S. via Yelp

Talk about hiding in plain sight: This destination is walking distance from the always-packed Runyon Canyon, but looks and feels like a world away. Also very pet-friendly.

Fun Fact: Nirvana filmed part of their video for "Come as You Are" in this park. 

Hours: Weekdays, noon-4 p.m; weekends 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Free

1850 N. Curson Ave. 
Hollywood
Online: laparks.org

 

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If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the value of self-reliance and a greater appreciation of the freedoms that the great outdoors affords—which is exactly why community gardens are blooming everywhere in Atlanta! Keep reading for our favorite spots to learn how to garden, to plant your own garden, or to support local farmers.

Volunteer & Learn

West End Community Garden
Are you interested in learning how to create and sustain your own garden? How about learning the countless benefits of eating healthy, homegrown foods? Want to experience the amazing sensation of garden therapy? If this sounds like the place for you, then meet Haylene Green, the Garden Queen, whose goal is to teach people how to identify, grow and prepare healthy food, especially in at risk communities.

Volunteer: Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. (1 hour minimum). Yo might plant seeds & seedlings, build boxes, make compost, weed, help with general clean-up, recycling, food preparation, painting, or helping with the market.

352 University Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA
678-933-1087
Online: thegardenqueen.com

Lakewood Environmental Arts Foundation (LEAF)
Operating in the Lakewood neighborhood, this 501C-3 has a house and 6 acres where they receive thousands of pounds of donated food every week that they distribute to individuals, families, churches and other non-profits in the Greater Atlanta area. Expect to find many weekly volunteers who help unpack and distribute food, and a handful of resident volunteers who help with distribution and maintaining the property, garden and compost.

Volunteer: LEAF is almost always looking for more hands to help with tasks around the property. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Cassie at cassie@leaftrust.net.

69 Schell Rd.
Atlanta, GA
678-353-8730
Online: facebook.com/leaftrust

 

 

 

Plant & Maintain Your Own

Blue Heron Nature Preserve Community Garden
The garden is home to over 30 organic plots, and the largest plot is dedicated to growing vegetables for the St. Luke’s Crossroads Kitchen, a volunteer-based effort that feeds unhoused people in Midtown. This garden is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and annual fees ensure gardeners are given their own plot to tend. The garden is organic, and organic gardening principles must be followed: no chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Gardeners are also responsible for working together to maintain the common areas in the garden.

Membership Info: Contact the Garden team (gardenmembership@bhnp.org) for plot availability and waitlist. Annual dues are $100.

4055 Roswell Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA
404-946-6394
Online: bhnp.org

Cabbagetown Community Garden
The Community Garden's mission is to leverage its unique urban location to engage the community, educate gardeners of all ages and backgrounds, and empower them to plant, grow and harvest healthy, organic food. The Garden is built on city owned property but not located on parkland. With the help of city council, Park Pride and CI, the city passed legislature to realize a community effort to created a shared gardening space.

Membership Info: Dues for the 2020 season were $42, and paid for the adoption of one plot in the Community Garden, access to onsite water and gardening equipment, maintenance of non-growing areas in the garden (lawns, pathways, beehives, table space), early access invitations to all Community Garden social events and fundraisers, and subscription to Garden-related news through the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA). Membership is open to Cabbagetown neighbors having lived in the neighborhood between 0 - 10 years.

162 Berean Ave.
Atlanta, GA
Online: facebook.com/cabbagetown-community-garden

Shop & Support

Global Growers Network
GGN partners with people from diverse cultures who grow fresh food for their families and for local marketplaces. Together, they build and sustain networks of growers, land, resources, and markets in order to create a more equitable food system that is driven by cultural diversity, inclusive economies, and regenerative agriculture practices.

How to Support: Global Growers Network offers fresh veggies grown in Decatur through a safe, no-contact order and pick-up system. With support from the farm stand, new Americans are rebuilding their lives in the United States by using their agricultural expertise to nourish their families and yours.

Online: globalgrowers.org

Gilliam's Community Garden
Gilliam's is a 3-acre sustainable urban garden located in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood that produces beautiful vegetables, herbs, fresh eggs, and their very own dried spice blends. Gilliam's Community Garden serves as an outdoor educational center for local children, homeschool families and schools seeking unique science-based and STEM learning. They provide cooking classes for seniors, as well as learning tours and urban farming experiences for volunteer groups. Core to their mission is the determination to see more healthy, equitable communities across Atlanta.

How to Support: A mobile farmers market, known as their beloved "green machine, " allows you to have boxes of fresh vegetables delivered to families, as well as home-bound seniors, who otherwise cannot access it on their own.

1286 Oakland Terrace SW
Atlanta, GA
678-949-8530
Online: gilliamscommunitygarden.org

—Shelley Massey

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Red Tricycle is an anti-racist company against the systemic racism toward Black people and all people of color. We stand for justice, equality and humanity, and we support our Black families, co-workers, partners and community. One of the ways to do that directly is by supporting Black-owned businesses, many of which have already been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. We’ve rounded up some of our Las Vegas favorites below.

Chily Barkers

If you've never dreamed about a chili-topped cupcake then you are definitely missing out. This business is run by 13-year-old La'Rell and his mom and they make crazy-good cornbread cupcakes that are topped with chili and all the fixin's. Follow their Facebook page for menu and location information. You can order pick up from them via Grubhub

5650 W. Charleston Blvd. #1
Las Vegas
Hours: Tues.-Fri. 4-7 p.m.
Online: facebook.com

 

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Germz Be Gone

Established in 2017, Germz Be Gone is the premier mobile disinfecting company in Las Vegas. From child car seat and stroller disinfecting and detailing to disinfectant and probiotic fogging for homes, offices, gyms, classrooms, places of worship and more, look to Germz Be Gone for unique cleaning services we all can use. For the ultimate convenience, they make house calls. No judgment! Book your appointment online today!

Las Vegas, NV
Onlinegermzbegone.com

 

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Waffles Cafe

Waffles for breakfast and waffle sandwiches for lunch is the name of the game at Waffles Cafe. This family-owned restaurant in the Aliante community of North Las Vegas is a fun place to bring the kids. In addition to their sweet and savory waffles, you can enjoy waffle pizzas, smoothies, tornado fries and chicken wings.

Las Vegas, NV
Online: wafflescafe.vegas

Vegas Roots Community Garden

Danielle G. via yelp

Vegas Roots Community Garden (formerly Tonopah Community Garden) is a community-based nonprofit organization in Las Vegas, Nevada. Opened and operated by parent organization Together We Can, the garden utilizes over four acres of vacant property right near Downtown Las Vegas. Since its establishment in March 2010, Vegas Roots continues to be the city’s first and only urban farm. They offer a Lil' Roots Garden Club to teach kids about urban gardening.

715 North Tonopah Dr.  
Las Vegas, NV
Online: vegasroots.org

Philly Freeze-Me

Philly Freeze-Me is an authentic Italian Ice Store located in sunny Las Vega. The owner and founder of Philly Freeze-Me is a Philadelphia native who enjoyed Italian ice (known as "water ice" back home) regularly as a kid. While in Nevada, he could not find any Italian ice vendors that served authentic Italian ice like back home. With that in mind, he decided to open his own Italian ice store to bring a taste of the East to the West.

Philly Freeze-Me is centered around the kids and families in the community. The one thing the founder loves more than Italian ice is children. The store has several incentives and gives rewards to kids who have good grades in school, perfect attendance and great marks in sports.

855 E. Twain St. #118
Las Vegas, NV
Online: phillyfreezeme.com

Annie's Kitchen

Melvin D. via yelp

This historic Westside spot offers Southern soul food and the lines around the block will tell you just how delicious it is. With super-low prices, you can enjoy all the ribs, sides, catfish, brisket and peach cobbler that you'd like. They also do catering for larger orders. 

1212 D St. 
Las Vegas, NV
Online
: restaurantji.com

Tranquili-Tea Organic

Established 2018, Tranquili-Tea provides gourmet organic loose leaf tea blends and accessories. Shop their products online for the perfect gift for that tea lover in your life.

Online: tranquiliteaorganic.com

 

The Cereal Killerz Kitchen

The Cereal Killerz Kitchen is Southern Nevada's first and only cereal bar. Here, everyday is Saturday. Equipped with over 100 cereals from around the world, both dairy and non-dairy milk options and multiple toppings, their kitchen has something for everyone. Recreate your favorite childhood memories for breakfast, lunch or dinner—one bowl at a time!

Galleria at Sunset
1300 W. Sunset Rd. Suite 2837
Henderson, NV
Online: thecerealkillerz.com

WeGo Gamez

WeGo Gamez

WeGoGamez is a killer mobile gaming theater! Up to 20 people can play video games at the same time. The WegoGamez mobile gaming theater has three 42″ LCD TVs on the inside along with limo style comfort seating. It’s fully air conditioned with LED lighting perfect for any party. The theater also has two 47″ TVs on the outside of the vehicle. With a total of five TV screens, everyone can play their favorite video game. WeGoGamez is the perfect entertainment for any party.

Online: wegogamez.com

Big Jerk Caribbean

From food truck to full-scale restaurant, Big Jerk brings authentic Caribbean cuisine to the next level. Enjoy family recipes like jerk and curry chicken, curry goat, snapper and baked beans. Swing by on Sundays for a special brunch menu. 

430 E. Silverado Ranch, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV
Online
: bigjerkcaribbean.com

Simply Pure Vegan Cafe

With roots in Atlanta, Georgia, Chef Stacey Dougan is an expert gourmet vegan and raw foods chef and nutritionist. Simply Pure offers a made-to-order menu with cooked and raw entrees, appetizers and raw desserts, along with a fresh-pressed juice menu.

Downtown Container Park
707 Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV
Online: simplypurelv.com

Call Me Cake Soul Food

Call Me Cake is a soul food restaurant in Summerlin. Fried chicken, catfish, collard greens, candied yams and all your favorites. You can also order up made-from-scratch desserts for that special occasion.

450 S. Buffalo Dr.
Las Vegas, NV
Online: callmecake.net

Got a business you’d like to see included? Email as at blm@tinybeans.go-vip.net

—Kate Loweth

 

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What better summer combo than kids, dogs, and the great outdoors? While the pandemic may have put a damper on many favorite summer activities, our city’s public parks remain open and safe, with plenty of space for socially-distant exercise. Get your energetic small beings out for a romp in one of Portland’s many kid-friendly dog parks. Read on for the details on our faves!

Photo: Terricks Noah via Unsplash

New to dog parks? Take a moment to review the city’s rules for dogs in public parks and off-leash areas, and help keep parks safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Unfenced Off-Leash Areas

 

Sellwood Riverfront Park

Just beneath Sellwood Bridge and along the Willamette River, this park has an open grassy area officially designated for off-leash pooches to play (but locals know that dogs run the show along the sandy beach area as well.) Dogs who love to splash, swim, and fetch are happiest here. After playtime, snap on the leash again for a wander with your kiddo through the wooded trails that depart from the riverfront park.

SE Spokane St. & Oaks Pkwy.

Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Laurelhurst Park

With a duck pond and meandering trails through deep shade, this is the perfect oasis for a summertime run with kids and dogs. Keep your dog on-leash near the pond while your kid scopes out the baby ducks, geese, and maybe even a tadpole or two. The off-leash area abutting Oak Street is unfenced and large enough for letting Fido get his crazies out.

SE Cesár E. Chávez Blvd. & Oak St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo: Lents Park by Mark S. via yelp

Lents Park

This sprawling park in the unassuming outer Southeast neighborhood of Lents has a popular unfenced off-leash area, located right near the community garden. There are plenty of trees, squirrels, and other dogs to keep things interesting for playful pups. Bags and a water spigot are available. After running your dog, watch gardeners at work in the community garden. Ask politely to enter and walk respectfully through the paths to admire the lush gardens. Dogs must be leashed in the garden as well as uphill from the off-leash area, where a ½-mile wooded walking loop offers more room to wander with a wiggly little one. Check out Walker Stadium or play in the sun for a little bit before you head home.

SE 89th Ave. & Steele St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Fernhill Park

With plenty of room for your dog to run, this unfenced off-leash dog park is close to open areas for tennis, horseshoes and softball. Bring trustworthy dogs and kids who know to keep away from cars, as the off-leash area abuts a busy street.

NE 37th Ave. & Ainsworth St.

Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo: Donald Teel via Unsplash

Fenced Parks

 

Mt Tabor

The fenced dog park at the base of this beloved Southeast park (and dormant volcano!) is on an incline that dogs love running up and down. Let ‘em run, then leash up and hike up the winding trails with your little one. Bring a stroller or backpack for tiny hikers so you can take in the spectacular city views from the peak.

SE 60th Ave. & Salmon St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

Normandale

This city park in the Northeast offers a popular fenced-in dog park with water and a bag dispenser. It’s flat and well-shaded, making it a great option on hot days– and there’s even a separate area for smaller dogs. Trails, ball courts, and shaded open areas offer many options for outdoor play with your kiddo afterward.

NE 57th Ave. & Halsey St.
Online:portlandoregon.gov/parks

Photo: Another Beliver via Flickr 

Chimney Park

This large 5-acre off-leash area is off the beaten path and completely fenced, though it’s a low-enough fence that truly motivated dogs might be able to get out. Large shade trees keep active canines cool, with a water spigot inside the dog park. Bring your own poop bags. There’s a pedestrian bridge connecting Chimney Park to nearby Pier Park, so pack a lunch and explore with your little one. Both parks tend to be less crowded than other popular parks close to the city center.

9360 N. Columbia Blvd.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Brentwood Park

Just next to Joseph Lane School, this small fenced dog park has a bag dispenser. Bring water for your thirsty pooch! A great option for puppies and dogs who are still learning to listen. Bring wheels and scoot around on the tennis court or walk along the paths afterward (with puppy leashed, of course.)

SE 60th Ave. & Duke St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

Gabriel Park 

Under large shade trees, this popular 2-acre dog park has picnic tables and benches where your kiddo can color or read while doggy plays. Afterward, leash up and take a walk through the park’s trails.

SW 45th Ave. & Vermont St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov/parks

-Melissa Poulin

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Photo: Fogelson/Teel family

“I don’t know what to do with myself. I don’t have any trips to plan,” I told my husband recently. Joe is a willing traveler, and no one approaches the gauntlet of Disney World reservations and ride prep with as much determination as him, but he is largely devoid of the wanderlust that has propelled me through my life.

The uncertainty, the inability to guess when we’ll again get to go places is what, to me, feels so defeating right now. A trip with my extended family to the Chesapeake Bay in June has been cancelled. My son’s annual birthday weekend at my mother-in-law’s cottage in the woods has been postponed. We don’t know if our annual trip to Cape Cod will take place. Even events farther out such as a trip to celebrate my son’s bar mitzvah and my 40th birthday getaway with girlfriends who I’ve known since elementary school: they are all on hold. For us, for everyone.

My husband and I were students on a budget, when we first started dating, and our trips weren’t always far-flung or exciting. They didn’t have to be: Being together and exploring any new place or even revisiting a place that had special significance to one of us was a thrill and a way to forge a deeper bond. Sure, we’ve had some large trips in the nearly 18 years we have been together, but many of them haven’t required a passport and often they have needed less than a full tank of gas.

When our kids were little, our idea of travel and our expectations changed and, but it still felt fundamental. My husband and I came to Philadelphia (where we first met) with our colicky, sleep averse infant for a week. Almost everyone thought we were crazy: “Don’t you want to be at home with all your stuff?”

No, I wanted to get out of the Twilight Zone of diaper changes, walking around the neighborhood in a daze for four hours a day to get our child to stop screaming and sleep, and post-partum anxiety. I didn’t know what exactly I was doing as a parent, but I felt like I wasn’t doing it very well. One thing I could do well: Plan how to fill our days in a city I loved by visiting with old friends, eating at familiar restaurants and trying new ones and traversing a beloved city with our new child. I still walked around in a daze for four hours a day to get our son to sleep, but there were brief moments during that trip when I felt like me again, the me who had more to talk about than how many times my child woke up last night and when I was planning to introduce solids.

Our kids are 9 and almost 12, and this quarantine has been the longest time in their lives without travel. They have adapted to homebody status better than I thought, especially since my daughter has been known to ask, “So, where are we going next?” while in the process of unpacking. But at times I’m really struggling with this suspended season of our lives, even though I know it’s important for everyone to pause.

Travel felt and continues to feel akin to hope. I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I have written, “I can’t wait to go on more adventures with you!” in cards and notes as a promise of what we hope will fill our future days. As an immune-compromised person, I have trouble imagining jumping back into action, especially long haul flights, the way I used to. I don’t think our family’s days of travel are over by a long shot, but I do wonder how it’ll be changed for all of us. Ironically, nothing has ever reinforced my belief in our shared humanity as much as travel. I have been grateful for every trip I have taken, but I never realized how much I took for granted that there would always be an opportunity for more, more, more.

Other than the multiple long walks I take with our dog every day, I have spent little time actually going anywhere or planning to travel and a lot of time thinking about the journeys, big and small, that are now in my past: To Ethiopia to bring home our daughter, to Cumberland Island and a sunset framed by a fringe of trees that has since become my go-to meditation backdrop or to my parents’ house, where we all gather and reminisce and just hang out. Travel magazines, which I clip and dog-ear and keep for way too long, continue to arrive in my mailbox, and I allow myself a little armchair voyage and try to ignore the feelings that bubble up when I think about how long it’s been since we’ve traveled and how long it still may be until we do so again.

And yet, on Saturday, the kids and I got in the car for the first time in a month. We picked up the seedlings we had prepurchased from a community garden fundraiser and then buckled up again to head home. Suddenly, I felt the thrill of being out of the house, of going somewhere, of possibilities.

“Do you want to go for a ride?” I asked my kids.

“Yes!!” my daughter cheered immediately.

My son, closer to teenagedom and more suspicious, wanted to first know, “Where?”

We ended up ordering bubble tea from a place near my daughter’s ballet studio. In typical times, we go there often, almost weekly, and it had become an afterthought, barely even a “special treat” anymore.

But as we drove the short distance with a plan in place (albeit a very small one), the sun was out, the city traffic was light, and we put the windows down and turned the radio up.

“This is so fun!” my daughter laughed giddily. “It’s like an adventure!”

And for a brief moment, it really was.

Virginia-born and raised, Marni Fogelson has happily settled in Philadelphia with her husband, two kids, and beloved dog. Co-chair of a local literacy non-profit and a freelance writer, Marni is happiest with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.

Glover Park’s position between family-friendly AU Park and bustling Georgetown makes it appealing for parents looking for the best of both worlds. With access to a new playground, awesome restaurants, and even hiking trails, it’s easy to see why more families are calling this part of D.C. home. Here are 12 signs that you’re making the most of Glover Park family life.

Photo: Takver via Flickr

  1. Everyone in the family’s got a green thumb thanks to your community garden plot.
  2. To your kid, Wisconsin is a street, not a state.
  3. Guy Mason Park is like “Cheers”–everyone knows your (and your kid’s) name.

Photo: Lisa Townsend via Flickr

4. Forget overalls and onesies, preppy favorites like polos and pinafores are mainstays in your wee one’s wardrobe

5. Co-op registration day makes the college admission process look like a breeze.

6. Your local library is home to a park (and a great sledding hill!).

Photo: Stoddert Soccer

7. Two Words: Stoddert Soccer.

8. Your little foodie loves samosas and sushi thanks to your neighborhood’s array of restaurants.

9.Your baby’s first hike was on the Glover Archbold Trail.

Photo: Harmony D. via Yelp   

10. Glover Park Day is your favorite day of the year.

11. There’s no Metro stop nearby, but the Metro bus lines get your brood everywhere from the office to museums and monuments.

12. You’ve both bought and sold kids’ gear on the Glover Park listserv.

What else makes Glover Park parenthood unique? Let us know in the comments below.

—Sarah Vogel

Ditch that regularly scheduled bedtime, grab a blanket and some snacks and bring your kids to see a flick in one of NYC’s parks. Outdoor movie season starts now! This year, the theme across the board could be family -friendly Sequels. Despicable Me 2, Back to the Future II, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 are all on view. Per usual, parks all over New York City are screening cinematic gems this summer. And best of all, the cost of admission? Free! Here’s our roundup of places the whole family can see movies under the stars.

photo: Seth Werkheiser via Flickr

City of New York Parks and Recreation
Where: Various parks in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens
When: May 30 – August 27, Movies start between 5 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Movie Schedule: nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies

Reels will be rolling in your favorite parks this summer. Catch The Lego Movie  in Crocheron Park, Queens or Jurassic Park in Riverside Park South, Manhattan. These fresh air flicks are free and come with room to lounge, lovely summer views, and no drama (well, unless it’s part of the plot). Bring a blanket, chair and a picnic dinner or snack.

Our Picks:

The Lego Movie, Crocheron Park, June 5

Frozen, MacNeil Park, Queens, June 12

Zarafa, Tompkins Square Park, June 26

Despicable Me 2, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Community Garden, Queens, June 30

Jurassic Park, Pier 1, Riverside Park South, Manhattan, July 1

The Iron Giant, Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk (Beach 17th Street and Seagirt Blvd.), Queens, July 7

Edward Scissorhands, Pier 1, Riverside Park South, Manhattan, July 8

Back to the Future II, Touchdown of the 103rd Street Footbridge, Randall Park, Manhattan, July 13

All Dogs Go to Heaven, 103rd Street Community Garden, Manhattan, July 14

The Rescuers Down Under, Westervelt Community Garden, Staten Island, July 21

How to Train Your Dragon 2, Swindler Cove in Sherman Creek, Manhattan, July 28

Big Hero 6, 111th Street and 53rd Ave, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, August 5

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Pier 1, Riverside Park South, Manhattan, August 12

HBO Bryant Park Summer Festival (Films not yet announced at time of posting)
Where: The Lawn, Bryant Park, Midtown
When: June 22 – Aug. 24, Gravel area opens at 4 p.m./the Lawn at 5 p.m.
Movie Schedule: bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/filmfestival.html

Be sure to stake your place early on the law for one of summer’s most popular movie festivals in Bryant Park. It’s a memorable way to introduce your little cinephiles to the classics. No time to pack a picnic? Call ahead to place your order at ‘witchcraft for dinner packed up and ready for pick up.

Hudson Riverflicks Family Fridays
Where: 
Pier 46, (At Charles St.) Greenwich Village
When: July 10-Aug. 21, movies begin at dusk, around 8:30 p.m.

Plop down on the evergreen synthetic turf lawn, feel the breeze off the water, and catch a PG-rated movie as a family. This summer series even provides free popcorn!

SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water, July 10

The Box Trolls, July 17

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, July 24

Annie (2014), July 31

Jumanji, August 7

Paddington, August 14

Hook, August 21


Intrepid Summer Movie Series
Where: 46th St. and 12th Ave., Midtown
When: May 22 – Aug 6. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and movies start at sunset, weather permitting. Show up early to reserve your first-come/ first-serve tickets; distribution begins at 6:15.
Full Movie Schedule: intrepidmuseum.org

How about a movie night with a gorgeous night skyline? The Intrepid’s 7th Annual Summer Movie Series will host seven films on the flight deck of the historic Intrepid, right along the Hudson River. This year, special guests (like a NASA scientist) will introduce the films. Our picks for family viewing are:

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (July 23)

Apollo 13 (July 30)

Wall-E (August 6)

Syfy: Movies with a View
Where: Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn, Dumbo
When: July 5 – Aug. 27, Music at 6 p.m./Movie at sunset
Full Movie Schedule: brooklynbridgepark.org

While this Saturday series is generally for a more mature audience, we’re sure some kids would be up for Sharknado 2 (July 16) or the ‘80s throwback Clue (July 30). Food vendors will be on site to satisfy snacking urges. The East River breeze and Manhattan views may be worth the outing before the flick even begins…. Just be ready to share both with the other 7,000 cinephiles expected to show up!

Which outdoor movie screenings are a must for your this summer? 

— Rachel Aydt

 

One of the best things about D.C. is its personality-filled neighborhoods. At a glance they may look run-of-the-mill, but upon further investigation you’ll uncover a slew of hidden, kid-friendly gems. Today’s stop…Columbia Heights! Specifically, 11th Street Northwest between Kenyon and Monroe Streets. This neighborhood has seen a boom over the past couple of years, thanks to places like:

Where to Get Creative: Bloombars
“You have a baby. In a bar.” Remember that scene from Sweet Home Alabama? If you like the friendliness of a bar-scene but prefer to keep your kids away from the hard stuff, check this place out. It’s a community center where you and your family can enjoy the arts. From Nous Bloomons en Français (a weekly French language concert for kids) to dance classes for all ages and art shows—there is something for everyone. You can enjoy non-alcoholic only drinks and there’s no age restrictions on anything.

3222 11th St., NW
Online: bloombars.com

Where to Eat (Breakfast or Dessert): The Coupe
This is the spot for locally sourced, organic food that you can feel good about. And unlike a lot of D.C. restaurants, this one is huge (7,000 square feet) and lined with booths so you won’t feel like you’re bumping into everyone around you. There are two reasons you must go here: breakfast all day and dessert. Try the hash brown bowl and the bourbon pecan pie. Also, your coffee comes with animal crackers that you can share with your kids if you want, or keep them for yourself (they’re delicious!).

3415 11th St., NW
202-290-3342
Online: thecoupedc.com

Where to Eat (Grilled Cheese Sandwiches): Room 11
Have a picky eater? Nothing but bread and cheese? This is the must-visit stop for you. The grilled cheese at Room 11 is where it’s at. You’ll definitely order it for your little one, but insiders recommend getting one for yourself, too—with oak Shade cheddar, mozzarella, and local caciocavallo. You don’t have to know your cheeses to know this is a winner.

3234 11th St., NW
202-332-3234
Online: room11dc.com

Where to Get Growing: Bruce Monroe Community Park
This family hangout is just a short walk (3 blocks) from all the restaurants. Besides a playground where kids can burn off some energy, there’s also a community garden. Walk through the raised plots and see the locals growing their own fruits and veggies. Don’t forget to stop by the Little Free Library where you can leave one of your kids’ old favorites and pick up a new book for the ride home.

Columbia Rd. and Georgia Ave., NW
Online: brucemonroegarden.org

Do you have any favorite spots in Columbia Heights? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

—Besa Pinchotti

Photos courtesy of Bloombars via Facebook, The Coupe via Facebook, Room 11 DC via Facebook, Brooke Fossey via Flickr

City life has it’s benefits, but sometimes you just want to escape and enjoy some fresh air without the crowds. We scoured the city and surrounding areas to round up some hidden treasures that might not be on your regular rotation. Read on for five playgrounds that offer a peaceful place to play amongst Atlanta’s urban jungle.

Haw Creek Park
This playground is the perfect place to play in the woods. The shaded structures (built in 2012) resemble forrest elements, and the giant logs and life-size bears ignite imaginations. If your little cubs are still hungry for more adventure, the 85 acres and three miles of hiking trails offer plenty of other opportunities to explore.

Haw Creek Park, 2205 Echols Rd., Cumming

Tanyard Creek Park
This peaceful park offers a history lesson as well. The park entrance to this Civil War landmark looks like a collection of historical markers; however, there is much more than meets the eye here. A paved Beltway trail winds through the woods while you enjoy scenery of the winding creek, sprawling green spaces, bridges and trees before reaching an inviting playground nestled in the middle of the park. The playground itself comes complete with two different areas for younger and older tots, a huge spider web climbing structure, as well as slides, monkey bars, swings and a rock wall. Make note that there are no restrooms so go before you go or be prepared to pop a squat!

Tanyard Creek Park, Collier Rd at Walthall Dr.

Mason Mill Park
This pleasant park hits offers the perfect playground trifecta of clean bathrooms, ample parking, and awesome equipment. It is split into two separate areas—one for smaller kids and one for older children. The larger playground has a three-story tall climber and a pirate ship-themed area.  The big tube slides can be a bit fast for smaller children so keep a watchful eye. The nearby nature trails offer plenty of opportunities for exploration as well.

Mason Mill Park, 1340 McConnell Dr., Decatur

Brownwood Park
Just a few blocks south of EAV, this urban oasis offers plenty of parking spaces and feels safe not sketchy. You won’t know you are only a block off Moreland Avenue as you enjoy the clean playground and cute, community garden.

Brownwood Park, Emerson Ave at Brownwood Ave. SE

Jones Bridge Park
Perhaps the only thing parents love more than a quiet playground with clean bathrooms and plenty of parking, is a shaded, quiet playground with clean bathrooms and plenty of parking! Tots will love the “elevator” on the big kid playset and don’t forget to bring bread to walk down to the river and feed the ducks. There is a pavilion for picnics if you wish to stay and enjoy a bite alonng the banks of the ‘Hooch.

Jones Bridge Park, 4901 E Jones Bridge Rd., Norcross

Did we miss a spot? Share your secret spot to play with us in the comments section below! Or if you are looking for more places to play, click here for our list of the best playgrounds in Atlanta.

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of via Addy C. Alejandro O. Kathleen M. Yelp, Haw Creek Park via Facebook and Forsyth County