Emergency responders can come in many shapes and sizes, and the newest batch is no different. In response to the terrible school shooting this week, more help is on the way in the form of furry friends: comfort dogs.
Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) K-9 Ministries has dispatched eight comfort dogs to Uvalde, Texas to help survivors, their families, first responders and members of the community. The special K-9 unit has been traveling the country for years providing support in the midst of disasters, including mass shootings. The group also offers comfort to the country’s police, educators, nurses and military during appreciation weeks.
Eight LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Deploy in Less Than 24 Hours to Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Please pray for Uvalde, TX and our teams as they travel today.
— LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs (@K9ComfortDogs) May 25, 2022
So who are these furry angels? They come from all around Uvalde and beyond. They include Elijah from Wichita Falls, Texas, Abner from Austin, Texas, Gabriel and Joy from Houston, Texas, Miriam from Kingfisher, Oklahoma, Triton from Plano, Texas and Cubby and Devorah from Fort Collins, Colorado. According to the organization’s Instagram account, more dogs will arrive in the days to come.
And they won’t be the only ones. According to NPR, Crisis Response Canines is sending six teams of certified handlers and dogs from New Jersey, Ohio and Florida. Therapy Animals of San Antonio has also dispatched teams, as well as Canines 4 Christ who has partnered with Salvation Army to bring love and support.
No matter where the comfort dogs come from, they are providing priceless therapy for those in need. According to the American Kennel Club, these “crisis response dogs are trained to handle stressful, crowded situations so that they can help people remain calm in disasters.” They handle children and adults in distress well and aren’t bothered by crying and screaming. And, being dogs, they are perfectly huggable and bring inexplicable peace when it feels like it can’t be found.
According to Good Morning America, the comfort dogs will remain in Uvalde, Texas at least until Monday to continue bringing support to the community.
Looking for some fun and stimulating things to do with the kids this spring? There’s a lot to explore at the city’s museums as we emerge from quasi-hibernation. We’ve rounded up our favorites here, including shows just for little ones, the return of The Orchid Show, works by Andy Warhol and an immersive, out-of-this world experience at one of NYC’s newest art spaces.
Wobbly World & Paw Patrol: Adventure Play at the Liberty Science Center
Liberty Science Center
There's a new space for kids five and under that all of you are going to love. Wobbly World is a bright, inviting, slightly off-kilter wonderland, where young children are invited to explore balance, motion, and cause and effect. Highlights include a giant Body Mobile: part carousel, part Calder-style mobile, and powered by play. As young guests hop on colorful seats and surfaces that dangle from the 14-foot-tall center column, they balance, spin, and bring the whole structure to life. The Balancescape, a fanciful landscape of hills and ledges helps kids explore balance and agility, and a whimsical collection of oversized blocks invite grabbing, sorting, stacking and more LSC collaborated with renowned toy designer Cas Holman on this new exhibition.
Also on view: Paw Patrol, through May 1.
Tickets: $27.99/adults, $22.99/children 2-12 (these are advanced ticket prices, at the door is $2 more.) Liberty Science Center Liberty State Park 222 Jersey City Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 201- 200-1000 Online: lsc.org
The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope
NYBG/ Marlon Co
Needing a hit of floral beauty to fend off the winter blues? Head to the New York Botanic Garden to see the dazzling floral creations of Jeff Leatham, famed artistic director of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and floral designer to the stars. Marking the return of The Orchid Show for the 19th year Leatham's bold and colorful living installations and designs transform the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. See stunning orchid towers of orange, yellow, and green, undulating fields of white, and overhead plumes of purple, together with artistic embellishments and a kaleidoscopic tunnel of lights, will enthrall visitors.
Originally debuted in 2020, The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope was on track to be NYBG’s most popular Orchid Show yet. Now's your chance to catch it!
February 26 -May 1 Tickets: $30/adults; $28/students & seniors; 2-12/$15, 2 and under/free Enid A. Haupt Conservatory The New York Botanical Garden 2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx 718-817-8700 Online: nybg.org
In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met's Costume Institute unveils part two of its show dedicated to American fashion, In America: An Anthology of Fashion in May. (Part one, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion remains on view through September 5.) The new exhibition will feature approximately 100 examples of men’s and women’s dress dating from the 19th to the mid-late 20th century. The garments will be presented in The Met's American Wing period rooms, or historical interiors, which encapsulate a curated survey of more than a century of American domestic life and reveal a variety of stories—from the personal to the political, the stylistic to the cultural, and the aesthetic to the ideological.
As part of the show, eight film directors will create fictional cinematic vignettes, or “freeze frames,” within each room, imparting new perspectives on American fashion and highlighting the directors’ singular aesthetics. Directors participating include Martin Scorsese, Chloé Zhao, Regina King, Tom Ford and Sophia Coppola.
Opens May 2 1000 Fifth Ave. Upper East Side 212-535-7710 Online: metmuseum.org
Tomás Saraceno: Particular Matter(s)
Nicholas Knight
We kind of doubt you've ever seen anything quite like this. Tomás Saraceno: Particular Matter(s) is described as "a large-scale exhibition and sensory experience with spiderwebs, air, and the cosmic web." Staged at the Hudson Yards art and gallery space The Shed, the exhibit features an expansive gallery exhibition as well as a newly commissioned sensory experience, Free the Air: How to hear the universe in a spider/web, a 95-foot-diameter installation in The Shed’s soaring McCourt space. You get to choose which part or parts of the exhibit you'd like to experience, with ticket prices adjusted accordingly. Note that you must be age 8 or older to experience Free the Air, and that it involves walking on a metal web—either 12- or 40-feet in the air, in low light with haze effects. Sound too much? You can get tickets for just the Gallery portion, but note that that can be very low light in places as well. This is the largest exhibition of Saraceno's work in the U.S. to date. Tickets are timed, released in batches, and must be booked in advance.
Feb. 11-April 17 Tickets: Gallery only: $12/adults; free/18 and under; Free the Air: $35/adults; $12/ages 8-18 545 W. 30th Hudson Yards 718-941-1424 Online: theshed.org
Sharks at the American Museum of Natural History
AMNH
See these creatures like you never have before: up close and personal. (And really big!) Sharks features 30 life-size models that range from 33 feet to the size of the palm of your hand. Your kids will learn about their evolutionary history, anatomy, habitats, diets, and how to keep them safe for future generations to study and enjoy.
Through August 14, 2022
Tickets: (includes general admission plus one special exhibit) $28/adults, $16.50/children, $22.50/seniors & students, free/2 and under American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West 212-769-5100 Online: amnh.org
Wings Over Water at AMNH
Wings Over Water Crew
On the big (very big) screen at AMNH is Wings Over Water is a new giant-screen film epic that follows the journeys of three amazing bird families. See extraordinary footage of the fascinating behaviors of Sandhill Crane, the Yellow Warbler, and the Mallard Duck as they defy all odds and soar across mountains, deserts, cities, and forests, heading home to raise their young. Award-winning actor Michael Keaton narrates the film.
Tickets: (includes general admission plus one special exhibit) $28/adults, $16.50/children, $22.50/seniors & students, free/2 and under American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West Upper West Side 212-769-5100 Online: amnh.org
African/American: Making the Nation’s Table at Museum of Food and Drink
MOFAD
The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) presents African/American: Making the Nation’s Table. Displayed within the newly-constructed home of partner The Africa Center at Aliko Dangote Hall, this first-of-its-kind exhibition celebrates the countless contributions of Black chefs, farmers, and food and drink producers who have laid the foundation for American food culture. Highlights include the Legacy Quilt, which depicts, a selection of hundreds of stories; those who wish can contribute their own stories via an online interactive component. Also on display is the Ebony Magazine Test Kitchen—saved from wreckage thanks to preservationists Landmarks Illinois and accessible to the public for the first time in history. Described by The Chicago Tribune as “the most distinctive test kitchen ever created,” it was the site where recipes from Ebony food editors created dishes such as oyster gumbo to sweet potato pudding. The multisensory experience features a soundtrack curated by musician, farmer and chef Kelis, and video interviews with former Ebony food editors.
It's a great time to visit The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, as it's celebrating 40 years in 2022. February also brings Kids Week (Feb. 19-26), The Museum’s annual fun-filled festival of daily activities in which kids of all ages can explore space, science, technology and the arts. Also in February: NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter models are on display in the Space Shuttle Pavilion.
Climb aboard this real aircraft carrier parked on the west side in Midtown and explore its interior, then check out the supersonic airliner Concorde, the space shuttle Enterprise, and Growler, the only American diesel-powered guided missile submarine open to the public. The Museum’s renowned collection also features 28 historic aircraft, such as a Lockheed A-12, the world’s fastest military jet and spy plane; a WWII-era Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber, and a soon to be unveiled Douglas F4D Skyray that flew off of Intrepid.
To get even more out of your visit, use the museum's Interactive Mobile Guide, which allows guests to scan QR codes on exhibits for more info. Entrance is by timed tickets—buy them here—and the museum is now open seven days a week, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tickets: $33/adults; $31/seniors, $24/ages 5-12 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Pier 86 West 46th St. & 12th Ave. Midtown Manhattan 212-245-0072 Online: intrepidmuseum.org
The Happiness Experiment at the New York Hall of Science
This exhibit was open for just seven weeks before Hurricane Ida caused serious damage causing NYSCI to close. As of February 19 (after some major cleanup), the museum, and The Happiness Experiment is open again! The exhibit helps children (and grownups) learn how happiness is translated from the external world into their minds and out of their personalities through neuroscience. Visitors will learn good habits on maintaining happiness—and how to interact with others when feeling out of sorts. The show also stresses that happiness is just one emotion that we experience and that it’s ok to not be happy all of the time. What's important is to learn how to verbalize hurt, disappointment or sadness, while also respecting others.
Open Fri., 2-5 p.m., Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets: $25/adult. $20/children New York Hall of Science 47-01 111th St., Queens 718-699-0005 Online: nysci.org
Andy Warhol: Revelation
This show presents Andy Warhol in a less familiar light than many are used to, looking at his Byzantine Catholic upbringing, and its profound impact on his life and work. From iconic portraits of celebrities to appropriated Renaissance masterpieces, Warhol played with styles and symbolism from Catholic art history, carefully reframing them within the context of Pop art and culture. Throughout his life, Warhol retained some of his Catholic rituals, while also unapologetically living as an out gay man. Among the more than 100 objects on view are rare source materials and newly discovered items that provide a fresh and intimate look at Warhol's creative process, as well as major paintings from his epic Last Supper series (1986), the experimental film The Chelsea Girls (1966). Advance ticket purchase required for timed entry.
Closed Mon. & Tues. Through June 19 The Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Pkwy Crown Heights 718-638-5000 Online: brooklynmuseum.org
NYPL
The largest branch of the New York Public Library has opened a new and exciting permanent exhibit called, Treasures: The Polonsky Exhibit. Here you will find 250 pieces from historical artifacts to pop culture. Some of the items on display include thousands-year-old Iraqi cuneiform tablets, the stuffed animals owned by the real-life Christopher Robbin that inspired the children’s book, “Winnie the Pooh,” the Declaration of Independence with John Hancock’s famous signature, and so much more. The collection is expansive and includes at least a few things that will blow the kids' (and your) mind! Bring headphones to listen to the Audio Guide!
*Tickets are free, but you must reserve a timed-entry ticket in advance. Masks are required.
Permanent exhibit Tickets: Free, registration required NYPL: Stephen Schwartzman Building 476 Fifth Ave. Midtown 917-275-6975 Online: nypl.org
See It Before It Goes!
Greater New York at MoMA: PS1
PS1 is the contemporary art annex of the famous MoMA and lives inside a former elementary school. Navigating the staircase is sure to be familiar for children and adults alike. Greater New York, focuses specifically on the art history of New York City. Featuring 47 artists whose works reflect their community and what New York means to them, this exhibit reflects the city as it emerges from a shut-down which left institutions with a very uncertain future. With a range of mediums and bright colors, this exhibit is a treat for the eyes.
Through April 18, 2022 Closed Tues. & Wed. 22-25 Jackson Ave. Long Island City Queens 718-784-2084 Online: moma.org
Puppets of New York at the Museum of the City of New York
Asya Gorovits/MCNY
The puppets take Manhattan at the Museum of the City of New York's latest exhibit. This delightful show explores the history of puppetry in New York City which dates back to the 1800s, with a look at the different kinds of puppets, from sock to shadow to rod. Familiar favorites on view include Howdy Doody, Oscar the Grouch and Lambchop & Friends, as well as lesser-known characters like the giant head of salsa legend, Hector Lavoe and the John Cusack string puppet from Being John Malkovich.
On view through April 2022 Tickets: $20/adults, Free/20 and under Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Ave. East Harlem 212-534-1672 Online: mcny.org
This popular kids museum is currently open on weekends, select holidays, and Thursdays from 2-5 p.m., when entry is pay what you wish. (You still need to make a reservation.) Popular longstanding exhibits include World Brooklyn, Neighborhood Nature, Totally Tots, Collections Central and The Nest. Admission includes access to the ColorLab art studio, where families have the opportunity to explore printmaking, collage and sculpture projects inspired by artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Richard Hunt, Faith Ringgold and Kehinde Wiley, among others. You must make a timed reservation for a three-hour visit. Do that here.
Visiting for a limited time is A-MAZE-D, a maze created from corrugated cardboard boxes that transforms the museum's second-floor Exhibit Gallery into a twisting and turning adventure made up of winding corridors and tunnels. It's a full-body experience for visitors of all ages, with special areas designated for the smallest visitors. A painted cityscape sets the backdrop for the built environment, with visitors seeing NYC landmarks at every turn. The exhibit is created in partnership with artist and puzzlemaker Dave Phillips.
Sat. & Sun. and select holidays.; Thursdays, 2-5 p.m., pay what you wish Tickets: $13 145 Brooklyn Ave. Crown Heights 718-735-4400 Online: brooklynkids.org
Mandala Lab at the Rubin Museum
Rubin Museum
Unlike other museums, this exhibit is meant to turn the focus on the viewer. It guides visitors through meditative practices and encourages them to dig deep and get in touch with their emotions. The exhibit provides activities to teach one how to channel any negative feelings through positive outlets in order to encourage personal growth and wisdom. Mandalas are meant to provide a point of focus so one can free themselves of the thoughts of daily life. There are also meditation rooms and spiritual gongs partly submerged in water to help center the mind. Advance reservation is required.
Tickets: $19/adults; $14/students; free/kids 12 and under, and Fridays, 6-10 p.m. Closed, Mon.-Wed. 150 W. 17th St. Chelsea 212-620-5000 Online: rubinmuseum.org
ONGOING
The Halls of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a favorite of both kids and adults, and one of the museum's most popular and beloved spaces, the Hall of Gems has been completely redesigned and reinstalled, and is now the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals.
The 11,000-square-foot hall showcases one of the greatest collections of its kind. Dazzling gems on view include the legendary 563-carat Star of India sapphire, the 632-carat Patricia Emerald, and the 110-carat diamond Organdie necklace designed by Michelle Ong for Carnet. Plus new specimens including a pair of towering, sparkling amethyst geodes that are among the world’s largest on display, a slice of a 35-million-year-old metasequoia—a petrified dawn redwood from the Cascade Mountains—the 9-pound almandine Subway Garnet discovered under Manhattan’s 35th Street in 1885, and the Tarugo, a 3-foot-tall cranberry-colored elbaite tourmaline that is one of the largest intact mineral crystal clusters ever found. Wow! Maybe the best news of all? It's included in the General Admission price to the museum, and is on permanent view!
American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street Upper West Side 212-769-5100 Online: amnh.org
The New York Transit Museum
New York City Transit Museum
Set in an actual decommissioned train station with a functioning platform, you’ll see trains and turn-styles of bygone eras and unlike other museums, the NYTM encourages their young visitors to not only touch, but also to play. With several vintage train cars and buses, your child can get in the driver’s seat and be the conductor or choose to enjoy the ride through many decades!
New York Transit Museum Tickets: $10/adults, $5/children & seniors 99 Schermerhorn St. 718-694-1600 Online: nytransitmuseum.org
The Jim Henson Exhibition
The Muppets Studio LLC
This incredible retrospective of master puppeteer and creator Jim Henson at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens is open again after a long Covid-19 pause. (The Museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.)
Museum of the Moving Image 36-01 35th Ave. Astoria 718-777-6888 Online: movingimage.us
Children's Museum of Manhattan
CMOM
The Children's Museum of Manhattan is open with lots of safety precautions in place to keep everyone healthy, including routine sanitizing, temperature checks, reduced capacity, masks and social distancing.
Visits to the museum are capped at two hours, and must be booked in advance. During that time, your family can explore all the exhibits at the museum, and take part in educator-led activities such as storytime, an art scavenger hunt, themed art projects and music and dance-time.
The museum is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday - Sunday.
Tickets: $15/kids and adults; $12/seniors, free/infants and members Children’s Museum of Manhattan 212 W. 83rd St. Upper West Side 212-721-1223 Online: www.cmom.org
The Museum of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream NYC
Yes, the Museum of Ice Cream is open! An immersive walk-through experience dedicated to the sweet treat, the MOIC opened a permanent NYC flagship in December of 2019, but shut down in March. It's back, and COVID-19 precautions are in place, and include a new ventilation system, mask and glove requirements, deep cleanings at the beginning and end of every day, cleaning surfaces following any touching by visitors, capacity reduction, etc. You can read all safety measures here.
If you missed your chance to visit this shrine to slime when it opened last year, you have another chance. It's slightly altered (people play with their own slimes, not a collective vat, as was done previously), and you get to take slime home. Expect artisanal, scented slime, interactive activities, a massive DIY slime bar, slime experiments, an immersive ASMR tunnel, a lake of slime to walk on, and more. Advanced tickets are timed, masks are required, staff is in masks and gloves, and capacity is reduced. Dress in your get messy clothes and prepare to open your wallet: it's $39 a ticket. A percentage of sales goes to mental health charities.
Created in Zagreb, Croatia (with additional outposts in Vienna, Kuala Lumpur, and beyond) the museum is both educational and a spot for fun photo ops. Visitors can explore more than 70 elements and experiences that include "illusionistic rooms", optical illusions, and puzzles. Every "piece" in the museum is accompanied by a clear and concise explanation of what is causing or creating the illusion; mathematical, biological, and psychological concepts are all touched upon, as are perception, vision, and how the human brain works. This museum is an outstanding (and very fun) way to engage kids with complex scientific principles, and help them understand through experience. The well-curated gift shop allows you to take home some of the brain-bending fun.
The American Kennel Club celebrates humans' best friend with its Museum of the Dog on Park Avenue. (Previously located in St. Louis, the museum is now housed in the same building as the AKC.) Expect fine art such as paintings and sculptures dedicated to dogs big and small, as well as tributes created using modern technology. Ticketing is by advanced reservation, and masks are required. The museum is closed Mondays.
Tickets: $15/adults; $5/kids 12 and under, $10/seniors 65 and older 101 Park Ave. Upper East Side 212-696-8360 Online: museumofthedog.org
One of the best ways to break up the long months of wintertime is to take the kids on vacation. Whether you prefer skiing and snowshoeing trips to embrace the snow or you want to bury your toes in the heated sand on a beach, we’ve got you covered. Here are some family-friendly travel suggestions that are ideal for securing quality time with your favorite people over winter break.
Play: National Parks are definitely America’s best idea and exploring the great outdoors is such a healthy and fun activity for families. Utah’s first and most popular national park, Zion National Park, is a great destination for the winter months. Seeing the multi-hued sandstone cliffs, slot canyons and wildlife (bighorn sheep, mule deer, bats and a mammal called the petite kangaroo rat) are what draw visitors to this park all year long. Due to relatively mild seasonal weather, travelers can go on super scenic drives, hiking and cross country skiing. Take the kids on a ranger-led winter hike or participate in the Junior Ranger program to earn a badge. The best part: the crowds have thinned out, and you’ll feel like you have the park all to yourselves like nature intended.
Other activities nearby, outside of the park, include St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site, Washington City Aquatic Center, and ghost towns in Grafton, Silver Reef, and Old Irontown.
See Why Kids Love Aruba
iStock
Play:Aruba, known as One Happy Island, is the ideal warm-weather destination for families in the southern Caribbean Sea. Not only are there excellent beaches, like Palm Beach and Baby Beach, but also the island is chock-full of kid-friendly adventures worth exploring. For animal lovers, visit the island’s Ostrich Farm, Butterfly Farm, Donkey Sanctuary, and Philips Animal Garden. For adventure seekers, take an off-road safari or UTV tour with De Palm Tours and see the California Lighthouse and Arikok National Park. Snorkel cruises are another way to get on the water and enjoy the super-charged sunshine that the island offers.
Stay: To make planningeasier, stay at the all-inclusive Barceló Aruba and spring for the Royal Level, which includes perks like personalized check-in, exclusive dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, accommodations on higher-level floors and room service.
All-Inclusive Ski Vacation in Quebec
iStock
Play & Stay: If a ski vacation is on your must-do list, you'll want to check out this brand-new Club Med resort that will make schlepping all that ski gear that much easier. A vacation at Club Med Québec provides guests with all the luxuries of an all-inclusive vacation while also allowing travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canadian culture. Guests can enjoy activities like ice skating, dog sledding, and sugar shack visits.
The spacious accommodations echo the character of the region with the colors of Québec (winter white, twilight blue, and yellow sun) emulated through decor and other rooms feature elements like blond wooden floors and lofty ceilings akin to the warmth of the region’s ancestral homes. The resort also features three on-site restaurants that serve locally inspired cuisine like fondue and raclette, local Québec cheeses and charcuteries, freshly baked cookies, and Québec’s famous maple taffy and are decorated to celebrate different gastronomical elements tied to Québec: hunting, fishing, agriculture, foraging, and livestock farming.
Play & Stay: Leave your passport at home and fly to the Hawaiian Islands. The islands ofLanai and Maui are full of adventures that are perfect for families. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai can arrange cultural experiences for families like hula dance lessons, ukulele instruction, floral leis making, and even an oral history lesson given by Lanai’s elders. Take a guided island tour in a UTV, go sailing on a catamaran, stroll through the botanic gardens, and lounge by the lagoon-style swimming pool at the resort. Enjoy a sunrise hike to Puu Pehe, or Sweetheart Rock, go horseback riding, or snorkel in the warm water—the options are endless.
In Maui, the Valley Isle, try your hand at outrigger canoeing, visit the Ali’i Kula Lavender Garden, see sharks at the Maui Ocean Center, and go snorkeling to see a wide variety of colorful sea wildlife. Older kids, ages 12 and older, might like to try tandem paragliding withProflyght. During the winter months, you can see migrating humpback whales and nothing beats seeing the sunrise at Haleakala National Park, where you can see a massive volcano.
Winter in New York City
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Play: Visiting New York City in the winter is an enchanting experience for families—the city is still alive and electric in the chillier months. Create enduring memories for your family by ice skating at Rockefeller Center and seeing the larger-than-life Christmas tree, watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, or visit one of the many incredible museums—Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex, Guggenheim Museum, and of course, the Statue of Liberty. For something really special, take a behind-the-scenes tour of Yankee Stadium, visit the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (you can also do a backstage tour of the music hall) or see The Nutcracker at The New York City Ballet.
Stay: The city is full of great overnight possibilities. The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel has a fantastic midtown location, a fitness center, a complimentary crib if needed and extra space in their Parlor Room with a built-in Murphy Bed, plus kids 12 & under eat free. Other family-friendly hotels include Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, which is pet friendly and has a cool Terrace Suite with panoramic views of the city and New York Marriott Marquis, with family connecting suites, restaurant options and concierge services.
Play: Finally, something for the older kids in your family—backpacking and day hiking in some of the most beautiful parts of America’s southwest. Imagine how proud your tween will feel when she hikes for multiple miles, from beginning to end, and learns about geology along the way. If you don’t want to worry about how to get from point A to point B, and you don’t want to pack gear or figure out food options, check out Four Season Guides—they lead groups and private hiking trips through Havasu Falls, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
See Grand Canyon National Park like you’ve never seen it before—dip below the rim and hike past layers and layers of various geological history to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and stay at the famous Phantom Ranch before heading back out of the canyon on the beautiful Bright Angel Trail. Everyone will love the physical challenge and remember the adventure for years to come.
Pro Tip: Invest in a good pair of hiking boots—Vasque has quality trail footwear for kids—and break them in before your trip to prevent sore feet or blisters.
Play: If you ask any Chicagoan what they love the most about their city, they’ll likely say they love the culture—museums, theater, restaurants—sports, lakefront and neighborhoods (Chicago has more than 100 neighborhoods). Take the kids ice skating at Maggie Daley Park’s ribbon. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum (you’ll love the new Maximo Titanosaur), and the Museum of Science and Industry—all of the museums have a free or discounted admission day and nearly all have sleep-at-the-museum overnight opportunities. Travel 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile and check out 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, home of the sky-high moving platform TILT, that gives you a kaleidoscopic view, high above the city. Take your family to a fun-for-winter show via Broadway in Chicago, Drury Lane, First Folio, Marriott Children’s Theatre, or The Chicago Theatre—check the websites to see what productions are running.
Stay: Hotel EMC2 is a modern hotel with robots that deliver anything you’ve forgotten or need. Another cool option is the Intercontinental Chicago where you’ll find a stunning pool, Michael Jordan’s Steak House, and an onion dome that was meant (but not used) to dock blimps before the Hindenburg disaster.
Play: Toronto is a diverse and bustling metropolis that offers a plethora of indoor and outdoor adventures for culture seekers. It’s easy to see why this Canadian city is rising to the top of the list for best places to visit for multi-generational families. Explore gems like the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame and Toronto Botanical Garden. Thrill seekers will be challenged walking around the top of CN Tower—on the outside—116 stories high. And, of course, with a lot of immigrants—half of the population was born outside of Canada—you’ll have plenty of dining options to choose from (not everything is covered in bacon and maple syrup either).
Stay: Is there anything better than a hotel with an indoor water slide? We don't think so. The Chelsea Hotel is the perfect spot for families visiting Toronto and their four-story water slide is just one of the reasons that you'll love it there. The hotel has two-bedroom suites that are perfect for visiting families, as they come with a full kitchen. In addition to the corkscrew water slide, the hotel has a kids club where you can drop off your little ones for some play time with the resident bunnies while you enjoy a meal out.
Play: Do you want to feel like you are in a different country, exposing your kids to a rich culture, without ever leaving the states? Check out Tarpon Springs, Florida, a small town with the highest population of Greek-Americans of any city in the U.S. Families will love seeing the sponge fisherman working on the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard. You can even take a cruise and watch a sponge diver, wearing a vintage suit, dive down and pull out a fresh gooey sponge. Enjoy the sweet sunshine and walk along the street full of shops, restaurants and museums full of Greek heritage. Opa!
Stay: Say goodnight on 900 wooded acres at Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort. You’ll be minutes from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and a stone’s throw from Tampa International Airport. The resort has a relaxing atmosphere, with a spa, multiple restaurant options, and a large Loch Ness Monster Pool with slides. Kids can take golf or tennis lessons, go fishing, have fun in the kid’s club, and rent bikes to explore the area.
Wisconsin Wonderland
Wendy Altschuler
Play: From snowmobiling to cross-country skiing to sledding to snowshoeing to dog sledding to ice fishing to fat bike winter riding—you won’t run out of outdoor things to do in Wisconsin during the winter months. Beginners will love learning how to downhill ski at Granite Peak, Christmas Mountain, Alpine Valley, Devil’s Head Resort, Cascade Mountain and Mt. Crosse, among other places. Visit the Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world, for indoor slide and amusement park fun. For something truly special though, visit Door County in the winter months, when it’s quiet, peaceful and not flooded with tourists. Take a horse-drawn carriage, go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, and check out one of the many events happening throughout the 75-mile-long stretch between Green Bay and Lake Michigan.
Stay: Book a cozy stay, in the middle of the forest, at Sunrise Shores Log Cabin in Sturgeon Bay, Door County. The cozy cabin, with a large front porch and side-screened porch, is within walking distance to a public beach, dogs are welcome, and your entire family will love the warm stone fireplace.
Explore Art in Houston
courtesy visit Houston.com
Play: Of course, the fourth largest city in America will be ripe with fantastic museums, dining and shopping, and Space Center Houston is an obvious standout, but there’s something else that Houston offers young visitors: art. Toward the end of November, families can go to Hue: Houston Urban Experience Mural Festival, part of Houston Art Week, to see artists from around the world use a variety of techniques and color to brighten up urban landscapes. Mural tours will be available during the event as well as throughout December. After seeing the street art, bring your family to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston where kids can take part in weekly family programming including Creation Station, Family Tours and Story Time.
Pro Tip: The Houston CityPASS allows families to visit several museums and attractions throughout the city, like the Houston Zoo, Children’s Museum, and Downtown Aquarium for a discounted rate. If you click on VisitHouston.com, you can also print off coupons for discounts at hotels, restaurants, transportation and more, all over the city. Also, on the website is a link for Houston for Free, which lists free family-friendly activities.
Play: Wyoming is a huge state full of fun cowboy culture and mountain adventures. On one end, you have Cheyenne, Wyoming, the nation’s rodeo and railroad capital. Don your SmartWool sweaters and thick socks and visit Terry Bison Ranch to see over 2,000 bison grazing on 30,000 acres of rolling hills. Take the family on a downtown walking tour or hop on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (Christmas Lights tours are available in December). Pop in the Cheyenne Depot and Depot Museum, and let the kids burn off energy in The Paul Smith Children’s Village (in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens), which is home to Engine 1242, the oldest train engine in Wyoming. Admittance to the gardens is free and open year-round.
On the other end of the state, sits one of the most beautiful and evergreen cities in our country: Jackson Hole. This western town is near Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, which opens up a world of adventure for families. Outside of the park, families can have many fun experiences such as winter fat biking, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, snowshoeing and, of course, skiing.
Stay: Rest your head in Jackson Hole at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, located next to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, where your family can go skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, tubing or riding on a horse-pulled sleigh. The resort has great deals, like the National Parks Explorer package.
Get Your Play On with Nickelodeon in the Riveria Maya
Gabby Cullen
Imagine hanging with Dora, the Mutant Turtles and Sparkle and Shine, all while exploring a six-acre waterpark in the Riviera Maya!
Play: The waterpark has 21 slides, the entertainment in the Snick Lounge includes magic shows, glow parties, live music and more. Don't miss the daily 1:30 pm sliming at the water park, and be ready for amazing food, whether you dine with Raf, Mikey, Donny and Leo at Piazza Tavola or enjoy ocean views at the Bikini Bottom or the Yacht Club.
Stay: The Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya has six different restaurants and every hotel room boasts its own private pool. It's a short shuttle ride from the seaside hotel to the main lobby and waterpark, which is where you'll be able to enjoy Aqua Nick and the main entertainment.
Our pets are happy that we are spending more time with them. Now that the kids are home, they can spend more time doting on them. The American Kennel Club has released fun and educational tools for the young dog lovers in our lives.
From crafts to books to song and dance, there is something for everyone. They have even created a schedule for parents trying to maintain structure and consistency during the day.
If your kids love reading and they love dogs, the AKC has curated a list just for them. Maybe they can even take turns reading to the family pet. Reading aloud is a great way for beginning readers to practice, and the animals love the attention.
There are lots of ways for kids to stay active with their dogs from playing catch to running around in the yard. The AKC has come up with a list of fun activities from creating dog art to baking treats.
There’s nothing like a snuggle from your kiddo’s furry BFF, but if Fido can’t visit your child IRL, they can still get the uplifting effect only a canine companion can bring—through the American Kennel Club’s new PupPals program.
The recently launched program gives children who are suffering from an illness, have a parent who recently deployed, are experiencing a loss or are experiencing another life challenge a little life lift. So how does the AKC PupPals program work?
Dog owners submit a pic and info about their dog via an online form. AKC Public Education will then use the information to make a card to send to a child a need. The cards include a photo, facts about the breed and a personalized letter.
Meredith Saraceno, Public Education Manager, said in a press release, “AKC Public Education is always seeking ways to highlight the importance of the human-canine bond and bring communities together. The AKC PupPals Program is another way to accomplish that and we look forward to providing children with the comfort of a canine friend.”
If you want to participate in the program, as a pet owner or the parent of a child who needs a PupPal, visit the AKC’s website here.
August is perhaps New York City’s most quiet month (thanks to many people escaping the heat and humidity with last hurrah vacations), and the streets actually seem less-crowded here when it rolls around. The city takes advantage of this relative seasonal hush with Summer Streets, an entirely free program that opens a seven-mile stretch of streets to pedestrians and bikes, with lots of chances to play, eat, dance and learn about healthy recreation and sustainable transportation along the way. And yes, this year there will be a mega water slide, too.
photo: Slide the City
Taking it to the Streets
A program of the Department of Transportation, Summer Streets makes the seven-mile stretch of Park Avenue at 72nd Street to Lafayette Street at Brooklyn Bridge vehicle-free for three consecutive Saturdays in August (the 1st, the 8th and the 15th) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cyclists, runners, walkers, rollerbladers, etc. are encouraged to come out and enjoy as little or as much of the route as they like.
But it’s much more than just open streets with no cars to dodge. Five rest stops are along the way, each offering different free activities and entertainment. The list of things to do and see is extensive, including everything from parkour demonstrations and dance performances to free bike repair and a 165-foot long, 30-feet high zipline, but each one is anchored by a big attraction or entertainment option.
The Uptown Rest Stop (at 52nd Street and Park Avenue) will host dance, music, and comedy performances on a stage, while also offering free face-painting, art projects, bike rentals and the chance to climb in a big rig for a “Truck’s Eye View” of the road.
The Midtown Rest Stop (at 25th Street and Park Avenue) is home to the Whole Foods Market City Picnic, where you’ll be able to pick up lots of free samples and see demonstrations of juggling and tai chi and dance performances. Plus, this stop features free bike and rollerblade rentals as well as free helmets and helmet fittings by the Department of Transportation. Also: free bike repair!
The main attraction at Astor Place Rest Stop (at Astor Place and Lafayette Street) will be the American Kennel Club Dog Park, equipped with a grassy knoll, pools to splash in, a space to play and an agility course. Owners can also get a photo with their pooch at the Wooftale Photo Booth. Other attractions include arts and crafts, the chance to try a hand-cycle and walking tours.
The SoHo Rest Stop (at Spring Street and Lafayette Street) is all about the hardbodies, thanks to classes from Crunch Gym. Classes include yoga, pilates, Retro-robics, Street Jazz and Boot Camp. You’ll also find free bike rental and Honest Tea samples here.
The Foley Square Rest Stop (at Duane Street and Centre Street) is where the intense action is happening. The big attraction is the Vita Coco Beach featuring Slide the City, the giant water slide (more on that later). You’ll also find the zipline, misting stations, lots of free Coco Vita Coconut water and a “virtual technology” beach experience.
Soccer will also be big at Foley Square, thanks to the NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital Soccer Zone, where freestyle soccer players will do demonstrations and play, with regular folks joining in. And be on the lookout for Ben Franklin wandering around: an historical reenactor will be at Foley Square, ready to engage in a bit of living history.
Registration for the slide on the first Summer Street Saturday on August 1 opened on July 23; registration for August 8 opens on August 3 and registration for August 15 opens on August 10. To register and for further information visit the Slide the City website.
Will you be headed to Summer Streets this year? Have you done Slide the City? Tell us in the comments below!
