Live Out Your Fairytale Dreams in These 11 Castles You Can Rent

by Kate LowethJanuary 5, 2023

Find secret rooms behind bookcases, bedrooms with stained glass windows, armor, swords, and turrets to explore when you rent your very own castle

If you are looking to experience the royal treatment for your next family vacation, we’ve got the Airbnbs for you. These Airbnb castles have all the turrets, stained glass, and massive bedrooms of your fairytale dreams. Explore secret bedrooms behind bookcases and enjoy modern amenities like hot tubs and game rooms. These castles make the perfect vacation rental that the kids (and the parents) won’t soon forget!

Highlands Castle | Bolton, NY

Talk about a gorgeous location perched just above Lake George and the Adirondack mountains. You'll find knights' armor in the hallways and a Great Hall to satisfy all your ballroom dreams. They have two other castles bookable on the property so invite all the lords and ladies!

Sleeps: 8
Cost: $1,790/night
Online: airbnb.com

Castle Noland—San Luis Obispo, CA

Located halfway between San Francisco and LA, this massive castle is the perfect destination for families visiting California. Each of the bedrooms has a private bath and you can send the kids to the hidden attic where they will want to play to day away. You access the attic via a secret bookcase door!

Sleeps: 10
Cost: $807/night
Online: airbnb.com

The Deacon—Philadelphia, PA

You'll have everything you need at this gorgeously-decorated castle that's perfect for your Philly adventure. With 8 bedrooms to choose from, everyone will have space to spread out and then gather in the massive central room. Kids will especially love the games they have available and you'll love gathering with extended family.

Sleeps: 16
Cost: $1,723/night
Online: airbnb.com

Castle Falkenstein—Burnet County, TX

Everything is bigger in Texas and this castle is no exception. Spend the weekend in this 14,000 sq. ft. castle that's fit for a king (and queen!). Whether it's the majestic scenic view from the balcony, the oversized master bathroom, or a game room complete with a pool table and darts, you will feel like royalty. Check out the bubbling stream outside and then bust out the Oculus Quest VR system for some family game time.

Sleeps: 12
Cost: $1,588/night
Online: airbnb.com

The Castle at Lake Livingston Village—Livingston, TX

Bring the Princes and Princesses to get away from the big city and enjoy a relaxing, quaint guesthouse that will accommodate up to five guests. You can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing right from the neighborhood private boat ramp/dock. Enjoy the wooded outdoor atmosphere by the fire pit, providing an old-world and secluded feel.

Sleeps: 5
Cost: $100/night
Online: airbnb.com

Stonehaven Castle—Eureka Springs, AR

This contemporary castle is located on 52 acres of private woods, perfect for exploring. There are no TVs here so you can expect the full off-the-grid-castle experience. There's even an art gallery in the castle's turret!

Sleeps: 13
Cost: $197/night
Online: airbnb.com

Williamswood Castle—Knoxville, TN

Step back in time and become royalty by staying at Knoxville's most unique estate, your very own castle only ten minutes from downtown. Surrounded by 300 acres of Ijams Nature Center, kids will love staying here. Modeled after a Scottish hunting lodge, secret passage, towers, swords, armor, and magic abound!

Sleeps: 6
Cost: $433/night
Online: airbnb.com

Aura Castle—Aurora, NY

Treat your senses, your spirit, and your well-being at Aura. Enjoy the beauty of the Finger Lakes, go wine and beer tasting, eat farm-to-fork food, play and swim in Lake Cayuga, explore the Wells College campus and discover how wonderful this one-of-a-kind experience of sleeping in a church can be.

Sleeps: 8
Cost: $475/night
Online: airbnb.com

Graystone Castle—Arlington, WA

You'll never want to leave this 20,000+sq ft modern-day castle completed in 2018 with all the luxury amenities you seek (theater, spa, game rooms, ballroom, and MUCH MORE). Just an hour from Seattle, the castle overlooks the Stillaguamish River and the Stilly Valley. Kids will especially love the life-sized chess, arcade, and fire pit.

Sleeps: 16
Cost: $1653/night
Online: airbnb.com

The Sanctuary—Wabash, IN

You'll love this renovated cathedral/castle as it's a great space for extended family to gather. There are five private bedrooms and a large gathering space and table for group meals. There's only a kitchenette so plan ahead for meals.

Sleeps: 12
Cost: $350/night
Online: airbnb.com

End of the Rainbow Castle—Saratoga Springs, NY

This castle is something the kids won't soon forget with a pond and expansive property to explore. The hot tub and fire pits will keep everyone outdoors and there's plenty of room for your whole crew to spend the night.

Sleeps: 15
Cost: $1,400/night
Online: airbnb.com

Please note, prices listed were valid at the time of publication but rates can fluctuate at different times of the year. If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

11 Math Games That Equal Tons of Fun

by Abigail MatsumotoOctober 6, 2021

Learning about numbers doesn’t have to boring! Take a look at these 11 examples below—from writing on windows to reinventing hopscotch, there’s more than one way to count it out. Read on for the ideas and get ready to make math fun for everyone.

Roll and Dot the Numbers

fun math games for kids — Fun Learning for Kids

This activity can be played together or independently. This game, from Fun Learning for Kids, has kids roll the dice and then "dot" or color in the corresponding number on the free printable. Great for kids just learning their numbers or, for kids looking for a harder challenge, create a sheet with various sums from the dice. Once they roll the dice, have them add-up the numbers and then find the corresponding number on the sheet. Get the full how-to here.

Division 1 Racing

Racers, on your mark! This division activity from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational will go over big with Matchbox car fans. Score the instructions—and a free download of the race track—here.

Measurement Exploration Center

Get the littles learning about size and measurement thanks to this hands-on idea from Buggy and Buddy. They'll love having they're own station and tools for experimenting—you'll love that everything's contained in one area. Learn more here.

Hopscotch with a Math Twist

Who says math is all sitting still and staying in one place? Over at Guilt-Free Homeschooling, there's an idea that has all the active fun of hopscotch, with a bit of addition and subtraction thrown in. Feel free to tailor the grid to your kiddo's age and math level. Get more info here.

Crown Jewels Math Game

Your pint-sized royalty will get a kick out of this activity from Where Imagination Grows. It's a fairytale way to practice counting, simple addition or subtraction, and more. Learn more here.

LEGO Garden Preschool Math

Those LEGO bricks your little one is obsessed with? They might as well get some milage as math helpers. We like how this activity from The Educators' Spin On It is centered on what kids already like to do with LEGO: build things. Get the scoop here.

Build and Smash Numbers

We're pretty sure this idea from Coffee Cups and Crayons is the very definition of hands-on learning. It's a simple way to get kids counting or visualizing addition problems—and it involves tactile fun, too. Just add playdough! Get all the info (plus more math ideas) here.

Building Block Fun

Take your kids love of building LEGO towers and transfer it to this LEGO game from Teach With Laughter. The highest tower wins and everyone gets to practice counting and adding. Bonus: you can download the game board (for free!) thanks to Teach With Laughter.

Number Order Window Game

Sure, the littles are bound to be excited about writing on windows—but they'll also get a kick out of number matching, counting, and making those mathematical connections. See more here.

Super Hero Math Game: Catch a Villain

With this game, your little super heroes get to bust nefarious bank robbers—and practicing number recognition, counting, and addition while they're at it. Get the instructions here.

LEGO Fraction Game

This fraction game from JDaniel4's Mom is just further proof that LEGO bricks are the ultimate learning tool. It uses fraction prompts and different color LEGO, to get kids thinking about fractions—genius! Get the how-to here.

—Abigail Matsumoto

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Featured image iStock

The Disney Princess Dinnerware Collection Gets New Royal Additions

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 6, 2020

This collection is fit for a queen. Toynk has officially announced two new additions to its Disney Princess Collection. Get ready to dine like royalty with the Disney Princess 16-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Collection #3 and the Disney Princess 13-Piece Ceramic Tea Set.

Disney Princess 16-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Collection #3

Disney Princess Dinnerware Collection #3 features the same ornate gold flourishes as collections one and two. The complete 16-piece set includes four 12-ounce mugs, four 2-cup capacity bowls, four 10.75-inch dinner plates, and four 7-inch dessert plates.

The new collection is inspired by four new Disney Princesses in a beautiful pastel color palette:

Moana (Moana) in coral
Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves) in yellow
Pocahontas (Pocahontas) in pink
Merida (Brave) in mint green

Make all your childhood tea party dreams come true with the 13-Piece Disney Princess Ceramic Tea Set. Tea Set Pieces: 34oz Teapot, Sugar Bowl with lid, Creamer, four 7-oz Teacups, and four 6-in Saucers.

Elegantly decorated in a pastel color palette with gold filigree, each teacup and saucer features a unique Disney Princess theme, including chic designs inspired by Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, and Jasmine. The teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl feature exquisite designs based on Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.

Both sets are made of durable ceramic material, and perfect for everyday use. Previous installments in the Disney Princess Dinnerware Collection have sold out multiple times, making this set a must-have gift for the Disney Princess in your life. All products are officially licensed and Toynk.com exclusives.

The Disney Princess Collection Dinnerware and Tea Set will enchant your guests for years to come. Both are now available for pre-order for $119.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Toynk

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The New TOMS x Candy Land Collab Is Nothing but Sweet

by Karly WoodAugust 11, 2020

Your sweet tooth called: it needs a pair of shoes from the new TOMS x Candy Land Hasbro collab! The maker of the iconic children’s game has paired up with TOMS to whip up a limited-edition collection for women and kids that is nothing but sweet.

The slip-on Alpargatas come in four fun prints inspired by the likes of Queen Frostine, Princess Lolly, the Candy Land logo and of course, candy in general! Several styles also come with a transluscent glitter outsole for a little extra sweetness.

Prints with royalty feature all-over glitter and for every product sold, the company will direct one third of the net profit to the TOMS COVID-19 Global Giving Fund.

You can shop the new collection starting Tues., Aug. 11 in TOMS stores and on TOMS.com. Prices range from $36.95 to $59.95.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of TOMS

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This Photo Series Adds Black Girl Magic to Your Favorite Fairy Tales

by Jennifer SwartvagherJune 16, 2020

LaChanda Gatson didn’t see anyone that looked like her in fairy tales growing up, so she decided to create her own story. The hair stylist teamed up with CreativeSoul Photography to bring her vision to life. This time young Black girls donned in royal attire were placed front and center in this stunning series.

Gatson and CreativeSoul Photography created the photo series to redefine the traditional princess with their own dash of style and culture. Their goal is to inspire more girls around the world to start seeing themselves as regal princesses.

Gaston said, “The idea was developed early on in childhood from the consistent lack of representation of black children in mostly all forms of media where children play a significant part. Even though I loved watching and reading fairytales and fantasy, I would often reimagine these characters more relatable to me and my culture.”

The princesses were redefined with a twist of Black girl magic pulling from a collection of fictional princesses and global fairytales that Gaston grew to love throughout the years. Changing up the script, she reimagined them as black urban royalty and chose a team of talented black creatives from around the world to create the change she wanted to see. She said, “These royals are made from the sun with an array of earths healing abilities. They are all named after healing crystal and chakra stones. These special chocolate blend of Princesses are everything I would love to have seen growing up. They are here to show diversity in fantasy and imagination.”

“I’m here to change the old narrative. It’s important that brown and black children see themselves in a brighter light with endless possibilities. They need to know that they are too beautiful, talented, gifted, hold ancestral gifts, powerful, and just as deserving of a happily ever after,” said Gaston.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of CreativeSoul Photography

New Disney Princess Dinnerware Set Features Aurora, Rapunzel, Mulan & Tiana

by Jennifer SwartvagherJune 10, 2020

If you are looking to throw a Disney princess themed dinner party then you need to have the right place settings. Toynk Toys is releasing a new dinnerware set that will have you feeling like royalty. This is the second collection in their princess-inspired line.

The original 16-piece set was designed around Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel and Belle. The new collection features Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel from Tangled, Mulan from Mulan and Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. Each place setting consists of a 12-ounce mug, 2-cup bowl, 10.75-ince dinner plate and 7-inch dessert plate.

Collection two of the Disney dinnerware set will be available for pre-order beginning Jun. 8 and will be available on Jun 15.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Toynk Toys

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Disney+ Releases Trailer for “Secret Society of Second Born Royals”

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 28, 2020

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were second in line for the throne? Disney+ just released a trailer for a new original movie that combines the allure of royalty with the action-packed adventures of superheroes-in-training. Secret Society of Second-Born Royals follows Sam (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a rebellious teenage royal who unknowingly develops superpowers from a genetic trait attributed only to second-borns of royal lineage.

Second-in-line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria, Sam constantly questions what it means to be royal and wants to create her own legacy. Unlike Sam’s picture-perfect older sister Eleanor who will become the next queen, Sam would rather rock out with her bandmate and best friend Mike at an illegal protest or ditch a royal engagement for a wild night out.

Fed up with her daughter’s misbehavior, Queen Catherine sends Sam to a summer boarding school where she and four other second-born royals – Tuma, Roxana, January and Matteo – discover they have unique super-human abilities and are invited to join a secret society with a longstanding tradition of covertly keeping the peace. With a new sense of purpose and a little help from their Secret Society instructor James, Sam and her fellow royal recruits must learn to harness their newfound powers and work together as a team before they can save the world.

The movie also stars Skylar Astin (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) as James; Olivia Deeble (Home and Away) as Roxana; Niles Fitch (This is Us) as Tuma; Faly Rakotohavana (Raven’s Home) as Matteo; Isabella Blake Thomas (Once Upon A Time) as January; Elodie Yung (Daredevil) as Queen Catherine; Ashley Liao (Always Be My Maybe) as Eleanor; Noah Lomax (Trial By Fire) as Mike; and Greg Bryk (Handmaid’s Tale) as the villainous Inmate 34.

This new movie will begin streaming Jul. 17 exclusively on Disney+.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+

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Kristen Bell’s Secret to Teaching Her Daughters Gratitude

by Jennifer SwartvagherDecember 9, 2019

Kristen Bell may play a princess on the silver screen, but that doesn’t mean she’s raising her kids to be treated like royalty IRL. Recently, at a Winter Wonderland event run by Tiny Prints and Baby2Baby, Kristen Bell offered her time to give back to the community. Baby2Baby is a nonprofit organization that provides basic essentials to children living in poverty. During the event, Bell made cupcakes, played with real snow and had a few games of foosball with a group of second graders. While there, she spoke about how she taught her daughters gratitude during the holiday season.

View this post on Instagram

BEST DAY EVER! Today we teamed up with @TinyPrints to throw a magical holiday celebration for the Baby2Baby kids! Thank you to our Angel @kristenanniebell for hosting the festivities and to our friends at Tiny Prints for helping us give the children we serve the most special day!

A post shared by baby2baby (@baby2baby) on Dec 5, 2019 at 3:22pm PST

“Just don’t overdo it [during the holidays], and don’t overspend,” Bell said. “It’s pretty simple. It’s exciting to buy presents for your kids, but the thing I make sure we do in our family is open gifts one at a time, starting youngest to oldest. We open all of our presents, so it’s not chaotic. My 4-year-old [Delta] starts, and she’ll open each one of her gifts. We all watch! It takes a little bit of the chaos out of Christmas morning because she knows that when she opens something, she is to look at the person who bought it for her and say thank you.”

Bell also tries to teach her girls that giving is more important than receiving. She said, “I take each of my kids to the store at separate times on a special day date to pick out a gift for their family members,” she explained. “I want them to feel ownership over what they’re getting. It can be anything. Get something for your sister, pick something out to make something for your dad.” When they get back home, Bell makes her daughters responsible for wrapping their presents.

If you would like to donate to Baby2Baby, they are accepting money or gently used items. Check out their website for the full guidelines regarding donations. After the event, the children Bell visited with went home with a bag of essentials, such as a new coat, shoes, and a few toys or games. “It’s an honor to serve these kids!” Bell said. “It feels good. There’s no other reason than that. You get to meet new people, new kids. It’s just wonderful.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured image: Kristen Bell via Instagram

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Princess Charlotte Starts School & There Are Pictures

by Erica LoopSeptember 5, 2019

It’s back to school time, even for the royals! Princess Charlotte joined big brother Prince George at Thomas’s Battersea first day on Thursday.

The princess, who will go by Charlotte Cambridge during her school days, was greeted by the head of the lower school Helen Haslem. Like many kiddos who are starting their first day at a new school, four-year-old Charlotte was escorted by her parents. Of course, in Charlotte’s case, her parents are highly-watched members of the British royalty.

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A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

Dad and mum, otherwise known as Prince William and Kate Middleton, walked hand-in-hand with their children as royal watchers and plenty of photographers looked on.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

At the drop-off Prince William was overheard, saying to Haslem, “First day—very excited,” in reference to Charlotte’s feelings. Middleton politely asked the head of school, “How are you? Did you have a nice summer?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

Along with the pics the paparazzi caught of the royals first day of school, Kensington Palace recently released official photographs of Princess Charlotte and Prince George. The brother and sister duo posed sweetly in their school uniforms—a navy skirt and cardigan for Charlotte and a matching navy sweater and short combo for George!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Kensington Palace via Instagram

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Target Announces 2019 Top Toys List

by Erica LoopSeptember 5, 2019

Target recently announced its 2019 Top Toys List—and you can’t miss these big red bullseye retailer play-time picks!

Even though you might not have holiday shopping on the brain, Target does. That’s why the retailer is busy adding more than 10,000 new and exclusive toys in stores and online. While not all 10,000 made it onto the 2019 list, the top toys do include plenty of “exclusive” options that you’ll want to check out for yourself. The list includes toys for your child’s imaginative side:

L.O.L. Surprise! Amazing Surprise
Ryan’s World Treasure Chest—Exclusive
Animal Planet Extreme T-Rex Adventure Playset—Exclusive
PAW Patrol Super Mighty Pups Lookout Tower
PJ Masks PJ Seeker
Our Generation Movie Theater Playset—Exclusive
Barbie Malibu House

Toys for your action-loving kiddo:

Jetson Renegade Hoverboard—Exclusive
Viro Rides Vega 2-in-1 Scooter—Exclusive Color
Hot Wheels Colossal Crash Trackset
Beyblade Burst Turbo Championship Clash Battle Set—Exclusive
Marvel Avengers: Endgame Titan Hero Series—Exclusive
Monster Jam Mega Grave Digger RC
Fortnite Jumbo Loot Llama Piñata

Toys for the tech-savvy:

Fisher-Price Linkimals
LeapFrog RockIt Twist
Nintendo Switch
Really Rad Robots Turbo Bot

Toys to cuddle:

Owleez
Cry Babies Interactive Baby Doll—Exclusive
Little Live My Real Rescue Pink Scruff-a-Luv—Exclusive

Toys for family game night:

Buffalo Games Classic Pinball Board Game—Exclusive
Pictionary Air

Toys that shine:

Capsule Chix Ultimix Pack
Poopsie Rainbow Surprise Slime Kit
Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Stamper Kit
Snapstar Pop Royalty: Echo’s Debut on the Pink Carpet—Exclusive

You can score these and more at Target.com or in the Target app!

—Erica Loop

Photos: Target

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Find secret rooms behind bookcases, bedrooms with stained glass windows, armor, swords, and turrets to explore when you rent your very own castle

Highlands Castle | Bolton, NY

Castle Noland—San Luis Obispo, CA

The Deacon—Philadelphia, PA

Castle Falkenstein—Burnet County, TX

The Castle at Lake Livingston Village—Livingston, TX

Stonehaven Castle—Eureka Springs, AR

Williamswood Castle—Knoxville, TN

Aura Castle—Aurora, NY

Graystone Castle—Arlington, WA

The Sanctuary—Wabash, IN

End of the Rainbow Castle—Saratoga Springs, NY

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