Jones Beach Air Show: Guide to Visiting with Kids

The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels headline the Jones Beach Air Show for the first time since 2004. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ian Cotter

The super-popular Bethpage Air Show returns to Jones Beach this Memorial Day weekend, featuring show-stopping aviation acrobatics. Hundreds of thousands of visitors attend this unofficial kick-off to summer, so we've put together the guide below to help make your visit to the Jones Beach Air Show as smooth as possible. 

For other open-air cultural offerings, check out our rundown of the best beaches and pools in the area, and bookmark our comprehensive Guide to Summer Activities.

Awesome Swimming Lakes near New Jersey You Need to Discover

Cool off in Lake Marcia after a hike in High Point State Park. Photo courtesy of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey has some of the best swimming lakes in the Northeast, so make a plan to dive into one this summer. From Cheesequake to High Point, most of these lakes are on the grounds of majestic state parks that offer other recreation opportunities, like hiking trails. Some, like Sunrise Lake, are even outfitted with incredible inflatable water parks.

If you're looking for other ways to cool off on hot summer days, check out our rundown of the best NJ pools that offer day passes or our look at the Garden State's top water parks

Swimming Lakes Near Los Angeles You Need to Discover

Go swimming at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Meghan Rose

Los Angeles kids grow up swimming at some of the country's most iconic beaches, not to mention an array of flat-out awesome public swimming pools. But wait—there's more! Did you know that there are some wonderful swimming lakes near Los Angeles? And if you're willing to drive a little farther, lake options get even more plentiful. Whether you want to take a dip in a secluded swimming hole or join the masses at a lavish lake resort, here are some of the best spots to take a swim out in nature.

For more places to go swimming in Los Angeles, check out our Guide To Pools and Splash Pads in Los Angeles. Or keep it natural at one of these Surf-Free Beaches Where Toddlers Can Swim!

All Aboard These Train Rides and Day Trips near NYC for Locomotive Lovers

Train-lovers of all ages love to explore the roundhouse at Steamtown.

All of my three children have gone through a train-loving phase around 2 years old, and while we are lucky enough to live on a train line where we can watch the trains zoom by all day long, I've been known to go out of my way to feed our kids’ love of choo-choos. From local train rides to seasonal Polar Express train rides, train museums, and model train displays, families in the tri-state area have plenty of options to entertain pint-sized train lovers.

Read on for our top picks for train-inspired day trips, including all the best things to do with train-obsessed kids in NYC and beyond.

The Funniest Words Kids Mispronounce

Most kids love wallymelo, but can they pronounce it? Photo courtesy of Canva

English is a weird language! When kids are mastering it, there are loads of commonly mispronounced words, or words that kids use instead of the real name because they make more sense. On our Mommy Poppins Instagram and Facebook pages recently, we had a hilarious discussion about the funny words our kids mispronounce.

Some are sweet letter slip-ups, some are sound-alike mistakes, and some make lots of sense (a bra really is a "boobie mask" right? and "stunk" perfectly describes a skunk!).

We rounded up the funniest responses below. Reading them brings back some sweet memories! Can you add to it? Join the conversation!

Check out our Parenting Guide for more parent talk, from funny animal parenting memes to parenting tips from dads.

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places for Westchester Kids

Build birthday memories brick by brick at Legoland. Photo courtesy of Legoland

Indoor birthday party places in Westchester come in clutch when it isn't park or pool weather, and luckily for us, there's no shortage of places for Westchester kids to get their party on. 

Local venues offer parties centered around bouncing and trampolines, scaling rock walls, practicing yoga, racing go-carts, and more. 

We’ve put together a list of indoor birthday party places suitable for a variety of ages, from preschoolers to tweens and teens. Looking for even more options? Check out our full Party Planning Guide for Westchester Families.

Easy-to-Make Mother’s Day Cards and Mother’s Day Card Ideas

Use watercolors and painter's tape to make beautiful DIY Mother's Day cards at home.

Browse our Mother’s Day card ideas for lots of creative ways to make Mom’s day a memorable one.

What’s cuter than homemade Mother’s Day cards? Those tiny handprints, adorable spelling mistakes, and well-intentioned portraits that totally look JUST like Mom are made with so much love. Find some inspiration for this year’s Mother’s Day cards with our list of sweet and simple Mother’s Day card ideas that will make the kids beam with pride as Mom wipes her eyes.

For more ways to make Mom’s day, check out our top 50 Mother’s Day gifts that moms actually want, or make her something delish from our favorite kid-friendly Mother’s Day brunch recipes. Don’t forget to check your local Mommy Poppins site for all the awesome Mother’s Day things to do.

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