Ally Noel
Ally Noel has lived in Connecticut for over two decades. Before becoming a parent, she worked as an Educational Technology Specialist, helping schools and teachers integrate technology into learning. Now, she’s all about discovering the best family-friendly adventures, activities, and hidden gems. Share your tips, questions, or just say hi at ally@mommypoppins.com, and follow along for family fun at @mommypoppinsct.
Latest posts by Ally
Candy bars aren't the only Halloween treats to hand out this October 31. School kids across the country are getting ready to celebrate with Halloween parades and classroom parties, meaning you might be on the hook for homemade Halloween treats.
But there's no need to fear the sign-up email headed your way. I've planned more than a few Halloween parties and have put together a list of easy Halloween treats to help parents skip the last-minute scramble. These tried-and-true spooky snacks transform pretzel sticks into ghouls, mandarins into pumpkins, and make enough Monster Mash Brownies that will turn the entire class into sugar monsters.
For more Halloween fun, from Halloween jokes for kids to 75 fun Halloween activities for kids—and more—check out our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.
And for Halloween activities near you, check out our Local Halloween Fun & Activities Guide!
Halloween seems to get bigger and better every year—and I'm not just talking about the size of the candy bars. Back in the day, we were happy just to trick or treat in our neighborhood, but now, you can find a fun Halloween event pretty much any day, all October long. Here around Fairfield, we have a huge variety of activities devoted to the spookiest holiday, from trunk or treat events to costume parades to pumpkin festivals. Our Connecticut Halloween Guide has you covered, but don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters and keep tabs on our event calendar so that you won't miss any newly added Halloween fun.
Okay, there may have been Halloween candy in the stores for months already. But this weekend marks the beginning of the "Spooky Season," as my kids like to say, with haunted hay rides, haunted "isles", haunted graveyards, and other assorted things that go bump in the night...all happening in Connecticut this weekend!
For parents more interested in daytime or little-kid fun, check out the apacas in Voluntown, the Wee Faerie Village in Old Lyme, or Soupstock, an unexpected marriage of music and soup (yum!) There's also a fantastic, free outdoor movie night in New Haven, a celebration of New Canaan’s history at New Canaan History Day, and afamily-favorite Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off in Ridgefield.
To make sure that you don't miss any of the seasonal fun, bookmark our Connecticut Halloween Fun guide. You can also subscribe to our free weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have some (spooky) fun out there!
Crafting the perfect science fair project is a right of passage for most elementary-school kids. The ideal experiment involves a few key ingredients, a little bit of parent involvement, and can be completed in under two weeks.
Traditionally, science fairs take place in fifth grade, but many schools are now incorporating STEM experiments into the curriculum as early as kindergarten, so we've put together a list of 19 easy science fair project ideas, ranging from the tried-and-true “exploding volcano” to extracting DNA from a strawberry. There are chemistry science projects for 5th grade and plenty of hands-on, get messy ideas for the youngest inventors.
Believe it or not, we are just about half-way through summer vacation. But, don’t let those “back-to-school” displays get you down; there is still so much to do this summer! There’s still plenty of time to enjoy day trips, outdoor movies, and a little fun at the beach! This weekend, kids can soak up music in Thompson and Hartford, take a giant leap in Bridgeport, or welcome the sunflowers back to Griswold.
We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!
You may think of this top Vermont ski resort as a winter vacation spot, but with 8 pools, 4 water slides, and 2 natural reservoirs, Smugglers' Notch Resort makes a terrific summer family vacation destination. And, right now, Mommy Poppins readers can save $350 on a Summer Family Vacation Package. We made a trip to the resort ourselves so we could give you the inside scoop on this family-friendly find and get more details on this great deal.
For traveling families, a tiny house rental can make the perfect hotel solution. It often comes with multiple beds without the cost of a pricey multiroom suite, as well as family-friendly amenities, such as stocked kitchens. It doesn't hurt that they're so very cute and often set among pretty landscapes, from beaches to forests and mountains.
Tiny houses have grown in popularity in recent years as many of us try to reduce our footprint and that means a tiny house getaway is all the more accessible. There are now villages of tiny houses available for American vacationers. Tiny home resorts have cropped up, too, while some campgrounds and even urban areas have added a handful of rentable tiny homes to their grounds.
So pack light and check out these seven tiny house resorts that allow you and the kids to try on tiny living for size.
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