Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Where to Watch, What's New

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:56pm

Classics, like Tom Turkey, and newbies alike take flight in the 99th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 99th anniversary this November, taking over the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, November 27, 2025, exhilarating the city with its boisterous marching bands, extravagant floats, and giant balloon characters.

If you're planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with kids (and millions of others!), read on for the most up-to-date information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, best viewing locations, and other highlights. Looking for where to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 on TV instead? Read on for that, too. You'll find more holiday inspiration in our Thanksgiving Fun Guide for NYC Families.

Enthusiastic paradegoers know the family fun actually begins the day before as the trademark giant balloons receive their annual helium injections—in fact, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation is even included in our list of 100 things to do with your kids in NYC before they grow up. Check out our in-depth Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade inflation post for an overview of the Wednesday night festivities.

Sweet Dreams Await at Pillsbury's Let It Dough Hotel Suite in Midtown Manhattan

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 11:25am

Every morning feels like Christmas at Pillsbury's Let It Dough Suite at the Club Wyndham Midtown 45.

Guests planning a NYC holiday vacation—or even a Christmastime staycation—are in for a sweet surprise: Club Wyndham and Pillsbury have joined forces to offer the sweetest escape south of the North Pole!

Think a fireplace glowing with holiday cheer, cookie-scented decor, and icing-dripped window trimmings, plus a fully stocked refrigerator for all your holiday baking needs and the Doughboy himself on speed dial offering holiday cheer and baking tips.

We got a sneak peek and can report that this hotel suite takes the cake for the most festive NYC hotel this holiday season. Read on for all the sprinkle-dusted details on how to score your own stay here.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2025: A Local Parent's Inside Tips

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 10/24/2025 - 12:23pm

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is an iconic NYC holiday destination. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center

It’s nearly that time of year again: The Rockefeller Center tree is getting spruced up and ready to welcome visitors as one of the most popular attractions of the holiday season in New York City. With its dazzling lights, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree towers over the ice skating rink, producing a postcard-perfect sight worth seeing at least once. So, don your gloves and catch the holiday spirit because we've done the legwork to provide you with everything you need to know about visiting the Rockefeller Center tree in 2025, from best times to visit to avoid the crowds to the best restaurants near Rockefeller Center.

Find all the seasonal highlights in our NYC Kids' Guide to Christmas, including our picks for must-do holiday activities.

Free and Cheap After-School Classes in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 09/04/2025 - 12:18pm

The Children's Aid Society provides free and low-cost after-school classes to kids in New York City.

After a summer of expensive entertainment, we could all use this list of free and cheap after-school classes in NYC for kids!

The school year has arrived, and that means it's (past) time to start thinking about after-school classes in NYC, too. Families looking for reasonably priced, enriching, and even free after-school programs for kids in New York City have plenty to choose from. There are tons of after-school programs for sports, arts, academics, and other options to choose from. With offerings in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem, and more, you're bound to find a great inexpensive or free after-school program for your kids, no matter their ages, interests, or address.

We've rounded up 18 local organizations offering free or cheap after-school classes in NYC for kids, tweens, and teens throughout the five boroughs. If you're looking for more options, see our New York City Kids' Guide to Classes, and use our directory to search for programs by age, interest, and neighborhood.

Hidden Gem in NYC: Home for Retired Playground Animals in Flushing Meadows Park

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 09/02/2025 - 11:20am

Come nose-to-nose with the adorable aardvark at the Home for Retired Playground Animals in Queens.

Longtime readers know we're always on the hunt for New York City's best playgrounds, but even our favorites get a revamp from time to time. When it's time for a refresh, some of NYC's beloved playground animals are put out to pasture—literally in the Home for Retired Playground Animals, an enchanting destination in the middle of the sprawling Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

A lovely spot to visit in any season—or a diversion from the action at the nearby Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—here's where to find this hidden gem for families in NYC. You can bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Parks and Playgrounds for all our favorite outdoor places to play.

Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2025-2026

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 08/19/2025 - 9:24am

The 2025-2026 public school year for NYC kids starts on Thursday, September 4.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your NYC kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

Family-Friendly Hotels with Bunk Beds in NYC for Visiting Families

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 08/10/2025 - 6:43am

Channel your inner child in the BIG-inspired bunk bed suite at The Graduate on Roosevelt Island. Photo courtesy of the hotel

For many New York City families, bunk beds are a way of life where small-space living means many city kids share a room. So, if you're planning an NYC getaway, why not live like a New Yorker and book one of these NYC hotels with bunk beds?

These local hotels with bunk beds are packed with family-friendly amenities and close to many of our favorite local attractions in tourist-heavy neighborhoods, including Midtown Manhattan.

Find all our top picks for NYC hotels with bunk beds below, or more options for family-friendly hotels in NYC in our NYC Visitors Guide, which has all our top tips for tourists, including a curated three-day itinerary for visiting families crafted by a local mom.

Visiting West Point with Kids: 37 Top Things To Do near the United States Military Academy

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 08/08/2025 - 7:26am

A visit to the United States Military Academy is a lesson in history and patriotism, but also tons of fun for families.

The United States Military Academy is a jewel in the Hudson Valley. The country's oldest continuously occupied Army post, its history precedes the academy that now calls the land home. Recognized by then-General George Washington as a strategic stronghold, it played a key role in America's defense during the Revolutionary War and has remained important ever since. Today, West Point serves as a jumping-off point for the next generation of Army leaders, who endure a 47-month educational journey that prepares them in the classroom, on the battlefield, and in feats of physical and military fitness.

Whether you visit the United States Military Academy for one day—or are lucky enough to send your son or daughter to this prestigious institution and make repeat visits—you're in for a treat. Its strategic location perched on the west bank of the Hudson River is one of the most beautiful vistas in the region. Here are our tips for visiting West Point with kids, plus the top things to do near the United States Military Academy. You'll find more ideas for day trip destinations in our Guide to Local Day Trips and Getaways in the Hudson Valley.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

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