Meghan Rose

Before becoming a parent, Meghan Rose worked at pioneering internet companies like AOL, eToys.com, and eBay. After having twins, she shifted her focus to literacy, co-authoring Home is Where the Books Are (Choice Literacy, 2013) and launching LitforKids.com. Now based in Los Angeles, Meghan is all about finding fun things to do with kids. Please send her ALL your ideas and suggestions for national parenting and travel articles, or drop a note just say hi: meghan@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Meghan

Halloween, Fluffernutter Day, and More Holidays & Activities for October 2025

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Thu, 09/26/2024 - 8:26am

Get gaudy! Wear your craziest clothes for Wear Something Gaudy Day on October 17!

October means HALLOWEEN! But that’s just one day, there are 30 more days to fill with awesomely spooky, costume-filled, pumpkin-spiced October fun.

In addition to Halloween, you can also celebrate Fluffernutter Day, Yom Kippur, Wear Something Gaudy Day, International Sloth Day, and more — all in October. Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve also rounded up all the Halloween fun with days set aside for Halloween parties, Halloween movies, and pumpkin carving (we've got easy templates so your pumpkins will impress even if you have limited art skills, promise!).

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for Halloween activities, check out our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.

Tallahassee with Kids: 31 Awesome Things To Do in Tallahassee, Florida

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 09/07/2024 - 9:16am

How many baby alligators can you find on Momma's back?

If you think Florida is all beaches and the House of Mouse (and other awesome amusement parks), you probably haven’t been to Tallahassee. Just miles from the Georgia border, the capital of the Sunshine State is a cool college town filled with fun things to do and explore with kids.

In fact, Tallahassee has two of the coolest museums for kids in all of Florida, which is pretty fitting for the state capital! It’s also a great vacation base, as it's a short skip from two of my favorite day trips in all of Florida: Wakulla Springs and the Florida Caverns. So next time you plan a vacation to Florida, think about a visit to “Tally,” a progressive little city in the Panhandle.

Read on for the best things to do in Tallahassee with kids, and be sure to check out our Guide to Visiting the Florida Panhandle and our Florida Family Travel Guide.

Salt Lake City with Kids: 49 Top Things To Do in Salt Lake City, Utah

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 08/10/2024 - 9:51am

This friendly troll keeps watch over Salt Lake City.

There are so many things to do in Salt Lake City with kids, it’s hard to know where to start! But we narrowed it to our 49 favorite things to do and places to go with kids.

Most people have a pretty antiquated notion of Salt Lake City. Sure, there are great ski resorts and the city is about half Mormon. But it's also a vibrant and growing city that's filled with hiking, history, extreme sports, friendly people, great food, local breweries and coffee (yup!), incredible kids museums, and more. There are so many family-friendly things to do that it's a fabulous place to take a vacation with kids, any time of year.

Read on for the scoop on things to do, where to eat, and where to stay (like a hotel with rock climbing and a skate park in the lobby) in Salt Lake City. And while you’re in Utah, check out gorgeous Zion National Park! Or get some insight into things to do in other kid-friendly Southwest cities like Phoenix or Denver.

These Bakeries Make the Best Birthday Cakes for Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sun, 08/04/2024 - 10:47am

Basketball cake! Photo courtesy of Charm City Cakes

At every birthday party, the cake is one of the stars of the show. So we're sharing the best birthday cakes in Los Angeles for kids that will make any birthday party special. There are LA institutions, there are show-stopping cakes and cakes that taste better than the ones Grandma makes (honest!). There are even gluten-free and vegan cakes so good no one will ever miss what’s missing.

Now you need to make the ultimate choice: what flavor? Whether planning a birthday party for a teen in LA, celebrating with a Los Angeles park birthday party, or hoping to have an indoor birthday party, use our ultimate Los Angeles birthday party guide to plan the ultimate birthday bash for your kiddos.

10 Fun Summer Olympics-Themed Snacks for Kids

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Mon, 07/29/2024 - 12:09pm

No cooking or decorating required for these easy and cute snacks that kids can make themselves! Photo by Ally Noel

The Summer Olympics are here! The Olympics, be it Summer Olympics or Winter Olympics, are like Christmas or the Super Bowl at my house, where we all gather together to celebrate and watch and cheer. There are so many cool sports to obsess over in the Summer Olympics: gymnastics, swimming, track & field, fencing, basketball, climbing, BMX freestyle, and even breakdancing. There's something for everyone. The only thing that could make it better? Cool snacks.

Here are 10 fun and easy Olympics-themed snacks that kids can help make and will adore devouring.

We also have 15 Ideas for a Fun Winter Olympics Party with Kids, if you're looking for more Olympics fun.

Pensacola and Pensacola Beach with Kids: 26 Best Things To Do in Pensacola, FL

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 07/13/2024 - 5:44am

Miles upon miles of endless gorgeous beach and stunning emerald water; that's Pensacola Beach!

Pensacola, Florida has it all. Pensacola is over 40 miles of wildlife-protected sugar sand beaches, incredible food, welcoming locals, a historical village to rival Plimoth Plantation or Colonial Williamsburg, and a booming foodie and local brews scene to rival Seattle or Portland.

It’s a fabulous family vacation spot where you can visit wildlife, take part in all kinds of water sports, see the Blue Angels or Blue Wahoos, and spend time on Pensacola Beach—one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen.

Read on for an itinerary of things to do in Pensacola that will appeal to kids of all ages and interests, and parents, too! For more places to visit along the Gulf Coast, check out our guide to the best things to do in Panama City Beach; Destin; Orange Beach, Alabama; and more fabulous Florida family vacations.

12 Themed Restaurants and Family-Friendly Dinner Shows in Los Angeles

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Fri, 06/21/2024 - 8:15am

Pirate Dinner Adventure photo by Aaron Anderer via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Looking for some fun along with your food? From knights and horses to pirates to magicians, there are plenty of themed restaurants in Los Angeles that offer interactive dinner shows for the entire family—after all, this is the entertainment capital of the world! You might land in the middle of a recreated land or find yourself with dinner shows served on the side—every single one of these spots will make your next family meal a bit more magical.

Check out our restaurant guide for more kid-friendly eating experiences in Los Angeles, including restaurants where kids can play while parents eat, gorgeous restaurants with outdoor dining, and even mouth-watering treats that dazzle kids of all ages.

Panama City Beach with Kids: 30 Best Things To Do in Panama City Beach, FL

Submitted by Meghan Rose on Sat, 06/15/2024 - 8:02am

Cuddle a capybara at the ZooWorld Zoological Park.

Locals say that Panama City Beach has the most beautiful beaches in the world, and after days spent walking them, you won’t get an argument from my family. Whether you call it the Florida Pan Handle, the Emerald Coast (for its sparkling, emerald-green water), or the Sugar Coast (for its fine white sandy beaches), the northern Gulf Coast of Florida is a gem of a family vacation spot.

No need to choose between walks on white sand beaches and action-packed days at family-friendly attractions, Panama City Beach has it all. Plus, my daughter’s personal favorite: loads of animal interactions (Peanut, the cuddly baby capybara, we miss you!). All that, plus incredible seafood, welcoming locals, and totally reasonable rates. What are you waiting for?

For more places to visit along the Gulf Coast, check out our guide to the best things to do in Destin; Orange Beach, Alabama; and more fabulous Florida family vacations.

Meghan Rose

Latest posts by Meghan

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