Allison Tibaldi

Allison Tibaldi - Writer

Allison is a native New Yorker who's been lucky enough to have lived in Italy, Australia and Canada. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish, and
believes that language is a key to understanding other cultures. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they journey around the globe. She's also a senior writer at offManhattan.com, contributing car-free vacation ideas. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow, and she firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom on the road. Her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine.

Latest posts by Allison Tibaldi

Inexpensive Winter Weekend Getaways from NYC for Families

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Thu, 01/02/2025 - 10:26am

Connecticut's Mohawk Mountain Ski Area offers endless opportunities for fun in the snow. Photo courtesy of the Mohawk Mountain

Falling temperatures don’t necessarily translate to falling prices when it comes to family vacations. Luckily, we’ve rounded up 14 well-priced weekend getaways from NYC that are all within driving distance. Whether you’re in the mood for New England's seaside views, craving winter sports, small-town charm, or big-city culture, we've got a winter weekend getaway destination for you.

Read on for our top picks and bookmark our Guide to Weekend Getaways for more family travel destinations.

42 Warm and Sunny Family Winter Vacation Ideas in the US and Abroad

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sat, 11/30/2024 - 9:02am

Make memories to last a lifetime at the all-inclusive Beaches Turks and Caicos.

From perpetually wet feet to relentlessly bundling (and unbundling) your kids with layer upon layer, the need to escape grows for many parents as the winter drags on. Even those families who don't live with the finicky four-season cycle might prefer their family vacation with a side of palm trees, rather than fur-trimmed snow boots.

So whether you're seeking to escape the cold or just don't want to spend your holiday season vacation in it, we've rounded up 42 of the best winter vacation ideas in the US and abroad filled with sun, fun, and warmth.

Read on to find great all-inclusive resorts, beaches, and charming cities teeming with culture that will give you a family vacation that’s sunny, not snowy. For even more winter vacation ideas, be sure to check out our Family Travel Destination Guide.

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants near the American Museum of Natural History

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 4:41pm

Round out your museum day with a kid-friendly meal at these family-friendly restaurants on the Upper West Side.

Starved after your visit to one of the top kid destinations on the Upper West Side? These family-friendly restaurants near the American Museum of Natural History are guaranteed kid-pleasers.

In addition to AMNH, kid-friendly attractions like the DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, and the Children's Museum of Manhattan mean few Manhattan neighborhoods scream kid-friendly quite like the Upper West Side, so the area's restaurants are overwhelmingly welcoming to families.

While you really can't go wrong anywhere, we've rounded up more than a dozen of the best spots to grab a quick bite or sit down for a full meal. For more family-friendly eateries, check out our NYC Kids Guide to Restaurants.

22 Fall Weekend Getaways near NYC for Families

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Fri, 09/13/2024 - 1:35pm

Take in the splendor of the season with a fall getaway to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Photo courtesy of Mononk Mountain House

Fall in the Northeast is a lovely time of year to enjoy one of these weekend getaways near NYC. The crisp air, fall colors, and outdoor activities are hard to resist for most kids (and grown-ups). While you can surely experience some seasonal magic close to home, there's nothing like a weekend away to recharge fully. If you skipped the summer travel season, these fall weekend getaways near NYC are the perfect antidote to the back-to-school blues. So, go ahead and get planning. Before long, you'll immerse your family in seasonal fun.

We've rounded up 22 fall weekend getaways near NYC, whether you're looking for a quick car-free getaway or you've got a long weekend and want to travel a bit further. If you've only got a day to escape, consider one of these 30 fall day trips from NYC, and find more ideas for fall travel in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sun, 05/05/2024 - 12:01pm

The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!

There's no shortage of hotels in NYC, and as a born and bred New Yorker raising children here myself, I often find myself handing out recommendations for family-friendly hotels in NYC to friends and family who are planning their own NYC vacations. New York City is, of course, loaded with hotels, many of which are kid-friendly. And, while it's nice to have options, there are so many it can feel overwhelming.

That's why we've compiled this list of 20 hotels in NYC for families based on a combination of personal experience, trusted recommendations from friends, and great reputations. These NYC hotels offer kid-friendly amenities, including pools, kids-friendly welcome treats, and even bunk beds. A number of our choices are located right next to top kid attractions; some are budget-friendly, and others are a splurge.

Our picks aren't all in Midtown Manhattan either. We've included places to stay with kids in Lower Manhattan, on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and even hotels in Brooklyn.

Once you've nailed down your hotel choice, check out our parent- and kid-tested recommendations for top attractions in NYC, our favorite children's museums in NYC, and much more in our NYC Visitors Guide for Families.

Food Factory Tours: Behind the Scenes at New England Treat Spots

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Fri, 04/26/2024 - 2:00pm

Head to Vermont for one of New England's most beloved food factory tours, and maybe a treat or two! Ben & Jerry's Factory photo by Kaitlin via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Take the family for a food factory tour (and a treat!)

52 Things To Do in Newport, RI with Kids

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Mon, 09/18/2023 - 2:54pm

Sailing is always on the agenda in Newport. Photo courtesy of Sail Newport

Newport, Rhode Island, has a reputation as a summer playground for the elite, but in truth, it makes for a great family vacation. Yes, you will see fabulous Gilded Age mansions on the cliffs and expensive sailing yachts in the harbor, but coastal Newport also has lots of budget-friendly family fun and even free things to do for kids of all ages.

See our Rhode Island Travel Guide for more local family activity ideas.

Farm Stays near NYC: Enjoy a Farm-Themed Family Vacation

Submitted by Allison Tibaldi on Sun, 04/16/2023 - 11:35am

These farm stays near NYC let city kids get close to farm animals like bunnies, cows, chickens, sheep, and more. Photo courtesy of Hull-O Farms

Farm stays are an increasingly popular vacation option for families who want to enjoy the countryside and a back-to-nature experience. For New York City-area families, it only takes a few hours to arrive in the bucolic countryside, where the landscape seems thousands of miles away from the crowded subways and packed playgrounds.

For children who’ve never been around livestock, this form of agritourism provides a firsthand way to learn about the animal world in a casual fashion. It also often comes with a few more amenities than, say, a camping trip.

Though you're not required to work during your farm stay, many visitors find farm chores so different from their regular routines that they are eager to participate. Curious kids should relish the opportunity to gather eggs, watch cows being milked, and pick fresh produce.

If this sort of low-key, change-of-pace weekend sounds appealing to you, consider these eight farm stays near NYC. Our picks include properties in New York's Hudson Valley and Catskills, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Find more family-friendly destinations in our Day Trips and Weekend Getaways Guide for Families.

Latest posts by Allison Tibaldi

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