Every now and then on weekends we like to explore more around where we live. With a car, the possibilities are endless in discovering what surrounds us. In searching for ideas on day trips from NYC, I came across White Post Farms, located in Melville NY on Long Island. With a little over an hour drive from Brooklyn, it seemed like a nice escape for the day. I had never heard of this farm before, but was pleasantly surprised by what it offered.

Family Fun NYC Day Trips: White Post Farms

Spending the day at White Post Farms was such a blast. There was so much to see and do, and Terra never got bored. The close interaction with the animals was so unique. Here’s everything you need to know about spending a day trip here.

The Market

Upon arriving at White Post Farms you’ll see a large market with parking lot to the right. We went on a slightly rainy day so the parking lot was half empty when we got there. First we checked out the market and grabbed a bite to eat. There was a lot to pick from, various sandwiches, soups, salads and drinks like coffee, tea, and smoothies. The food tasted very fresh and it was made to order. Outside is a large seating area to eat with covered tables, so it was nice even in the misty rain.

In the market area there was various farm fresh local food, as well as fresh baked goodies. Behind the market is another shop which we mostly just passed through to get to the actual farm. There are signs leading to the farm entrance so it’s very easy to find.

Entry into the Farm

Before you enter the farm you have to pay for tickets and any extras you choose. For us tickets were $18 each, even for kids. We also opted to get a combo package including a bottle of milk and cups of food to feed the animals, a pony ride and train ride. The combo gives a big discount so it makes more sense to get it.

Terra feeding a goat near the entrance to the farm

Adorable pigs nearby the goats

Feeding more goats she loved it!

Pigs and Goats

As you enter the farm the first thing you’ll see are the goats and pigs. They especially love the milk and the food, so we spent some time here feeding them. Terra loved having them eat right from her hands. We found the setup really nice to be able to get up close and personal with the animals, something we’ve rarely seen elsewhere. Next to the animals are hand washing stations, which are great for keeping hands clean in between feedings.

Birds landing right on Terra's head, she loved it!

The birds lined up on a rope

Aviary with Exotic Birds

Located close to the pigs and goats was an aviary, filled with Australian lorikeets and other exotic birds. They have nectar cups for sale before you enter, but at first we opted not to buy. However when we saw the birds were only interacting with those who had the nectar, we decided to buy a few cups. It was so cool having them land on us and feed on the nectar. The interactivity here was truly enjoyable and unique. They even landed on our heads a few times, Terra wasn’t sure what to think of it!

The alpacas were so cute

The camels, we rode these in Morocco!

A group of lemurs cuddling together while sleeping, so cute!

We fed the zebras through the chute

Exotic Animals

Throughout the rest of the farm are plenty of exotic animals, some of which I’ve really only seen in zoos. We saw zebras, monkeys, lemurs, alpacas, kangaroos, and various types of camels. Terra especially loved seeing the camels after our camel trekking trip to the Sahara Desert. Some of these animals you can’t get close or interact with, but you can feed them food down a chute. Nearby the animals was an explanation of what they are and the region they come from, which I thought was cool.

Getting up close and personal with Patches the Giraffe

Patches the Giraffe

One of the highlights of our visit here was being able to get up close and personal with the Patches the giraffe. We were able to pet his head and feed him veggies. Being that it’s one of our dreams to do an African Safari and stay at Giraffe Manor, we loved being able to experience this close to home as well. We definitely recommend visiting just for this alone!

Terra enjoying the pony ride

The train ride, Terra loved it!

Train and Pony Rides

Aside from feeding the animals there are pony and train rides. Since we got the combo package they were both included. Terra really enjoyed both of these and it was organized quite nicely. The train went around a few times, so it was a good length of time. Nearby the train were a few food places with kid friendly options for a quick snack.

The main playground area, so fun!

Terra loved exploring all the miniature houses

Playground Area and Miniature Houses

Next to the exotic animals was a big playground with mini houses lined up next to each other. The miniature houses were especially popular with the kids as they loved going inside and peeking through the windows. Terra could have spend a few hours here alone if we let her. It was a great way to end our day here after seeing all the animals. Your kids will be quite worn out after this!

Bird Show and Water Slides

At various times in the day there’s a bird show showcasing some of the exotic birds they have on the farm. The timing didn’t work out for us to see it, but it looked like a cool event to check out while here. There were also big bounce houses with water slides, but due to the weather we chose not to go here. But it looked great for a nice summer day!

After spending a day here, we definitely think White Post Farms was a worthwhile trip. The ability to interact and get close to so many animals was a wonderful experience. All of the other activities on the farm were a bonus! If you’re looking for ideas on day trips from NYC, this should be on your list.

Have you been to White Post Farms? If so we’d love to hear about your experience here!

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As September arrives we start to think about apple picking and harvest festivals. It’s become a yearly tradition to go with Terra and make homemade applesauce. Living in NYC we are surrounded by plenty of farms to choose from. Since we mostly go upstate, I thought this year we’d try to check out some in Jersey as well. Being in Brooklyn it was much easier to access not having to drive through the city to get there.

Apple Picking Near NYC: Alstede Farms

Alstede Farms was recommended by a friend and also popped up throughout my search. It was only about an hour drive from us, so we decided to plan a day trip there. We went a bit early in apple season around mid-September. It seemed to be less busy around this time, as we’ve heard from others that it can get quite crowded on weekends.

Entry to the Farm

As you arrive at Alstede Farms there’s a large parking lot with attendants helping to navigate you to available spots. It was well organized and easy to manage. After parking we walked towards the farm, where we were greeted by a few farm animals before entering. This as a nice way to get the kids excited about going to the farm. We spent a bit of time petting the horse and donkey before heading on our way.

The market area with homemade ice cream and pumpkins

The area to purchase the tickets and apple boxes/bags were to the right after entering. Since we were ready for lunch we decided to check out the food area first. There’s a tent with various choices (hotdogs, burgers, fries, sandwiches, etc.) We also saw a homemade ice cream stand near the market with a lot of flavors to pick from. There’s also a farm market here with lots of fresh goodies and even some local wine. Of course there are also apple cider donuts, our personal fall favorite.

Apple Picking

After paying for entry, you can choose to either walk or take a tractor to the U-Pick farm. There are also wagons free to use if you choose to walk. We opted for the tractor for the experience and ease of reaching the various spots quickly. It comes every 10-15 minutes so we never waited long for one.

Wandering around the orchard

Terra picking some apples, she loved helping out!

Since we were mostly interested in just apples we went to the orchards first. There were some types of apples that weren’t ripe yet, but a good amount available for us to pick from. Since we were there early in the season we found the trees were packed with apples and some even untouched. This farm isn’t organic so we saw some chemical residue on the apples, something to keep in mind if you decide to sample a few while picking.

Sunflower field next to the orchard

Close to the orchards was a sunflower field, available to pick from. After wandering through the field a bit we waited for the tractor to take us to our next stop.

Corn Maze

The next stop after the apples was the corn maze. Since Terra wasn’t really interested we decided to skip this, but it looked fun. There were a few snacks being sold outside of it in case you need a hunger boost.

Berries and Peaches

Our last stop on the tractor ride was the berries and peaches, located right next to each other. We were only interested in peaches as it was towards the end of berry season so passed up on them. The peach trees were really full and perfectly ripe. Since our box was nearly full we decided to head back.

Before you exit the U-Pick area you have to pay for what you picked. We filled a fairly large box of apples and peaches for around $35, so the price wasn’t too bad for what we got.

Terra trying out the large bubbles in the activities area of the farm

There was also hula hoops to try out

The clown from the puppet show playing tricks on Terra

Other Farm Activities

There’s a lot of other farm fun activities located around the entry area. There are giant bubbles that kids can make and some hula hoops at the end of the tractor ride. There’s also a puppet show at various times throughout the day. Terra’s favorite part was being able to see and feed the animals again. This was a nice way to end our day here.

The cows were so cute!

Feeding the horse, he was so gentle!

She just loves feeding and petting the animals

Overall we found Alstede Farms to be a pleasant fun-filled day. It was well organized and easy to navigate. You can really spend a whole day here, but we found 3-4 hours to be sufficient. It’s a great choice for apple picking near NYC, our favorite part of autumn!

What’s your favorite apple picking spot near NYC? We’d love more ideas!

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Marrakech is a vibrant city full of wonder and delight. While planning our family trip to Morocco, I was often left wondering what to plan for her to have fun as well. Would she run and get lost in the maze of the medina? What if she doesn’t eat any of the food? In the end she had a blast and still remembers her time here. If you’re on the fence about bringing your little ones along, here’s some ideas on what to do in Marrakech with a toddler.

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Things to Do in Marrakech with Your Little Ones

Hire a Guide

Having a guide show you the way through Marrakech will help you to see more sites. Maximizing time while with your kids is always ideal. It helps you to get familiar with the city on your first day there, making further exploration easier. The guide can also help get the best deal on souvenirs within the souks. Best of all, your kids may even make a new friend (Terra did!) We booked our guide here.

Explore a Derb

A derb is a small alleyway of residences in the medina. It’s a quiet contrast from the main areas. This one in particular was in the Jewish Quarter, and the doors were incredibly ornate and all unique. Your little ones will enjoy following the narrow maze to see what’s at the other end.

Exploring the doors in a derb

Capture Memories

It’s always nice to look back on your memories later. Terra loves looking at our travel pics long after the trip. Pose for some family pics in front of some of the sites, or take some of your little one as you explore Marrakech.

Head to Dar el Bacha

Dar el Bacha was recently opened to the public in early 2018. It features stunning geometric zellige tiles and carved cedar wood all throughout. You can explore some of the rooms and there’s a small museum with featured exhibits. In the center is a lush garden with a fountain. It’s a great open space to let kids roam and explore. Terra loved discovering what was in each room and even thought she might find a princess there. It also seemed to be less touristy here than Bahia Palace, so it’s a hidden gem.

Explore the Souks

Walking through the souks is a wonderful sensory experience for kids. They’ll love seeing all the shops and will enjoy joining in on the shopping experience. There’s so much to smell, see and even taste. A lot of the shops we bought from also gave Terra a free gift, and she felt so special. She even made a new friend with a shopkeeper we bought a tea set from. They’ll be constantly entertained just by strolling through the different parts of the souks. You can explore on your own, or book a guided tour here. Having a guide was so helpful for us when haggling prices! Terra slept so well after a long day of shopping!

Check out Jardin Majorelle

Jardin Majorelle is a wonderful place to let your kids explore. There are many various plants and flowers, a koi fish pond, and a larger pond by the main building. Terra loved exploring the paths and discovering all of the plant life featured here. There’s also a cafe located on the premise with decent food at a reasonable price. Overall it’s a great nature experience featuring unique plants, beautiful colors, and the best backdrop for capturing family memories.

Discover the Local Animals

As you explore the medina of Marrakech you’ll come across several animals. Your kids will of course love seeing them. Terra was constantly spotting cats and chasing them around the winding alleys. She was also fascinated by the monkey and chameleons located by the markets and Jemaa el-Fnaa square. You’ll also see a lot of donkeys carrying items in the streets, Terra loved them!

Visit Le Jardin Secret

Gardens are always a great place to take kids. They love exploring nature and being surrounded by a serene environment. Le Jardin Secret is a little oasis amongst the busy medina. It’s located in the Mouassine district and conveniently close to the souks. You can also learn about the fascinating history of how it was restored from an ancient riad to the beautiful garden it is today. There are two different gardens to explore and a cafe on the terrace with a birds eye view.

Go for a View over Jemaa el-Fnaa

After our guided tour we had some time to kill before dinner. Our guide and a family we had befriended at the riad highly recommended that we take on a nice view over Jemaa el-Fnaa square. We went to Le Grand Balcon Cafe Glacier which had a balcony over the main area. You’re required to buy at least one drink per adult and they were a bit overpriced, but worth the experience. Although it was crowded we still managed to see it during sunset. Your kids will love watching all the performers from above and you can freely take pictures without being hassled to pay. Afterwards you can walk around the square and grab a bite to eat. If you want to have a guide to lead the way you can book a night tour here.

Great view over Jemaa el-Fnaa at sunset

We hope this gives you some ideas on things to do in Marrakech with a toddler. As you can see, Morocco is very kid-friendly and such an adventure for little ones! Read more about how we spent 10 days in Morocco with our daughter.

Have you brought your kids to Marrakech? Feel free to let us know more in the comments.

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