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6 family-friendly ways to relax this Labor Day weekend

Labor Day was created to honor workers. It came out of the labor movement in the late 19th century. The first one was celebrated in New York City in 1882. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894. Today, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer and is the ideal time to kick back and enjoy family-friendly activities close to home. School has started in some spots and is about to begin in others, which makes three days off from school and those extracurriculars perfect for low-key fun away from the jam-packed shore, lakes, and shopping malls. If you’re wondering what to do on Labor Day with the family besides hanging out in the backyard, here are a few ideas the entire family will enjoy.

Dad and son enjoy a hike on a mountain

Take a hike

Hiking is a family-friendly activity earmarked for Labor Day weekend. Explore different hiking options in your area, focusing on ones perfect for kids. If the forecast is for high temperatures, plan an early morning hike. It will be cooler. Pack a lunch, snacks for little ones, and plenty of water.

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Family out for a bike ride in the woods

Bike ride

Like hiking, taking a ride on a bike path is something everyone in the family can do. Bike paths are kid-friendly, allowing young riders to pedal along at their own pace without worrying about cars. When choosing a bike path for a family ride with inexperienced riders, a paved path is easier to navigate especially for little legs. Bring along light snacks and water. Be sure to plan a few breaks along the way.

Visit a zoo

With many families headed to the beach, lakes, or amusement parks, an outing to the zoo is a do on Labor Day weekend. Kids of all ages and teens too will enjoy a day at a zoo especially one of the larger ones. Be sure to check the zoo’s website before heading out. Some like the Bronx Zoo require visitors to reserve a date ahead of time.

Mini-golf

Who doesn’t enjoy a round of mini-golf? Everyone in the family can get into 18-holes of mini-golf, even tweens and teens. If you don’t have a course nearby, a short road trip to find a course. Top off the mini-golf outing with a stop for lunch and ice cream.

Catch a minor league baseball game

Major league prices are a bit steep for a lot of families, but minor league baseball game prices are definitely family-friendly. Even if your kiddos aren’t into baseball, a trip to a minor league baseball game is pretty cool. Of course there’s food, but minor league games are always kid-centered with a lot of fun activities going on in addition the ball game. If you catch an afternoon game, cap off the outing with a family movie. The Sandlot is a perfect family baseball movie for Labor Day weekend.

Family in a tent on a camping trip

Pitch a tent

If you’ve always wanted to try and family camping trip, but aren’t sure if everyone is ready to rough it, try a backyard camp out on Labor Day weekend. There isn’t school or practices to worry about, which means everyone can stay up late and watch the stars. Pitch a tent in the yard and have some outdoor games like cornhole and ring toss ready to go. Kids can catch fireflies, make s’mores, and enjoy the great outdoors with a bathroom that doesn’t require a portable bucket or a privacy tent.

Other fun ideas for Labor Day weekend

  • A three-day weekend close to home is a great time to explore local landmarks.
  • Head to a nearby destination city for a day of exploration.
  • Check out a nearby museum.
  • See what your town or nearby communities have on the calendar for Labor Day weekend.
  • Go kayaking or rafting.
  • Get a jump on apple picking.
  • Hit a corn maze before the crowds.
  • Picnic in a local park.
  • See a movie.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer while Labor Day is the unofficial conclusion. Many families try to get in one more long weekend of summer fun, but if a getaway and battling holiday traffic isn’t on your agenda, that’s okay. There are plenty of cool ideas to enjoy the holiday weekend that do not involve crowds and long lines. Our list of family-friendly activities has something for everyone on Labor Day weekend from a backyard camp out complete with s’mores to a picturesque hike. Don’t forget to see what’s going on for Labor Day in and around your community. You just might find a Labor Day parade or street festival to explore right in your own neighborhood.

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5 best movies on Disney+ Dad will want to stream on Father’s Day
Family on couch watching TV

A great way to cap off a fun Father's Day is with a movie night. Either get Dad's favorite takeout or make him a tasty meal. Since it is Father's Day, he is excused from the cleanup. Pop some popcorn, get a couple of his top snacks, and cuddle up for a fabulous flick. Father's Day is in June, so you can also take advantage of the warm weather and have an outdoor movie night in honor of Dad, too. Now, what movie is on the menu? With an abundance of streaming services, it can be hard to choose a movie everyone in the family agrees on. Thankfully, there are a lot of movies dads will like on Disney+. Here are five marvelous movies to stream with Dad on his day.

The Rookie
If Dad is a baseball fan, this Dennis Quaid film is a great pick for Father's Day. It's based on the true story of Jim Morris. A shoulder injury derailed Morris' shot at the big leagues. Fast-forward 12 years, and he's a high school chemistry teacher, baseball coach, husband, and dad. When his players realize Coach Morris still has quite the fastball, they make him a deal: If the struggling team wins the district championship, he goes to a major league tryout. Does he make it? You'll just have to watch on Father's Day to find out.
Onward
A perfect family-friendly movie that you just might need a box of tissues for is Onward. This is the story of two elf brothers and their supernatural quest to spend one last day with their late dad. The animated, action-adventure story features a well-known lineup of voice-overs, including Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It's touching and a wonderful movie to watch as a family.
The Incredibles
Another dad-centered movie, Mr. Incredible loves his family, but he isn't happy when he has to trade in his superhero lifestyle to be Mr. Regular. When he gets the chance to dust off his cape, he takes it, but trouble soon follows, and it's up to Mom and the kids to put on their superhero capes to come to the rescue.
Miracle
"Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Al Michaels' call on the U.S. Olympic hockey team's victory on the ice over the Russians made history -- as did the victory, which is considered one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century. Okay, so Miracle isn't technically a dad movie, but it is a film that fathers and the whole family will enjoy, especially if Pop is a hockey dad and spends a lot of time taking the kiddos to and from the rink.
The Mighty Ducks
A classic family-friendly movie, everyone will enjoy is the 1992 hit that inspired a franchise. Gordon Bombay misses a crucial penalty shot to win a championship as a kid shortly after losing his father. His miss and his coach's reaction haunts him. Bombay grows up to be a hotshot trial attorney with little regard for the human touch or compassion. When he gets arrested for a drunk-driving offense, he's sentenced to coach a hockey team that makes the Bad News Bears look good. The rest is a feel-good film ideal for Father's Day. After you watch it, check out Disney+'s series based on the movie, Mighty Ducks Game Changers.

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4 amazing Father’s Day activities every dad will want to do
Little girl and her dad celebrating

Father's Day might not drive up flower sales or be as huge a brunch draw to area restaurants as Mother's Day, but the day is a special commemoration as kids young and young-at-heart take the time to celebrate their dad. Instead of a tie or breakfast in bed to mark Father's Day, how about an activity that gets your dad out and doing something he loves? There are a lot of cool Father's Day activities that can be a lot of fun for the whole family or just one-on-one with dad for teens and grown kids.

If you're looking for exciting things to do on Father's Day, we've got some awesome ideas.

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5 lesser-known things to do in Niagara Falls that won’t involve crowds or queues
Niagara Falls Between the United States nd Canada

If you're making your summer travel plans there's no shortage of destinations to choose from. But if you'd like to visit one of the most majestic sites in the U.S. (or Canada), there's no shortage of things to do in Niagara Falls, NY for families, and it should definitely be on your shortlist.

Niagara Falls has three separate falls on the southern end of the Niagara Gorge, which are Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. The falls border both New York state in the U.S. and the province of Ontario in Canada. They are formed by the Niagara River.

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