Moms Q&A: Local Family Fun Spots

Moms Talk is a feature on Patch that is part of an initiative on our sites to reach out to moms and families. Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in the East Windsor-Hightstown-Cranbury area.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council, which includes Susan Masone, Siri Heinrichs, Cristina Fowler, Christine O'Brien and our intrepid columnist Lauren Kim, takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions to the problems vexing all of us.

Have a question you would like to share, or just want to provide your opinion on the question of the week? Head over to the comments section to do just that.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with the following question:

What are your favorite local go-to places for a fun family weekend or outing?

Cristina Fowler: Do the EWPAL fields and the dance studio count? Seriously, these are my kids’ favorite places. On days when we don't have practice, games or rehearsals, my children love to play at . Aside from the swings and slides, my kids love to walk the path along the park and over the two bridges.

During the fall season, we also love to apple and pumpkin pick at .  In the winter months when there is snow on the ground, our sleds are racing fast down the Thompson Park Hill in Jamesburg. During the summer months, a trip to the Farmer's Market and walk along the lake with an icecream in hand is a great substitute for being at the beach. And last but not least, sitting outside at for dinner and for dessert is always a crowd pleaser - no matter what time of year!

Christine O’Brien: Our favorite local go-to places are as follows: Other than bowling or going to the movies, we also enjoy bicycle riding around Mercer County Park or Washington Crossing State Park, fishing at Assunpink Lake and going to the beach in the summer. Of course, nothing beats a trip to either grandmother’s house!

Susan Masone: In the summer, we like to go to the Farmers Market in Hightstown. It’s a great place to see friends, go on a paddleboat ride and just hang out. East Windsor Township’s free concerts are also a great place for getting a group of families together to hang out, pick on snacks and listen to music.

In the fall, it’s . Whether it is the corn maze, pumpkin patch or apple picking, it is always fun. In the winter, the best place is anybody else’s house but mine. During snow storms, the Princeton Old Belle Mead ski slope has great sledding trails.

In the spring, most of our time is spent at the PAL fields for all sports that are going on. “Dinosaur Park” () is great for little ones, and is great for older kids to go bike riding, jogging or just hanging out by the lake.

Siri Heinrichs: If it's good weather, we like to head straight out Route 33 to the beaches. If the weather isn't great and we want to get out of the house, a trip to Freehold Mall and a visit to the carousel (and the store Claires...I have two girls...) can be fun. My parents and brother and sister-in-law live nearby so we will often spend our free weekend time visiting with them (although the free weekend time seems to happen less often these days!).

Lauren Kim: We love to visit the local parks, such as and Mercer County Park. We also enjoy browsing the shops in Princeton and getting ice cream or frozen yogurt for the kids at Fruity Yogurt (where I love the Thai bubble tea, and the kids like the frozen treats) or Thomas Sweet.

In the summer, my daughters enjoy swimming in their grandfather’s pool or meeting friends at the beach. Spending a few hours in a local bookstore and then getting a meal at or are family-favorite activities for cooler fall and winter days. Of course, there’s also the requisite apple and pumpkin picking at the many local farms in our area.