From the NICU to Darcy’s List: How Darcy Santora Built a Family-Focused Community Helping Parents Find Safe, Fun Places in New Jersey

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, we sit down with Darcy Santora, the creator of Darcy’s List, a rapidly growing Instagram community that helps families discover fun, safe, and kid-friendly places in New Jersey and beyond. Darcy shares the deeply personal origin of Darcy’s List — a moment that began in the NICU with her third baby, when a nurse encouraged her to write down all the fun things she dreamed of doing with her child once they were home. What started as a simple list to cope became a powerful outlet for hope — and eventually evolved into a trusted resource for thousands of parents navigating life with kids. With a background in marketing, Darcy explains how her platform grew organically by focusing on authenticity, consistency, and genuine connection. She brings her audience along as she explores family-friendly destinations, indoor and outdoor activities, and local hidden gems — primarily across New Jersey, but increasingly expanding to nearby states and travel destinations.