There's no denying it—kids love diving into a sandbox, running their shovels and hands through the grains of sand, dumping a full bucket over, and generally getting their hands dirty. Though NYC parents might get grossed out at the thought of what could be lurking in our uncovered, urban sandboxes, it's hard to refuse one of a preschooler's most beloved sensory experiences. So pull up a bench (and your cup of coffee; you'll be here a while!), and check out these eight toddler-tested, mom-approved NYC sandboxes. We've done our best to find the cleanest ones across the city. Besides, you can always wash their hands in the nearby sprinklers or park bathrooms when you're finally able to get them out.

About 12 miles south of Boston is Hingham, a coastal town located right on Boston Harbor. Hingham is known for its Fourth of July fireworks on the harbor, a Main Street filled with historic homes, and stately trees that offer beautiful canopy covers in the warmer months, a charming downtown, and the home of the South Shore Conservatory and Derby Academy. Eleanor Roosevelt once designated Hingham's Main Street as “The most beautiful Main Street in America.” 

For visitors, there are at least 4 main reasons to love Hingham: Seaside town. Check. Quaint. Check. Non-touristy. Check. No fast food. Check. Families in the Boston area who are looking for something fun to do should plan a visit to Hingham for a wonderful experience. 

Who can resist the urge to pop that bubble wrap once it comes floating loose from a package? Certainly not any kids we know!

Well, instead of shooing them away from the box as they ready their stomping feet, try one of these 10 clever ways to let kids play with it, get messy with it, and generally have some fun with bubble wrap. It's actually one of our secretly fun exercise games for kids. Also, you're demonstrating some healthy plastic upcycling practices, too. Win-win. Go ahead and add a little "pop" to your playtime. These kid-tested crafts and games will have you engineering roads and creating beautiful swirls and whirls of color and design.

There's no better time to experience the thrills of your favorite amusement park time than Summer 2021. Many parks are helping friends and family make up for lost time with special summer rates that you won't want to miss. Here's how to score ticket deals at area theme parks and water parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, all of which are an easy day trip for NYC-area families.

With deals this hot, you might be able to check out more than one of these new-in-2021 rides.

Riverside Park is our family’s backyard and home to some of the best playgrounds in the city, but what's the best of the best in this four-mile stretch of nature that spans Manhattan's west side from 72nd Street to 158th Street? We set out to find out, and our parent-tested results are here. We've ranked the playgrounds of Riverside Park based on their amenities, accessibility, and how much family-friendly fun they inspire.

Once you've had your share of romping in Riverside, be sure to check out our rankings of the best playgrounds in Central Park, Prospect Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park, too.

Sherman Oaks is one of the most popular family-friendly neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley. It combines the best of city living (with easy freeway access to both the 405 and the 101) and small town charm with boutique shopping, cute cafés, and plenty of places for kids and families to hang out together. If you've only visited Sherman Oaks to play mini golf, it's time to plan a day trip to one of the best little towns for families in the Valley. Here are 20 places to experience and create fun memories with your kids in Sherman Oaks.

After a year-long hiatus, the award-winning Children’s Museum of Houston has thrown open its doors to welcome back Houston families. The aptly nicknamed “Playground of the Mind” has reopened with a number of new exhibits and attractions like Sights Unseen and Heart and Seoul. Some family favorites have been updated as well, just in time for summer break!

You can also save with the top attractions in Houston with Go City - Houston card. By purchasing this ticket, you receive admission to several Houston attractions at half the regular price: Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo or the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Kemah Boardwalk or the Children’s Museum Houston.

Everything is back! There are so many things we all missed last summer that it seemed time to look ahead to this summer and check out all the activities Angelenos can finally do (again). From Shakespeare in the Park & Hamilton in the dark (of a theater) to books on the shelves & music under the stars, these are the outings we are already eagerly anticipating.

Since these are just the activities that had closed down last year, it's not even taking into account some other summer favorites, like going to the beach, swimming in lakes and pools, hitting a water park, or picking fruit at a local farm. Summer is just too darn short to fit in all the fun...