We’re lucky here in Massachusetts to have so many beautiful beaches to choose from when the temperature soars. With lots of room to dig, play, and swim, a stretch of sand on the edge of the salty surf might be the perfect place to take kids in the summer. But with so many Boston area beaches to choose from, it can be tough to know which ones are really right for families. So we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite sandy spots to visit each summer—all within an hour of Boston! For more things to do in and around the city, check out our Boston Summer fun guide. 

In the Midwest, there's nothing like summer on a lake. From kayaking to jumping off the swim pier, kids make memories that last a lifetime. To help plan a relaxed, sandy, summer vacation, we've rounded up our favorite family-friendly lake resorts. These resorts near Chicago range from lake resorts on nearby Geneva Lake or Green Lake to northern lake resorts in Door County, Wisconsin and Northern Michigan.

Each of these resorts features outdoor and indoor swimming options, water recreation, quaint nearby towns, and family-friendly suites, cottages, and accommodations. Parents can also enjoy nearby or on-site spas, golf, and plenty of lakeside sunsets.

Seeking even more inspiration for summer travel? Check out our Family Travel Guide for loads of family travel destinations, whether you're looking for day trip inspiration or you are ready to book a longer holiday at a family-friendly resort.

If 2020 was the year of the park, with New Yorkers flocking to green spaces in record numbers, park-going in 2021 is next-level thanks to Little Island, aka the floating park, which opens to the public today. The 2.4-acre park far out-punches its tiny footprint, thanks to the uber-creative use of space and a robust programming calendar to match.

One of our most anticipated openings of 2021, Little Island is set on tulip-shaped platforms adjacent to 13th Street in the Hudson River. Its structure is meant to look like a floating leaf, and crossing the bridge from the mainland to the park transports you to an entirely different world, with winding paths, stunning landscaping, and plenty to explore, see, and do.

Read on for all the details on this cool new west side addition, which will make a splash on New Yorkers' plans for summer fun. Find more destination parks in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds.

Westport is one of the prettiest coastal towns in all of Connecticut. Located 50 miles from New York City, it's also a definitively family-friendly locale. Over the years, Westport has become one of the most affluent suburbs in America. This culturally rich New England town doesn't international flavor yet retains its old New England small-town charm. Life in this lovely place really does revolve around the family, and there is no shortage of things to do in Westport with kids all year round. Here is a list of some of the best activities Westport has to offer.

Be sure to keep tabs on our Connecticut events calendar for daily updates on happenings at favorite spots, and more local and virtual opportunities for family fun.

Summer is coming (after one looooonnnnngggg school year) and kids really deserve a treat. Your Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook feeds are packed with incredible-looking sweets, but are they just eye candy? Or are they a treat for the tummy as well?

We sought out the very best, most amazingly outrageous, over-the-top desserts around Los Angeles, and taste-tested them with kids to discover if they are as good as they look on the gram. We picked the most insanely awesome treats in LA to see if they held up—and these made the cut. These delicious desserts are all a perfect end-of-school treat, a we-survived-this-year celebration, or even a birthday cake replacement. From taco ice creams to towering candy wigs, dive into the most impressive sweets in LA.

Updated June 3, 2021
The road back to normalcy is paved with shots in arms, and New York City is pulling out all the stops to get folks vaccinated as quickly as possible, offering a slew of vaccine freebies for individuals willing to roll up their sleeves and get their shot. These freebies range from eats and treats to museum tickets and more.

With teens newly eligible for the shot, and an ambitious goal of vaccinating 5 million New Yorkers by June, city officials, local businesses, and culture spots are getting creative and offering cool perks for the vaccinated. Read on for our favorite deals and even details on how to get your shot at two of our favorite kid-friendly museums, plus the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.

My in-laws live in the Bay Area, so we make the trip up north several times a year, and whenever we can, we like to take our time and travel up the coast along the PCH and the 101. There are so many things to see and places to stop that a road trip up the PCH should be on every family's bucket list. There are kid friendly-activities and great food everywhere, not to mention hikes and places to explore the unique California landscape— including beaches filled with elephant seals, dinosaur caves, goat dairy farms, and hikes through Redwood Groves.

This is the perfect first family road trip because if you break the trip into a few days, the distances between destinations are easy for even little kids. So load up your device with great podcasts for kids, learn a few new road trip car games, and put rubber to the pavement with these must-see destinations for kids along the California coast!

Summer isn't just beach days and summer camp and baseball games. It's also beach movies and summer camp movies and baseball movies!  The summer months are a time for blockbuster releases in the theaters, but it's also a great time to snuggle up after a day at the beach or camp to watch classic kids movies that leave everyone ready for more summer adventures.

So with the school year wrapping up and everyone ready for some summer fun, queue up these kid-pleasers on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, or Hulu—and don’t forget the movie snacks. For more movies to keep your family from now until Christmas (and beyond), be sure to check out our list of the 50 best kids' movies of all time.