Nothing beats dining at outdoor restaurants in warmer months, especially with kids in tow, and in family-friendly Queens, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy alfresco eats. We don't mean a sidewalk table or two—we're talking an actual yard with ample seating and room for families to enjoy a meal. Outdoor restaurants often provide a more relaxed atmosphere, where kids can be entertained by simple pleasures like a passing butterfly or flowers on a nearby plant, and city noises offer cover for little ones who may forget to use their indoor voices.

We've highlighted several Manhattan eateries with outdoor seating options in the past and a whole slew of outdoor restaurants in Brooklyn, as well as exceptional spots where kids and families can eat and play. Read on to take a closer look at outdoor restaurants in Queens with backyards for kid-friendly dining.

This colorful rain will have you wishing for cloudy skies every day! Nor do you need to be a professional meteorologist to pull off this easy science experiment for kids.

Create this scientific rain model using shaving cream to represent the clouds and dyed water as the raindrops. Rain is the result of water droplets becoming heavy enough for gravity to pull them out of the clouds as raindrops. As you add colored water to the shaving cream, young scientists can begin to understand how rain is created.

Blast off into outer space at Bellmore's new indoor play place, Planet Play. An out-of-this-world experience, this interactive play space is punctuated by cosmic decor transporting guests to a celestial world, which caters to all ages.

It's home to a two-floor jungle gym, bouncy house, toddler-safe play area, a cafe, arcade, and more. The newly opened entertainment spot is currently booking 2-hour open play sessions, toddler classes, and birthday parties.

Read on for details on the play space, and find fun elsewhere on Long Island at these play gyms and sports centers, as well as our favorite arcades and amusement parks.

Get ready to see Legos in a whole new light. The Art of the Brick is the current exhibit at the California Science Center, featuring more than 100 sculptures and other works of art, all made exclusively with Legos (more than one million of them to be exact.) This exhibit had just opened when the museum closed down last year, so when the Science Center reopened, the bricks came back, too!

See a re-imagined Lego version of the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh's Starry Night. Be dazzled by a giant Lego T-Rex and a multi-colored peace sign. And the exhibit has recently added a whole new section with sculptures of the world’s most endangered species that no audience has seen before. There are also some thought-provoking original works by the artist, Nathan Sawaya. It's a must-see for families that love Legos. (And who doesn't?!) I took my kids to experience the ultimate block party; read on for the highlights.

Just because Hartford isn't near a shoreline doesn't mean kids have to venture far to enjoy the water. Plenty of Hartford-area parks are outfitted with fun spraygrounds, splash pads, and fountains to beat the heat, no pool membership required. Here are some of our kids' very favorite water play areas, most of which are free—so there's no need to bring your wallet (just towels and sunscreen)!

Be sure and check out our guide to the Top 15 Swimming Pools for Families in Connecticut for more places to cool off the kids. Our Connecticut Summer Fun Guide includes more fun ideas for keeping kids active and busy in July and August.

The pretty southern Vermont town of Manchester is nestled in the Green Mountains, making it the perfect New England getaway for hiking, skiing, biking, and all sorts of outdoor pursuits.

Manchester undoubtedly shines in the winter, but with dozens of restaurants, numerous retail and factory shops, and tons of outdoor activities, this quaint Vermont town is a fun place to visit any time of year. My family loves the area and frequently visits for summer vacation.

If rainy days and Mondays always bring you down, it's probably because you feel stuck indoors. While a rainy day here and there is a great excuse for cuddling on the couch and watching movies, baking cookies, or crafting, a few rainy days in a row can be a real drag.

But don't fret, there are so many ways to get out of the house and have an indoor adventure in Philadelphia—from indoor playgrounds to more educational experiences— than we can possibly name in one list. It could rain for 40 days and 40 nights and there would still be plenty to explore.

NYC has no shortage of sky-high observation decks, but much like the city's collection of skyscrapers, there always seems to be room for one more, and the developers of One Vanderbilt have some daring details in store for the city's newest soaring attraction, Summit One Vanderbilt, which opens this fall.

Set to launch on Thursday, October 21, Summit One Vanderbilt seeks to stand out from its neighbors with a thrilling design, including an all-glass elevator that travels up the building facade to a height of 1,210 feet, top-notch culinary experiences, and even an immersive art installation.

Read on for details on the development, and if you can't wait until October to take in soaring city views, consider visiting the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, the classic Empire State Building, the soaring One World Observatory, or the Top of the Rock right now.