May 4 is designated as Star Wars Day by legions of fans across the globe. Whether your kids are die-hard Star Wars devotees, or just think Baby Yoda is kinda cute, we’ve got some fun and easy crafts, activities, and snacks to help kids celebrate. Luckily, you don’t have to be a Jedi master to make these ideas come to life. Just gather up your crafting supplies and ingredients—and May the 4th be with you!

So dig out those original Episode 4 DVDs (you know you have them!). Kids can watch while wearing Baby Yoda ears, drinking Bantha Blue Milk, and snacking on Princess Leia Cupcakes; all found in our Star Wars craft and snack ideas below.

You can find even more crafts and treats for any day of the year in our At-Home Guide for Families.

Affectionately known as America's first suburb, Brooklyn Heights is a historic enclave with lots of kid-friendly things to do, see, and eat. The classic architecture and warm neighborhood vibe attract young families to the area, and the beautiful waterfront parks—notably the Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park—make Brooklyn Heights well worth a visit.

While so many parts of Brooklyn seem to be rapidly modernizing and changing, Brooklyn Heights has managed to maintain much of its original historic charm. The Brooklyn Heights Historic District is one of the first designated historic districts in the city and includes homes that have been around since the 1820s. Here are the best places to eat, shop, play, and learn with kids in Brooklyn Heights.

If you've got an axe to grind, consider a visit to one of these Long Island axe-throwing spots, which boast plenty of action-packed fun—and target practice—with their namesake weapon, plus archery, football, bowling, and more. An outing at one of these venues makes an ideal adventure for active, competitive families with big kids who have outgrown more traditional play spaces.

Best for teens and tweens, read on for details on our recent visit to NY Axe, plus two other local axe-throwing spots, plus learn about the safety and training you can expect that will have you wielding and tossing an axe like a legit lumberjack (or lumberjill!). Find more fun places for the family to play together in our Guide to Sports Centers and Fun Zones for LI Families.

For a long time in LA, ice cream cones meant a $1 Thrifty cone in a weird shape at the local Rite Aid. I’m not knocking it—people who grew up here love them, and now as a mom, I appreciate the ubiquitousness and price. But gourmet, it isn’t. Then good ice cream began to appear; imports like Salt & Straw and Jeni’s, and homegrown favorites like McConnell’s and Sweet Rose. Some of the very best of the local shops are small-batch and freshly churned (or soft-served) mom-and-pop stores. So, if you wanted to try, say the fabulousness that is Ginger’s Divine Ice Creams, you had to trek to their sole location in Culver City.

No more! Ginger’s heard the pleas from the east, and just this month opened a new spot Mid-City. It’s long been a favorite of mine, and I couldn’t wait to check out the new store, and see if it’s just as good as the original. My kids came along to play taste testers. Here’s what we found...

Being outside pretty much tops our to-do list every day, and we're constantly going from one activity to the next, be it to a neighborhood splashpad, a nearby playground, or a park with plenty of trails for biking. Basically, staying inside all day isn't an option; we would all go stir crazy! With summer and hot sun upon us, I am more aware of which places offer some shade so we can get outside and still beat the heat... even if only for a few minutes. Here are some great parks in Houston that offer at least a moderate respite from the brutal summer temps.

When our family of five first arrived at Fort Washington National Park—a hidden gem in Prince Georges County, Maryland, just 13 miles from Alexandria, Virginia and 19 miles from Washington, DC—it felt like we found a hidden treasure.

This national park felt more like an outdoor museum, where visitors can tour a fort, visit a lighthouse, or hike and ride bikes on the park trail. My 2-year-old was immediately wowed by our proximity to the Potomac River, and my 11- and 12 year-old sons couldn't wait to tour the historic fort. We were excited and eager to step back into history.

A visit to Fort Washington National Park is a wonderful way to experience American history with kids and an ideal addition to our list of springtime activities in the DC area. 

Playing together with your kids is one of the best parts of being a parent. Not only does it get everyone off the couch and moving, but you're also creating memorable family experiences.

Most city families don't have a backyard to play catch in, but there are still plenty of ways to play in NYC that are as engaging for grown-ups as for children, from mini golf to hiking, bowling, billiards, and beyond. Read on for our favorite ways to disconnect from technology and enjoy a few hours of awesome family bonding time.

I was 10 years old the first time I tried my hand at decorating a cake, and I was instantly hooked. I've never been artistic with a paintbrush or pen, but give me a pastry bag, and magic happens. Fast-forward about 30 years, add in three kids and 33 kids' birthday parties between them, and I've learned a few tricks for creating bakery-quality cakes on a busy-mom schedule.

These birthday cake ideas and decorating tips yield showstopping results with very little skill required, and I'll even share with you my shortcut trick for turning a boxed cake mix into a bakery-worthy birthday cake recipe.

Of course, there are times when even a shortcut cake masterpiece is out of reach, so be sure to check out our ready-in-an-instant mug cake recipes and find more parent-tested meals in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.