After much anticipation, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center has finally unveiled its brand new Nature Playscape. Envisioned in the Arboretum's master plan years ago, the new play area is unlike a traditional playground; this play space is inspired by nature and designed to complement the surrounding vegetation. Native Texas flora is incorporated throughout the playground, growing lush and vibrant along the winding walkways.

The individual climbing structures and the various sections of the park are created with natural materials like logs, wood, and rope, that blend in nicely with the surrounding landscape. Best of all, this exciting new Nature Playscape is yet another attraction that visitors of the Houston Arboretum can enjoy for free.

Though at first glance they're very similar, each of the Beach Cities in the South Bay has a distinct flavor and vibe. Manhattan Beach is considered the most family-friendly of the Beach Cities with some of the best schools in the country, over two miles of pristine beaches, and oodles of activities for kids and adults alike.

With spacious parks and nautical playgrounds, a compact and walkable downtown area by the beach, and a historic pier and aquarium, Manhattan Beach is a great city to experience with kids.

Your kids may think you're a real live wizard when they see the colorful results of this Skittles science experiment. What they won’t know is that there is actually a lot of science behind those swirls and whirls of color.

The different colors in Skittles are composed of slightly different properties. When the warm water dissolves these colors, kids witness a phenomenon called water stratification. The different densities of each ingredient create a barrier between the colors and thus a very cool and colorful pattern. 

After an unprecedented summer last year, Jersey Shore beaches are preparing for a return to a new normal in 2021. Governor Phil Murphy recently announced beaches can reopen with restrictions on Saturday, May 22, 2021. “The Jersey Shore, after all, is where memories are made,” Murphy said. “The last thing any of us wanted was for a summertime down the Shore to be a memory.”

While Jersey Shore beaches will be open in time to kick off the unofficial start of summer, most beaches require a beach badge, and many beach offices aren’t selling tags in the traditional, in-person way. They're either offering prepaid pickup, mail orders, or online-only sales through the Viply app.

Visitors can also expect beaches to have COVID restrictions in place (decided by the local municipalities) on the number of beachgoers allowed on a given day, and social distancing rules will be in effect and fully enforced. Families must remain six feet away from other parties, and group gatherings aren’t allowed.

Despite these limits, we are still looking forward to summer days down the Shore. Read on to learn what you need to know before you go, and bookmark our Jersey Shore Family Guide for more summertime fun.

We're just three short weeks shy of Memorial Day weekend, and that means the unofficial start of summer is on the horizon, bringing with it the start of beach season 2021. After a pandemic-shortened season last year, New York City's 14 miles of beaches are set to reopen to the public for a full season of sun and surf beginning Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Read on for details on what beach season looks like in the five boroughs, and beyond from the Jersey Shore, to our favorite Long Island seaside haunts, and beaches in Westchester and Connecticut, too. Stay up-to-date all season long with our Summer Fun and Beaches and Lakes Guides.

Memorial Day weekend is around the corner, and summer is almost upon us, and that means soon Long Island beaches soon open for the season. As more and more places start opening and restrictions are cautiously lifted, we're feeling optimistic about summer in the sun, but what can you expect for beach access in 2021?

It’s no secret Long Island has some of the best beaches for families, and the good news is, while beach visits may not be totally back to normal, restrictions are lighter than last season. Here’s what families can expect come Saturday, May 29, when lifeguards take to their stands marking the unofficial start of the summer season.

If you want to explore other local shores, we've got all the details you need to plan a visit to the Jersey Shore or beaches in New York City. 

Tucked inside Queens’ largest park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is the lovely 18-acre Queens Zoo. Unlike other city zoos (Read: sometimes crowded and overwhelming), families can tour the entire grounds in just a few hours. Take a leisurely loop around the whole complex, and you’ll find eagles, puma, bears, sea lions, coyotes, an aviary filled with exotic birds, and more.

While the Queens Zoo is smaller than its sister zoo in the Bronx, it is definitely worth the trip. Unlike the Bronx Zoo, which can be taxing on little legs, the Queens Zoo is a perfect size. The main zoo runs in a loop, making it easy to see everything without backtracking. Lush greenery and landscaping surround the trail, and there is less travel time between exhibits.

If zoos are high on your to-do list, check out our other borough favorites at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Staten Island Zoo.

Archery classes sound like something for Robin Hood, but a fair number of kids who see Brave or The Hunger Games end up curious about archery. Which means a fair number of their parents end up scratching their heads and saying, "Where do we do that??" Gymnastics classes, swimming classes—those are easy. But where to bring a would-be archer to string a bow and shoot some arrows? Less obvious, perhaps, but not as hard as you might think. And the even better news? These archery classes are usually free! (Or very low cost.)

Check our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Los Angeles for more kids' activities and programs for kids of all ages, including the best Parent and Me classes for babies and toddlers.