Taking a cruise on New York Harbor is one of our favorite summer activities in NYC. That's why we here at Mommy Poppins are excited to invite you and your kids to a very special event we're planning: Ships, Sails and Tales of the Sea with Bill Gordh & Manhattan by Sail. On Saturday, June 29 join us as we set sail back in time aboard the historic Clipper City Tall Ship on an activity-packed 90-minute excursion your entire family will enjoy.

During this fun outing, families will board Manhattan by Sail's historical Civil War-era cargo schooner Clipper City for an exciting voyage out of South Street Seaport. As we sail through New York Harbor, we'll enjoy amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and other beloved NYC landmarks, plus there will be a stellar lineup of entertainment and enriching activities sponsored by top NYC institutions.

Read on to find out how you can snag tickets to Ships, Sails and Tales of the Sea with Bill Gordh & Manhattan by Sail—a day out on the water Mommy Poppins-style that you won't want to miss.

Summer camp is more than just a fun and enriching experience for young children. It also marks an important step in their development as they get to test out their independence and, in the case of commuter camps, travel outside the city to enjoy outdoor activities in nature.

As exciting as that first-time camp experience is, it can also be scary (perhaps more so for parents than kids) since it's outside everyone's comfort zone. Even if you find a program that offers a safe and stimulating environment for younger kids, parents may worry than their preschoolers aren't yet ready for full days or weeks of camp.

Every summer, readers email us asking if we know about summer programs that offer short days or sessions where tots can try out day camp and see how they like it. We asked our friends at the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey to recommend some camps that fit the bill and still have openings for summer 2013. If you need more information, the ACA of NY and NJ also offers free camp consultations with their experts.

You can find out about other awesome summer programs in our Camp Guide.

We love going on boat rides in New York Harbor but when those trips are FREE we enjoy them even more. This weekend, you can do just that at the fifth annual North River Historic Ship Festival in Tribeca. Vintage ships will dock at Hudson River Park's Pier 25 and host hands-on activities that celebrate NYC's rich maritime history, including tours of the vessels, live shows and FREE 45-minute cruises on select ships.

Organized by the nonprofit North River Historic Ship Society, the fest features five meticulously restored crafts including the John J. Harvey fireboat, the Lehigh Valley Barge No.79 (a.k.a. Red Hook, Brooklyn’s floating Waterfront Museum), the 1904 tugboat Pegasus and the Coast Guard Lighthouse Tender Lilac, the last steam-powered boat made in the U.S. back in 1933. The North River Historic Ship Festival is a great way to get out on the Hudson River while enjoying an up close look at these amazing antique boats. Plus, except for the Showboat Circus show, all activities are totally FREE. Of course the boat tours are extremely popular and book up fast. Read on to find out how to snag a spot and everything else you need to know about the fest.