Kids on Manhattan's West Side just gained a brand-new jungle gym. The playground sprung up earlier this month near the ongoing Hudson Yards redevelopment project, which is transforming a 28-acre section of Midtown West into shiny new high-rise offices, high-end shops, residences, hotels, restaurants and a public school, as well as access to the 7-train extension when completed. The development is expected to create 14 acres of open space, including multiple green spaces. The newly opened neighborhood park, which houses the newest NYC playground, is a city park operated by the Hudson Yards/Hell's Kitchen Alliance.

We've tested out the new playground, which includes a cool canopy for fending off the summer heat, so read on for our review of this new kid-friendly green space and jungle gym.

Even for those who live for summer, the heat and humidity can take its toll--and make you not want to leave the house. But the weather doesn't have to keep you from enjoying all the East End has to offer. In fact, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat here, and we've rounded up 10 of our favorites.

Need more ideas? Be sure to check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

If school hasn’t started yet and your family has time for one last summer hurrah, take a midweek camping trip – from LA it's easy to head for forest, woods, desert, or sea. Tuesday is a day of free admission to national parks, and eleven of our parks in California are participating. For my family, school started last week, but a trip to visit to the world's first national park – Yellowstone – helped us to end our summer on a high note.

With school looming, you probably don’t want to head out of state now, but if you have the time and inclination to venture north, Tuesday's free day could be an opportunity to experience the giant redwoods of Muir Woods, the majesty of Yosemite, or the Gold Rush history of Whiskeytown Lake. Closer to LA, Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego and Joshua Tree National Park offer two extremes of our state’s natural beauty.

But there's plenty to do this week without leaving LA, too; want to do some stargazing before El Niño fills the sky with clouds? The Sidewalk Astronomers are out in Burbank. Fans of Japanese animation will want to catch the Studio Ghibli Festival, and anybody looking for small town fun in our expansive metropolis should check out the Fiesta La Ballona in Culver City.

The summer of al fresco movies and music continues, and there are lots of other listings on our Daily Events Calendar. Here are our five picks for the week.

How do you plan to top off the summer? Wrap up August with those last moments of summery fun at outdoor events like the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and the Somerset Patriot’s Baseball Game. Take in museum programs this week at Garden State Discovery Museum’s Movie Mondays, Morris Museum’s Yo-Yo Guy Returns and New Jersey State Museum’s Maker Space Program. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

We've collected some of our favorite activities for the week from across the state, including a Hot Air Balloon Festival, the CT Open Tennis Tournament, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and so much more. Whatever you decide to do this week, don't forget to check the full Event Calendar for more fun things to do!

For many Long Island kids, this is the last full week of summer break. Families can make the most of it with a variety of fun events, including chocolate making, festivals and more.

Our Long Island Events Calendar is packed with activities to keep kids of all ages busy, while our Summer Fun Guide has tons of cool ideas on ways to enjoy the season. Spending time out East? Check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

Labor Day marks the last chance for a summer getaway, so we’ve searched for destinations with lots of family potential to help New Yorkers ring in the approaching school year with a little more cheer, or at least a tan.

Do some in your family like to shop while others prefer the outdoors? Consider taking the kids to Freeport, Maine. In need of one last beach blitz? We have a spot in mind. More of a lake crew? No problem. Our mom-approved Labor Day vacations even include a kid-free suggestion if you can snag grandma and grandpa for the weekend. And if you need more inspiration, our travel site is loaded with kid and parent getaway suggestions for all types from water park lovers to Lego fans to hikers.

The Strandbeests are coming! Two sneak peaks of these wicked cool contraptions (pictured) are coming up this week, including one at the sculpture-friendly Rose Kennedy Greenway. The full exhibit opens at the Peabody Essex Museum in September, but if you're like me and can't wait, grab the kids and check out one of these free pop-ups. While you're at it, this week is a good time to hit one of the local farmers' markets or have the little ones learn about food we can grow at home before summer turns to fall.