As we welcome August, we also usher in a whole slew of new fun activities for Westchester and Hudson Valley families! You'll feel like you've traveled the globe (and back in time) after attending the beloved New York Renaissance Faire, which returns this weekend, the Native American Heritage Celebration or the Indian Heritage Festival.

For an ornithological good time, head to Bear Mountain for the Bird Festival, and move over sand painting—here comes the annual Sand Castle Competition.

Read on for more details on our top weekend picks, and view our hot-off-the-press August Go List for our best bets for the whole month. Be sure to also check out the many weekday and weekend events we've captured in our Event Calendar—where you'll find no shortage of fun things to do the rest of the summer!

The first weekend in August kicks off with two of our top family event picks for the month: Manhattan's car-free Summer Streets and Staten Island's very first SummerStage Family Day, both of which are FREE. Other highlights include the Hindu Lamp Ceremony in Brooklyn Bridge Park, a Summer Stroll in Sunnyside, Queens and the activity-filled Kids Rule Weekend in the Bronx.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. And if you're looking to plan out your entire month, check out our brand-new GoList, which spotlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout August.

If you're headed on the highway and looking for adventure with your thrill-seeking kids, we've got some hot spots for you. Walk the plank, take a fast ride or slip and slide at these places that can give the entire family the ultimate adrenaline rush. And for more family fun, visit our Long Island Summer Guide.

August kicks off with fantastic food, outdoor festivals and plenty of sizzling, hot-weather fun. Chow down on homegrown Garden State treats at the Just Peachy Festival, Tomato Festival and A Very Berry Festival. Spend quality outdoor time at Sail, Sail Your Boat, New Jersey State Fair and Summer Shorebird Walk.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Nothing says summer like mini golf -- it’s pretty much a requisite activity, along with swimming and ice cream. One of these courses, Farmington Miniature Golf & Ice Cream Parlor, marries two of these things perfectly! There are several other courses in the Hartford area and each have their own unique flavor, so when you are ready to try out your putter, check this guide to choose one your kids might be most interested in. Better yet, work your way down the list and then report back which one was your favorite! We've also rounded up mini golf in Fairfield County.

My 7 year old recently told me she thought we should move somewhere cooler.  Like Florida, she elaborated.  Ahhh, a teaching moment, I thought... and proceeded to patiently explain climates, weather patterns and equatorial geographics to her.  With obvious disdain for my aged intellect (or lack thereof), she patiently listened, then hopped onto the weather app of my iphone and showed me the map on which CT temperatures registered 94, and Florida’s 91.

My point?  It’s hot here in CT this summer!  So, when we aren't going to one of  Connecticut's beaches,  we will be enjoying some of Fairfield County’s water adventures in the coming weeks.

We’ve been working our way through the most fun to-do list ever, and we decided it was high time to check off number 37, a whale watching cruise. After an exciting Whale Watch with Boston Harbor Cruises, I am – for the record – ranking it as one of the top 10 things to do with kids in Boston before they grow up. 

However, I don’t recommend just jumping on the next BHC Catamaran going out to Stellwagen Bank. The difference between having a great experience and a phenomenal one, especially when you’re taking kids on the cruise, is knowing what to expect and getting a few tips from a fellow parent before you go. 

It’s the first weekend of August, and time to celebrate the East End’s creative heritage. Concerts, puppet shows, live theater, even cooking classes liven up the family fun on the twin forks with enough variety to satisfy any interest.

On the North Fork, kids (and their baby boomer parents) can enjoy a night of “The King’s” music or a chorale concert from one of the region’s top music schools. On the South Fork, how about a Sag Harbor puppet show, an origami boat regatta or a library family day.

Yes, it’s a weekend to indulge your children’s creative side. But if you’re looking for alternatives to the East End arts scene, there’s also Southampton’s annual celebration of Polish culture, nature walks, boat building and more.

For all those happenings and more, check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide. And for the best in seasonal family entertainment across Long Island, don’t forget our Summer Fun Guide.