This Week: 10 Brand-New NYC Spots, Perfect Weekend Trips, Best of Rockaway

What's new in NYC? A lot, actually. This week we focused on a slew of fresh family attractions, including a new interactive exhibit, a FREE new children's musical and 10 new NYC destinations with options to please a variety of ages and interests. (That's my kid in the pic, enjoying the new Whitney Museum.)

Not that we're knocking the old—sometimes the best summer adventures are experiences that are just new to you. If you're looking for family day trip ideas, our New Jersey site has an awesome roundup of old-school activities you can't do in the city, like drive-ins, historic villages and swimming holes. Or maybe you want to check out a quaint and walkable NJ town, or connect with nature in Hudson Valley or romp around an outdoor museum on Long Island? Our tri-state area sites are overflowing with getaway inspiration.

For those looking to go further afield, our Travel site has a lovely slide show of the Skyline Drive in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, which is close enough to NYC to be doable on a weekend.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

25 Things to Do With Kids This Summer in the Farmington Valley

The Farmington Valley, located along the western border of Hartford County, comprises the quaint towns of Avon, Simsbury, Farmington, Canton, and Granby. Traversed by the Farmington River and dotted with lakes, farms, and horse stables, the area is quiet and picturesque yet also home to great restaurants, top-notch sports facilities, and a plethora of cultural events. Check out our list below and take advantage of some of the area’s attractions (many of which are free!).

News: MoMath's New Competition, Free Coding for Teens, Parks Update

As summer kicks into high gear, parks all over NYC are undergoing (or finishing up) major rehab projects—and we've got the details for you here. Other news this week includes an upcoming FREE coding event for tweens and teens, MoMath's songwriting competition and news about test-making company, Pearson, that will affect next year's state standardized tests. Read on for this week's news highlights and be sure to sign up for our free newsletters, if you haven't already, to stay up to date on the latest NYC news, reviews and more. 

Weekend Fun with LA Kids: Wee Rock, Dragonboats, and Soda Tasting, July 18 - 19

Everyone seems to be loving Long Beach this weekend.  The dragonboatsLewis Carroll,  heck there's a whole festival built around loving Long Beach.  We like to think we got the trend started, with our post dropping some serious "We heart LB" vibes.

You know what else people love around here?  The movies, and everything to do with show biz. Besides having a nearly infinite number of ways to see movies this weekend, indoors, outdoors, timeless classics, or brand new releases,  we now have an unmatched studio tour, thanks to Warner Brothers, that takes you inside the movie- and television-making process like never before. Check this out: you can sit on the couch at Central Perk. (Stuff just got real.)

But don't stop there: we've got love to spread all over town.  Love for soda.  Love for the big top.  Love for pirates and reptiles and kid-centric music,  and love for music that will get you in the mood for love.  Love for our far away favorite Pluto,  whether or not we call it a planet.  And most of all, love for spending time with our kids, no matter what it is we end up doing.

Keep reading for our most lovey dovey picks for this weekend...

Weekend Fun for Boston Kids: Outside the Box, Play Day & Creepy Crawlies, July 18-19

With no shortage of arts festivals around Boston this summer, it's hard to choose one to highlight. However, if there's one that families truly must not miss, it's the Outside the Box festival happening this weekend on and near Boston Common. Highlights include family-friendly performances, interactive crafts, and fun educational activities. Best of all, it's free! But even this very same weekend, there are plenty of other great outdoor family parties going on, from the lawn to out in the open.

Summer also means an over-abundance of insects, but this weekend, they're not the kind you want to swat away. Kids get their choice to learn about everything from moths to the world of bugs to creepy crawlies.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full Event Calendar!

5 Great Campgrounds on Long Island

Mmm, the smell of smores! Bring back memories of your first camping experience? It's not too late to add a camping trip to your summer fun this year. Long Island has some of the best campsites for you and your family to enjoy the great outdoors, and get in some good beach time to boot. Read on to find out about 5 great campsites right here on Long Island. And be sure to check out our other roundup of LI campsites for more ideas on where to go, as well as our Summer Fun Guide.

Weekend Fun for Philly Kids: Trees, Fireflies, Tie-Dye July 18-19

I'm bored... two little words every parent dreads to hear during these summer months. Thankfully, our Events Calendar can handle this situation should it arise in your home.

Play under the Tall Trees at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, uncover artifacts at Newlin Grist Mill's Public Archeology Program or catch lighting bugs at Tabora's Firefly Festival. Spend some family time at a Tie Dye Festival, Tree House Festival or Music Festival. With this weekend's line-up, there is no way to be bored!

Be sure to have our boredom-busting weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox each Thursday morning. Now keep reading to discover all the fun that awaits you and your family this weekend.

Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Circus, Fairies, Art, and Blueberries July 18-19

This weekend promises to be hugely delicious and refreshing: Sunday is National Ice Cream Day! Whether you decide to track down tempting ice cream parlors (we sampled a few for you in Fairfield and New Haven counties), or make your own frozen treats at home, be sure to celebrate the sweet occasion. 

If you find yourself savoring ice cream in the Hartford area, consider ending the night with free music and a movie at The Shoppes of Farmington Valley. You can also enjoy a movie or a concert in Fairfield County, or sign up the kids for a cooking class at Williams Sonoma (various locations). My family is contemplating a guided hike at Ansonia Nature Center, and, of course, finding a local ice cream shoppe. 

Check the Mommy Poppins calendar to see what else is happening this weekend (and beyond!). For the latest and best family-friendly events, subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

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