Though it is home to Connecticut’s flagship university, Storrs is a fun village not only for college students. Located about a half an hour east of Hartford, plenty of local attractions here (and in the town of Mansfield) will entertain, educate, and relax even the youngest visitors. So spend some time driving over its bucolic hills, exploring its trails, shopping its quaint stores, or enjoying a movie at one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in the state.

If you look up at the New Jersey sky this weekend, you may see hundreds of brilliant balloons filling the air. That’s because there are two amazing balloon festivals that you won’t want to miss-- Warren County Farmers' Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival and the wildly popular QuickChek Festival of Ballooning. It’s also a great weekend for food-oriented fun at St. Ann’s Italian Festival and the Sweet Corn Festival at Oasis Family Farm.

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.

It’s late July on the East End of Long Island and the natural world is on full display. North Fork or South, families eager to experience nature’s pageantry will find no shortage of opportunities. From beach walks to nature hikes and bike rides, it’s all about the environment this week as the East End readies itself for the last complete month of summer.

But rest assured, those not inclined to follow nature’s instincts will find plenty to do this weekend as well. On the North Fork, there are theater productions and music fairs; on the South Fork, carnivals, sports and music. And for even more happening in the area, check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

Maybe we all hope that our kids will spend the summer mostly outdoors, but let's be honest: they're going to find their way to the computer or phone from time to time. So why not make the most of screen time by signing them up with an online summer camp from the likes of Google? Or how about a Maker Camp run by a former Pixar staffer?

There are a number of reputable online camps available to get kids excited about STEM topics or to dive into other offline, DIY experiments that can help to bridge that gap between June and September.

My 9-year-old son put several online camps to the test and excitedly waited to sign on each day to see what challenge awaited. Check out these seven virtual camps—some of them free!—and let your kids get a little extra summer learning in at their own pace.

If you're a new mom, you've probably noticed that the "lazy days of summer" aren't quite as relaxing as they once were. Beach bags stocked with little more than sunscreen and a good book have been replaced with wagons full of swim diapers and baby gear. Finding things to do that are fun for both mom and baby on a hot, sticky summer day can be tough. Luckily, we've come up with a list of great activities that will make your babies first summer a memorable one.

What kids eat is very important and having the right snack can actually improve a child's ability to learn. Our school occupational therapy consultant, Casey Halper, put together a list of sensory smart snacks just in time for back to school. That means that they are snacks that help kids stay alert and focused in school without making them hyper and restless. These are great snack ideas for children in school, but would be equally great snack choices for toddlers too.

For more tips and sensory activities for kids of all ages, see our posts on Sensory Bin Ideas for Busy Toddlers, DIY Sensory Activities for Babies, and our giant list of 99 Sensory Activities for Toddlers, Infants, and Kids of All Ages.

Those seeking alfresco art have plenty of options to choose from this summer as a slew of brand-new, kid-friendly displays just debuted in New York City.

So skip the indoors, and make the city's parks and streets your summer museum while you check out these nine public works of art, including a giant Hello Kitty and a cheerful canopy of colorful umbrellas. Our list includes uptown and downtown spots, Times Square, Brooklyn, Governors Island and the Bronx.

Find even more outdoor public art in New York in our earlier list of spring debuts.

As temperatures rise, summery outdoor festivals are sizzling throughout the state this week. Delicious food, games, rides and fun are in abundance at St. Ann's Italian Festival, Monmouth County Fair and NJ Peach Festival-Gloucester County 4-H Fair. Just for little ones, spend outdoor time at Growing in the Garden and Butterfly Tea Party. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!