Rockaway Beach offers plenty of sun-kissed fun for families. After all, it's the only place in all of New York City where surfing is allowed! But what lies beyond the soft sand and coastal waves? Plenty. 

So far we've offered a glimpse at everything this Queens neighborhood has to offer families, including what to see and do and the best places to eat with kids. Now, we round up the best places to play. In addition to its namesake beach, you'll find a ton of playgrounds and parks for picnicking, but also great indoor play spots, such as local libraries and even theater. Read on for details about our favorite places to romp and explore with kids in Rockaway.

For obvious reasons, fun ways to cool off with the kids was the theme across all of our sites this week. Even though there are dozens of ways to beat the heat in the city, the dog days of summer are the perfect time for a water-filled day trip (plus you get to avoid the subway, which apparently reached more than 100 degrees this week!). If you have access to a car and some free time, consider frolicking at a spectacular splash pad in Westchester (though you'll need a friend with a county park pass), whiling the day away on a Connecticut beach, or getting totally wet at a nearby lake, river or water park.

Of course, our NYC summer's got nothing on the South's, which is why our Travel site's new list of the best things to do with kids in Charlotte, North Carolina includes multiple ways to cool down—though you may want to save your visit for winter when you'll be longing to feel sweaty again.

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

The state recently put 62 city schools on notice for low performance–just in time for the new school year to kick off. The schools rank among the worst 5 percent in all of New York, according to a report in Chalkbeat. 

A number of those schools targeted by the state are already a part of the city's "turnaround" program and under state law, the city's top educator, Chancellor Carmen Fariña, has the opportunity to try to improve the schools before setting them up for takeover by a "receiver," or outside education leader or group.

Read more about this and other New York City kid and parent news the Mommy Poppins team has rounded up for you, including a survey showing that 95 percent of parents are actually pretty satisfied with the city's public schools.

Be sure to sign up for our free newsletters to stay up to date on the latest NYC news, reviews and more.

Here's what we learned last weekend: it does rain in Southern California, sometimes so much that they cancel or postpone things, like concerts in the park, plays… they even closed the ocean (sorta kind of).   But that was last week. This weekend, we should be back to our usual partly-sunny, no-humidity-here kind of paradise.  Go ye forth and frolic, get your dance on, and enjoy all that our beloved Southland has to offer.  (Beaches, even!)

And good timing, too, since the eyes of the world will be upon us this weekend.  The Special Olympics brings special needs athletes from 177 nations to compete in venues throughout Los Angeles.  Events are free to attend, so why not go cheer on some exceptional competitors?

Of course, in the land of the free, you can stay indoors if you really want. Indoor type? Circus, baby!  Want the sun on your back? Orange County Fair! You can learn about space indoors with a roof over your head, or with a ceiling of stars. You can enjoy the Sunshine (Band) at night in the Marina (with KC, of course!),  you can build your sandcastle in the sand,  explore Chinatown, enjoy the arts and free movies, party with the faeries, run the bases and take in the explosive finale to the 1812 Overture.  Okay, it looks like outdoors is winning this weekend, which makes sense, it being Southern California and all. (But better enjoy it while you can: an El Niño is coming this year!)

Keep reading for our most sunshiney picks for this weekend...

If it's time to hit the beach with your family, Revere Beach has the perfect excuse this weekend with its annual Sand Sculpting Festival (pictured). As on other summer weekends, there are tons of great events farther inland as well. Music fans looking for more than a summer concert have their pick of music festivals highlighting everything from folk to jazz, and kids with big imaginations will love collaborating on art projects during Figment Boston.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Is your local shop one of our 12 Favorite Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Spots?
• Getting hot out there? We share some Things to Do with Boston Kids to Cool Off.
• Tech-oriented kids will love these Interactive Online Summer Camps.

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

Are you the "mean mom" or the "unfair dad" who makes your kid practice math flashcards and keep a reading log over the summer? There certainly is no harm in learning during these hot, hazy and humid summer months. (It's actually good for them.) But, why not try out an activity that will keep kids learning without them even realizing it? Mommy Poppins' Events Calendar is overflowing with activities that allow kids the fun they want while providing the educational component that parents seek.

Spend the weekend at the Franklin Institute's Mess Fest where science experiences get sloppy. Learn about the history of planes during war times at Fort Mifflin's Airplane Day. Discover the world of fine arts at the Kimmel Center's PNC Grow Up Great or Organ Demonstration. Or, explore being a sustainable design engineer at the Delaware Children's Museum's Junior Engineer workshop.

Continue reading for the top picks for the weekend ahead. Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and like us on Pinterest and Facebook and follow us on Twitter. No matter what you do this weekend, we hope you and your kids will learn something new!

Families can have a weekend to remember on Long Island--the hardest part will be choosing what to do. Dance around in your cowboy boots at the weekend-long Country Fest LI, or have a yummy time at The Whaling Museum's Ice Cream Social. And free Family Fun Days are happening at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook and Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. To receive our posts in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

With such an eclectic assortment of family events taking place in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend, there’s truly something for everyone. Two big county fairs headline—the Orange County Fair and the Putnam County Fair. There’s also a centennial birthday party for a carousel. For a S.T.E.M. experience, sign your little Einstein up for Mad Science Marvels of Motion. Bibliophiles will be all a-Buzz at the Fly Guy Festival, and young (and old) divas can let it go at the Frozen Sing-Along.

Additional details about these events can be found below—along with the rest of our top picks. Even more events are on our Event Calendar, so head there too!