For my family, seeing Theatreworks USA's FREE seasonal kids' musical is as much a rite of summer as hitting the beach or the pool. And why not? For 27 years the national family theater company has been presenting high-quality productions every summer in a real Off-Broadway theater and given the tickets away!

This year's show is Skippyjon Jones Snow What, based on one of Judith Schachner's popular picture books about a quirky Siamese cat who goes on pretend adventures as his alter ego, Skippito Friskito, a sword-wielding, Zorro-like Chihuahua. Back in 2012, Theatreworks USA adapted the first title in the series to great acclaim so the troupe reassembled the same creative team for this sequel of sorts (it's not like you need to have seen the original show or even read the books to enjoy it). Although my jaded tween daughter is older than the target audience, Skippyjon Jones Snow What is so clever and jubilant that by the end she admitted it was the cat's meow. We've got the scoop on how to snag FREE tickets to this fun (and air-conditioned!) musical.

Hey Queens parents: Do you have a kid who's pleading for dance lessons but you dread the thought of schlepping to Manhattan or Brooklyn? That was my worry when my preschooler started begging for ballet. But after doing a little research and talking to many of my fellow Queens moms, I was happy to discover that I don't need to leave the borough to find quality dance studios for children. Bonus: Dance classes in Queens tend to be significantly less expensive than their Manhattan and even Brooklyn counterparts, and many offer scholarships or sliding-scale tuition for those who qualify.

Some Queens dance studios are local favorites that have been serving their communities for years, like Landrum in Whitestone and Heavenly Bodies Dance Studio in Ozone Park. Others, like Astoria's Sol Dance Center, are part of the wave of new kid-friendly businesses opening up throughout the borough. And if you have a dance-loving boy, don't worry: Most of these programs offer classes for boys, including ballet and hip-hop.

Here are 12 Queens dance studios offering classes for kids and teens who are serious about ballet, tap, modern and other dance styles. You can find other enriching programs in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

The summer’s heating up, and creatures of all kinds are taking the stage this week. Slither on over to Turtle Back Zoo for World Snake Day, celebrate everything crabby at Crabulous Crab Day or catch the buzz at  Great Swamp’s All About Bees. It’s a big week for free movies at Jets Movie Night and the State Theatre’s Free Summer Movie. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

Hard to believe, but we are halfway through the summer. The weeks are packed full of movies, concerts, and theater. Just take a look at our Event Calendar, if you don’t believe me. Minions opened this weekend; your kids are definitely going to want to see that. While “entertainment” has its place (especially here in Hollywood), we sometimes want our children engaged in activities that are educational: still fun, but maybe with a little learning thrown in. In Studio City, kids can learn about coding at the library; and in Santa Monica, the Pier Aquarium is hosting a live talk with a scientist from Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in honor of NASA’s flyby of our dwarf planet Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. Neil deGrasse Tyson would surely approve, especially since the connection between Deep Sea and Deep Space continues next week.

Teens may be interested in the Frontline Movie about Nelson Mandela that is screening for free at the California African American Museum. Race is a heated topic these days, and sometimes a movie is a good way to get the kids talking and thinking. And in case you haven’t made it to a Grunion Run yet, the Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium hosts its final program of the summer this week.

July is a great month to be in Connecticut with kids. You'll  find great summer activities this week including free jazz, butterflies and tin making.  There are also lots of free events at the libraries which you can read more about in our event calendar.  Have a great week full of summer fun!

Summer is heating up, so head over to Cold Spring Harbor for some water play. Little athletes can enjoy a free baseball clinic in Sag Harbor, animal lovers can meet some furry friends in Lloyd Harbor and families can enjoy an outdoor movie in Eisenhower Park.

These are just a few of the things on our jam-packed events calendar so be sure to check back regularly. And if you're spending any time on the East End, visit our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

The height of summer is also the height of activity, as there are numerous fun events on tap for Westchester families. Unique to summer is the Annual Firefly Festival, and summer is a great time to learn a new skill like Animation Design. Kids can also enjoy a meet-and-greet with animals—ranging from bunnies to hedgehogs to toads and even worms.

Below are our top picks for Monday through Friday--but don't stop there! There are many more options to choose from on our Event Calendar; review them all to avoid missing out.

One of the main reasons we're willing to deal with the challenges of raising kids in NYC (the crazy rents, the stressful school searches, the closets for apartments) is our easy access to enriching activities like theater, museums and music. But when your kids would rather bask in the view from the top of a tree than from One World Observatory, or hop on a horse instead of the subway, there's no need to scramble to find a car for a day trip. Our urban jungle is home to lots of bucolic destinations where NYC kids can get their knees dirty and let their spirits soar with a range of outdoor adventures, from laid-back to heart-pumping.

My kids and I had a blast putting together this list of our top 25 things to do outdoors throughout the five boroughs. You may not even realize that some of these activities are doable in NYC! From camping under the stars to surfing to fishing to zip-lining, here are exciting ways to escape the urban grind as a family. Most locations are accessible by public transportation, and many of them are FREE.