Many stories originally aimed at young adults end up appealing to people of all ages. Countless grown-ups have been sucked into the worlds of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, consuming the books and the movies with the same zeal as their kids. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins' best-selling YA trilogy, is no exception. I devoured the books in less than a week, and thoroughly enjoyed the blockbuster films based on them. To say I was excited to see the new multimedia installation The Hunger Games: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square is an understatement.

The exhibit invites visitors to explore the fictional world of Panem, following the saga's heroine, Katniss Everdeen, as she moves from reluctant tribute to the face of the rebellion. Since my son just turned 10, he's only now old enough to start delving into the dystopian series, so I worried that he might find the exhibit confusing or, worse, boring. While The Hunger Games: The Exhibition is a must-see for fans, is it good for kids and parents who are new to the series?

Kids are natural explorers and scientists, investigating and trying to understand the world around them, and nature makes a perfect laboratory. For budding naturalists, we previously told you about some of Westchester County’s wonderful nature centers and covered kid-friendly hiking trails in the Hudson Valley area. Now we are heading to Orange County to explore the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum in Cornwall. I recently visited the museum’s Outdoor Discovery Center with my two sons (ages 4 and 8). We had a great time and plan on visiting again. So what does the this nature museum offer, and is it worth the drive?  

My daughter is constantly putting on tap routines after dinner and showing off her latest moves for anyone who makes eye contact on the subway. So dance classes are something my family knows a lot about. When we moved to Brooklyn last fall, the thought of trekking into Manhattan for dance lessons seemed daunting. But after a little research, I found that we wouldn't need to leave the borough to find quality dance schools.

While we ended up going with a studio near our Bay Ridge home, there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from in Brooklyn. Bonus: The schools tend to be fairly reasonable in terms of price (especially when compared to Manhattan) but many also set aside money for financial aid, so it's worth inquiring about scholarships and sliding-scale tuition. Here are 11 great Brooklyn dance schools that offer classes for kids and teens who are serious about ballet, tap, modern and other dance styles.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

When my oldest son was 8, he said his ambition in life was to sell his art on the street. So it's no surprise that at age 13 he's set his sights on getting into Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Like other specialized art high schools, including the High School of Fashion Industries, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and the High School of Art & Design, LaGuardia requires applicants to submit portfolios of their work. While talent is key, taking a professional portfolio preparation class can really give applicants a leg up on the competition. We've rounded up New York City programs that help tweens and young teens prepare their artwork to apply to these popular high schools.

Watchung Reservation, the largest park in Union County, is home to many wonderful kid-friendly activities, making it the perfect day-trip destination for any time of year.

Numerous hiking trails, an interactive nature center with fish and taxidermy, and a fabulous playground, provide both indoor and outdoor fun for NJ families. Whether you’re planning to visit for just a few hours or bring along lunch and stay all day, Watchung is a great place to relax, have fun and spend some time enjoying nature.

Find more great day trips in our NJ Day Trip Guide, or check out our Parks & Playgrounds Guide for more outdoor fun.

Located on the southwestern border of Hartford County, Bristol’s influence dates back to the 19th century when it was known as the clock-making city. Today, it is primarily famous as the home of ESPN and Lake Compounce, America’s oldest still-running theme park.

Water, water everywhere! Fun ways for families to get wet was the theme across all of our sites this week. From play fountains in NYC to the top public pools in the Hamptons, exceptional splash pads in New Jersey to Splish Splash Water Park on Long Island, plus a new video game-style waterslide at Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, we've got the scoop on the best places to cool down this summer in the tri-state area.

If you're looking for day trip inspiration, be sure to peruse our regional sites. Just this week, NJ rounded up pick-your-own fruit farms, Connecticut spotlighted outdoor museums, Westchester profiled Hil-Mar Lodge and, of course, there's always the Hamptons and the Jersey Shore.

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

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If you weren’t lucky enough to score tickets for the first-ever ticker-tape parade for a women's athletic team, you still have a few more days to try to catch up with some free ice cream. Plus, we’ve got the inside scoop (ha!) on this week’s school news, including a new school holiday, the closing bell to apply for public pre-K and why the mayor is mad about mayoral control of NYC schools. Your news by neighborhood includes a new play spot in Park Slope, how to shop Zabar's from home, a possible new home for FAO Schwarz and more.