Happy Fourth of July! With no shortage of fireworks and other celebrations this weekend, it's easy to find tons of potential outings for your family. The hardest part might be narrowing it down to only a few!

While most events this weekend focus on Independence Day, including those celebrating local history, summer is in full swing with ongoing activities at Faneuil Hall, Frog Pond, and the Harbor Islands. I personally can't wait to storm the fort on Georges Island with my family. And just in time for all this outdoor fun, the City of Boston has launched a pilot program that provides free sunscreen dispensers in Boston parks, including at Boston Common and Christopher Columbus Park. 

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• How amazing is the newest exhibit at the Museum of Science? Read our review of The Science Behind Pixar to find out.
• The July GoList is up with our don't-miss picks of things to do for the month.
• Strawberry season may be coming to a close, but you won't have to wait long to start picking blueberries!

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

When the sun is blazing and the temperatures are soaring, you'll likely find yourself looking for a quick way to cool down. Beaches are great; however there’s often something just a little easier about dealing with swimming pools vs. a beach: no waves to contend with; no rip tides to worry about; no mucky river bottoms to grimace over. And while Westchester offers many options for poolside fun, Hil-Mar Lodge in Orange County has become my family's go-to for a day at the pool. At just under an hour from central Westchester, Hil-Mar makes a great day-trip destination from anywhere in the Lower Hudson Valley area.

One of our favorite go-to places to hang out when we need to get out of the house is our local Bridgeport zoo, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.  We’ve never been disappointed with a trip to visit the animals.  The manageable size of this zoo makes it a doable day trip with just me and the three kids (and a stroller). Even at the peak of the summer season the zoo doesn’t feel over-crowded, although sometimes at its busiest you need to get creative with parking in the small lot.

As far as holidays go, the 4th of July is pretty hard to beat! No big turkey to cook or presents to wrap, just sticky sweet watermelon, some relaxed outdoor cooking and time with friends and family. If you’re still undecided about where to watch fireworks, you can check out two awesome displays down the shore – Oceanfest in Long Branch and the 4th of July Fireworks Show in Asbury Park. Or head to Liberty State Park for Jersey City’s Freedom & Fireworks Festival overlooking the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. And for more laid back family fun, head to the last weekend of the NJ State Fair or work off some of that holiday BBQ indulgence with a guided walk at Tenafly Nature Center.

Whatever you decide to do this 4th of July weekend, we hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends. For even more patriotic fun, check out our guide to the Biggest & Best July 4th Fireworks in New Jersey.

"Three-five-seven-nine! Whose kid wants to cheer lead? Mine!" At the ripe old age of 7, my born-and-bred New York City daughter has settled on her career of choice: cheerleader. She even dressed as one for Halloween. Initially I told her, "Sorry sweetie, I don't think there are any cheerleading programs in NYC. It's mostly a suburban sport." But then I did the research. Turns out there are some NYC cheerleading programs open to kids from all five boroughs (not just students in specific schools). Who knew?

Before you balk, keep in mind that cheerleading is actually a challenging physical activity and offers similar benefits as gymnastics. Participants strengthen their muscles, improve their coordination and flexibility and learn to work as a team. It's not all chanting and pom-poms.

So if you also have an aspiring cheerleader on your hands, here are six NYC programs where she can work on her thigh stands, steppers and cupies.

It’s the Fourth of July on the East End of Long Island--the biggest weekend of the summer. What better time to unleash your child’s independent spirit? From the North Fork to the South, activities galore celebrate our nation’s heritage. Where else can you take in a parade in the morning, tall ships in the afternoon and--assuming your kids have enough staying power--a carnival and fireworks under the stars?  

Just in case you want to break away from Fourth of July fervor, there are plenty of other activities, as well indoor events just in case it rains on our holiday parades.

Be sure to check out our complete roundup of Long Island’s fireworks shows. And when you’re finished, browse our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

August is the new September. As July unfurls before us, we have to face the fact that, in most districts, August means back to school already. Most Los Angeles area schools now start their school years smack dab in the middle of summer, though one or two districts still cling to the time-honored "wait until Labor Day" approach. All of this can make summer camp complicated to maneuver for some families, even as others are knee-deep in homework.

From West Covina's August 5 start date (really, West Covina?  Really?) to Torrance’s September 10, don't just assume you know when school starts based on last year! Check our list of start and finish dates for the 2015-2016 school year in and around LA County before booking the family vacation.