So, your kids are longing for swimsuits, sprinklers and slides. Make their dreams come true, whether the weather is cooperating or not. Load up the iPod, the towels and the kids and take a short road trip to Sahara Sam’s Oasis in West Berlin, N.J. This (mostly) indoor water park is less than two hours from New York City and the 286,000 gallons of water keep 11 rides and tons of kids wet and wildly entertained, rain or shine!

We traveled with four parents, three boys and three girls ranging from 2 to 8 years old, so believe me, the place was well-tested. The kids were awed into silence (SILENCE, I SAY ) as we stepped through the door. But after those two seconds, they immediately got busy.

When a new month starts, chances are lots of things will be free. First Tuesdays, in particular, offer many gratis admissions. There is nothing wrong with paying for the activities we enjoy with our children; sometimes you have to, and sometimes it is truly worth it. Sometimes, though, if you plan well, it is possible to pay for nothing.

The library is almost always free and often has something fun scheduled, like the Pajama Storytime in Silver Lake on Monday. The first week of the month also brings no-cost LEGO fun and free admission to some of our fabulous museums, like The Huntington. Finally, and this only happens a few times a year: on Friday Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts. Believe it or not, this is a national and significant holiday. May the culture surpass the calories.

This week we give a warm, hot welcome to June with outdoor celebrations galore, including Junebug Artfest, the Big Greek Festival and Wonder’s Birthday Bash. Enjoy outdoor exploration with the preschool set at Terhune Orchards’ Read and Pick and Pyramid Mountain’s Summer Scavenger Hunt. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

June is here and the countdown to the end of school has begun. But you don't have to wait until summer vacation to have fun with the kids. This week, there are indoor and outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy. Families can roller-skate or sample fresh fruit at a strawberry festival. For some fun inside, make suncatchers or a tie-dye masterpiece.

For even more activities going on around LI, be sure to check our Event Calendar. Spending some time on the East End? Take a look at our Hamptons & North Fork Guide.

If your child cartwheels in the living room or uses the couch as a trampoline, you might want to start calling gymnastics schools in LA. Local parks and afterschool gymnastics programs can get the ball rolling (or the kid jumping) but there eventually comes a time when you just need a little more instruction, and a lot more sophisticated equipment. A good gymnastics school teaches far beyond fun tricks: Kids build strength, stamina, and flexibility. They learn about self-discipline and the importance of practice. Students may start with toddler classes, but as they get older they choose between recreational and competition tracks. As with most things, Los Angeles offers a variety of options.

Now that it's June, my kids and I have summer on our brains. Happily, this week's event picks include some of the best ways to get an early taste of the season. And I mean taste quite literally, since the annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl is coming up. Yum!

For healthier eats, the Lexington Farmers' Market is now open and hosting a free cooking class for kids this week. Other picks include some great kickoffs to summer series that should keep the whole family entertained. Whatever you choose, we hope you enjoy, and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!

Yes! June is here along with lots of excitement as the long days of summer approach. This week our picks include art, music and a full moon hike, and almost all are free!

Even though we only highlight one event per day in this post, there are many other suggestions in our Event Calendar. For additional activity ideas, check out our CT Beach and Water Fun Guide and our CT Day Trip Guide.