I love Summer Streets it is one of my favorite events all year. I wish everyday would be a Summer Street day. Even though it is just for a couple of days a year, they are a great way to get kids out biking, scootering, or skating with no traffic to worry about. Finding a safe place for kids to bike can be a challenge in New York City where even the bike paths can be so crowded it gets a little hairy.

Although I've written about my favorite place to bike ride with kids in NYC before, summer streets is definitely a convenient and easy way to go if you catch one of the three dates. But luckily in addition to Summer Streets, there's also "Weekend Walks" a program in all five boros closing streets off from cars to allow for recreational activities. This is the third year the city has given us “Summer Streets” and hopefully they will continue to do more things like this in the future.

Summer Streets takes place three weekends in August. This year it is August 7, 14, and 21, from 7am to 1pm.  Find out what will be going on at the event this year, what is new, and our tips for making Summer Streets safer and more fun with kids:

We've asked our readers to share their awesome outings with us this summer. We'll be posting the best ones on the blog and one lucky winner will win a Flip Video Camera. Find out more details in our Summer Fun Activity Guide . Read this submission by Nataki Hewling about her fun day on Goveror's Island.

A former whaling port, Cold Spring Harbor is a tranquil community where the past and the present meet. Take a stroll through the historic village with your family and discover a Main Street lined with boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops. Enjoy the town's charm while taking in some of the educational and cultural organizations it has to offer--we've listed a few for you here.

There is something new at the American Museum of Natural History and it is bigger than the blue whale–Explorer, their brand new app.  Explorer is a mobile GPS, personal tour guide and virtual exhibit hall all in one.  Created for iphone/pod/pad, Explorer puts the entire (massive) museum in the palm of your hand and you don't even need to own an iphone to try it out.

I recently toured the amazing dinosaur collection on the museums fourth floor using Explorer as my guide and it is, in a word, awesome. State of the art technology, easy to use and a lot of fun, kids will totally dig Explorer.  

Read on to learn about the exciting new way to experience the museum and download your own Explorer:

Each summer as August rolls around I get a little panicky because my son and I haven’t done all the cool stuff  that we  planned to. I don’t know if I make my original list too long or if I get distracted with play dates, playground visits and other things -- but we still have a lot of fun yet to have and we are quickly running out of summer. 

How about you? Have you been running around having awesome days with the kids in tow?  If so, be sure to tell us about them!  You can win a Flip and see your day featured on our home page. (If you haven’t been having awesome days you may want to check out The Mommy Poppins Summer Fun Guide including our post on 100 Free Things To Do This Summer – and get cracking.)

This weekend has so much fun stuff it is hard to decide where to start.  The NY Botanic Garden is throwing a Garlic and Onion Festival, kids can join in on a super cool Yo-Yo spinning workshop, listen to a kiddie rock concert, the bard at the battery, walk through the Lower East Side in the footsteps of a classic children’s book or ride on an old subway car.  

And it is the first Saturday of the month so many area museums and cultural institutions are offering free admission and special programming. Looking for something a little less scheduled, why not visit the brand spanking new Imagination Playground or another destination playground around town for a change of pace?

Read on to plan your weekend and I hope you have a great one.

For years I have been sending my kids to great summer camp programs where they do awesome stuff all summer while I sweat it out, slaving away in the City. I think of summer as an opportunity for kids to experience all kinds of things they don't get to do over the school year, be outdoors more and try new things. But why should this only be for kids? Why can't adults get the same benefits from summer vacations?

Last summer we were invited to spend a few days at Club Getaway in Connecticut. Club Getaway offers family weeks in August and September where kids and adults can experience a summer camp-like vacation together. I was surprised that this mini-break turned out to be the highlight of my summer.

Read on about Club Getaway and find out how you can get $200 off a mini-vacation there this summer.

Situated on a picturesque harbor, Port Jefferson Village is an ideal option for a day trip, particularly in the summer months.  Wander the charming streets lined with specialty shops, restaurants, and cafes--many with outdoor seating. You can also take in an art exhibit, a concert or a children's show, and when you or your little one tire, you can regroup at the playground. Here is some of what you can expect to find at Port Jeff, and perhaps you'll discover your own favorites along the way.

The highly anticipated Imagination Playground opens today in Burling Slip.  This revolutionary new play space took five years and seven million (privately funded) dollars to create.  At this playground, there aren’t any jungle gyms, monkey bars or swings and it has only one measly slide, yet it is a “cutting edge playground for the 21st Century” according to David Rockwell, the designer of the play space and even Mayor Bloomberg calls it “a dynamic new way for children to play.” So what makes it so special?  Mommy Poppins was there for the ribbon cutting and has the scoop. Read on to find out what makes this playground different from any other playground and why you should go.

For some kids the dark is not dark enough, the waters are never too deep, and a trip to the zoo is bah-hum.  Well, we've rounded up some kid-friendly activities that will make even the most jaded kid on the block open their eyes wide with excitement!  Are you brave enough to swim with real sharks?  Do you have the spunk to feed penguins or communicate with seals?  Are you adventurous enough to ride a monster truck?  Do you dare brave the heights and go parasailing?  Perhaps you have always dreamed of being a sailor and sleeping aboard a battleship or being a submarine captain for a day.  This is your chance to do some daring, different activities with your thrill seeking child. Read on, we have a great list of adventures to choose from.

If you spend your days toddling around the city with a toddler, the Upper West Side is a perfect place to let them explore.  Sandwiched between two amazing parks are tons of places to enjoy with your little ones in this neighborhood that may just be as family-friendly as they come in NYC.  I’ve been touring the Upper West Side with my one-and-a-half-year old 10 fun-filled blocks at a time and sharing my recommended itineraries for parents and toddlers.  We’ve already tackled the 60s and 70s, so this time we’re toddling our way through the West 80s.   It seems everywhere you turn there is something fun for families in this corner of the city,  but these are our top 10 finds starting south and walking north.