Summer Shakespeare is the norm and as summer passes into fall, much of our outdoor theater also fades away. However, that's not the case at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in the Forest of Topanga (I know it’s a canyon, but it reminds me of the Forest of Arden!). Here Shakespearean actors tread the boards (and Shakespeare's fairies flit through the trees) into November. The annual production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is perfect for even young kids—there were kids as young as two in the audience when we saw it—running a tight 80 minutes, with plenty of singing, slapstick, and even animals. Read on to discover why everyone from tots to teens delights in this production filled with mistaken identities, naughty fairies, unrequited love, and an Amazon queen.

You won't be long into your parenting journey before you realize your toddler has a more robust social life than you. Once your kid hits preschool, your weekends are no longer your own. Instead, you'll be toting your kid from one party place to another—and maybe classes, too. I've been at the game for more than a decade and have ushered three kids to countless soirees around New York City. I've seen my fair share of the city's kid-party venues, so I'm rounding up a sampling of Manhattan's best-of-the-best to recommend for your preschooler's next birthday party.

Whether your style is exorbitantly fancy or simple and classic, here are eight spots in Manhattan perfect for hosting your preschooler's party.

You won't find Manhattan's newest, coolest rooftop hang out at a swanky eatery. Instead, this cool view comes at no cost, atop the newest NYPL. A trip to the library has never been so cool as it is with a visit to the newly remodeled Stavros Niarchos Foundation branch. Housed in the old Mid-Manhattan Library Building, and catty-corner from the main NYPL branch's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, this completely reimagined space houses 400,000 books spread over eight floors. Enviable features include the aforementioned alfresco reading room overlooking Fifth Avenue and spectacular new spaces for children and teens. Add in some inventive programming, and this new library is sure to land on our list of NYC libraries with great play spaces and children's rooms.

Read on to learn more about all the services offered at this NYPL branch.

The fall season is the perfect time to get the family outdoors for a nature walk or an easy hike when trees are ablaze with fall colors and temperatures are just right. These easy hiking trails in New Jersey are perfect for families with young kids. Pick the right trail, pack enough snacks, and pad your expected hike time by an extra hour to allow break time for little legs, and you'll have a great day soaking up the fall scenery around Jersey's many forests and state parks. If we get a late heatwave, consider visiting one of these hiking trails near swimming holes, streams, and more wet places to play.

Exhibits at East Garden City's Cradle of Aviation Museum do more than merely teach visitors and dole out facts. While parents and teenagers can enjoy learning about America's aviation and space history, small children can enjoy a host of interactive features at this great Long Island museum. Aspiring pilots and astronauts: Get ready to blast-off to the Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

Located in the expansive Exposition Park just south of DTLA (right between the beloved California Science Center and the soon-to-open Lucas Museum—or the Star Wars Museum, as we call it at my house!), the Los Angeles County's Natural History Museum is one of the best museums in the city, especially for kiddos. From the soaring dinosaur fossil exhibits at the Dino Hall to hands-on activities in the Nature Lab, this museum has plenty to see and explore but is also manageable—families can definitely see the highlights in one day. Here's an exhibit-by-exhibit guide to hitting all the kid-friendly faves, plus the secrets of where to eat, park, and play.