From pristine beaches and the start of Big Sur to missions and kid-friendly wineries and even some wildlife, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great relaxing family destination that adults and children will both enjoy. Imagine, if you will, spending the weekend someplace so laid back that comfortable shoes are mandated by city ordinance. For real. A place where businesses don't have street addresses and Main Street has more trees than signs. Or stop imagining and just hop on the 101 toward Carmel-by-the-Sea. We did just that and recharged the family batteries with a Carmel weekend - a treat of a getaway that I had not indulged in since I was a kid myself (decade to remain nameless). 

Exposing kids to engaging, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities is a big priority for parents in our increasingly tech-driven world. So it's no surprise that the New York Hall of Science, already one of the best places in NYC to get geeky with kids, is jumping on the trend with its brand-new permanent installation Design Lab.

Comprised of five distinct activity areas, NYSCI's Design Lab invites families to get creative with projects that give your engineering and design skills a real workout. After visiting on opening weekend with my three children ages 7, 10 and 14, I'd actually argue that it's a STEAM'D-themed workspace (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math and Design). However you define it, the goal is clear: to inspire kids (and grown-ups) of all scientific backgrounds to be inventive with everyday materials.

Here they come again! The amazing, life-size dinosaurs that took Manhattan by storm in 2009 and 2010 return for a limited engagement at Brooklyn's Barclays Center this July. Inspired by the BBC's super-popular television series of the same name, Walking with Dinosaurs is the closest you can get to traveling back in time as you meet 20 prehistoric creatures in a thrilling spectacle that's entertaining and educational.

I always regretted that my son and I missed the previous tours of Walking with Dinosaurs but we won't be making that mistake this time around. I've already scored tickets to opening night and we expect to be blown away by the enormous, realistic-looking dinos. Since there are only nine performances, tickets are going fast. So get yours today and save some money with our exclusive discount for Mommy Poppins readers.

While summer is the season of outdoor fun in NYC, sometimes you need a break from the parks, beaches, sun and sweltering heat. Going to a kid-friendly museum exhibit is an engaging and enriching way to spend a humid afternoon so you can soak up some culture along with cool air conditioning.

Not only are almost all of the exhibits we highlighted for spring still on view, there's also a brand-new batch of kid-pleasing installations opening, many with interactive elements or creative stations. We've got the scoop on where kids can get up close and personal with live spiders, learn about the science behind Marvel's Avengers, climb up the side of the Empire State Building, and hone their engineering and design skills this summer.

If every day this summer was like this day at Black Rock Harbor, our minds and bodies might just fully heal from the obnoxious winter we endured here in Fairfield County.  (I’m still occasionally looking over my shoulder for snow).  For 90 minutes, it actually felt like the kids and I were on vacation — strolling harborside, angling for our next ice cream cone and playing in the sun.  Captain’s Cove Seaport at Black Rock Harbor is an utter departure from the busy neighborhoods in the shadow of 95 that surround it.  You'll feel lost*  ... and then you'll feel like you're about to drive into an industrial zone ... and then charm will smack you in the face in the form of a colonial-era icehouse replica.