Do you know that a quarter of Fairfield County's area is covered in water? Getting out on the water in a kayak, a sailboat or on a stand-up paddle board can provide hours of summer fun.

Paddle on a neighborhood pond

Kayaking is an easy and safe water sport, especially on the calm surface of a protected pond. Nearly every town offers family-friendly and safe spots for kayaking. Most operate small boat rental places at municipality-owned lakes. The Town of Ridgefield’s Parks and Recreation Center has a little boathouse on the Great Pond in Martin Beach Park with single and tandem kayaks and paddle boats that can accommodate the whole family.

We promise we're not going to obsess on the heat. And we're not going to sing "Hot Hot Hot" or "It's Gettin' Hot in Herre" (sic) like your annoying coworkers. But man, it is boiling in NYC right now... hard to believe just six months ago we were suffering through snow days!

The terrible temperatures didn't dampen our spirits though. We still managed to have some great adventures visiting a Wild Safari, sailing on the Ikea Water Taxi and getting wet at Pier 84 in Hudson River Park.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

Had enough festivals yet? Of course you haven't! It's summer! Time for food on a stick and hot sweaty bouncehouses! There are fests in Hoboken, Middletown, Tenafly and the Shore this weekend, but if you don't feel like walking through ten thousand other people to get your Zeppole, you can also count fireflies for a scientific study, let your kid become a Junior Zookeeper, or watch a cool old-fashioned baseball game being played. We love summer, we really do. Food on a stick and all.

Hot weather making you stay in? Or, loving the warmth the sun is bringing us right now and want to embrace it? Well this weekend, we’ve got fun and exciting indoor and outdoor events taking place. Read on to see where to have fun in the sun, or fun inside. Don't forget to check out our post about where you can Take a Dip in Long Island Pools.

With temperatures reaching into the high nineties this month, many parents are looking for a place where their children can keep cool and have fun! Long Island local swimming pools are the answer. From gigantic watersides to fun interactive water play areas, Long Island pools have so much to offer. Read on to check out a few places in Long Island to take a dip in the pool.

The sweltering heat is supposed to stick around through the weekend, so keeping comfortable will be your first priority. You can cool down at New York City beaches, pools, water playgrounds and nearby water parks, but even they may be too hot (and crowded) to handle. Sounds like it's the perfect time to hit an air-conditioned haven like a museum. You can explore Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of the Moving Image and then catch a screening of The Muppet Movie. Or check out other kid-friendly exhibits like the Natural History Museum's World’s Largest Dinosaurs, Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! at the Children's Museum of Manhattan and the New York Hall of Science's Circus! Science Under The Big Top.

If you can weather the, errr, weather, there are a bunch of fantastic outdoor events this weekend, like the artsy New Museum Block Party, SummerStage’s Queens Family Day featuring Shine & the Moonbeams, Governors Island's Kite Festival and a birthday party for the baby baboons at the Prospect Park Zoo.

One word of caution in case you were thinking about taking a boat ride on the Hudson River: Due to the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant being taken offline because of a fire on Wednesday, untreated wastewater is being dumped into the river. Therefore, many Hudson River events have been canceled, including all Downtown Boathouse activities. Also, as of this writing, Riverbank State Park is closed, and the Harlem River and East River are also affected. If you're planning on doing anything on the rivers this weekend, check the activity's official website before you go!

Our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and our Event Calendar. Have a great weekend and stay cool!

We are in the thick of it. Summer time is showing us her hot and fiery self yet the fun doesn't stop in Connecticut. One option when it's too hot outside is to let the kids climb the walls. That is, climb the walls of a rock climbing gym! This week we rounded up Fairfield County's indoor climbing gyms and we also posted about camps that cater to the special needs child. If you are looking for things to do in Litchfield County this week check out our guide about what to do this summer in the NW hills.

This weekend is full of fun and great events for the family. In Mystic there will be an Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous all weekend that culminates into a 3 mile long parade on Sunday. In Essex: The Valley Railroad Circus Train & Big Top Show. On a vintage circus train the Ringmaster will accompany circus goers on a short train ride to the circus grounds for the thrill of an Acrobat Show in the "Big Top Tent". In Bridgeport the Vibes Concert Event ends with a Family Day and discounted tickets for CT residents. Check out our top picks for this weekend and have fun!