There's a lot to celebrate this week: The end of school, the opening of public pools and, of course, the birth of our nation. There will be lots of fireworks on Monday, July 4. Macy's spectacular is the most famous but you can catch explosive displays in Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

Of course there's plenty of other things to do beyond holiday sparklers, like see a new interactive musical for little kids or take a day trip to a nearby water 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.

Wait!  It’s the middle of summer already??? If your kids’ summer so far consisted of the couch and the computer, get out and catch up on some REAL New Jersey summer fun this weekend!  There’s a bug safari, two boat sailing events, an ice cream social, an American flag exhibit, loads of live music, a fund-raising barbecue-fest, and, of course, fantastic fireworks.  As our own Jersey boy Jon Bon Jovi says, it’s time to “Make a memory!”

Fourth of July weekend is here, and it's time to go into full on summer swing. If you haven't already busted out the picnic blanket and checked out our recommended picnic places, or started your rounds of Long island ice cream shops, this is the perfect weekend to start. We've collected a few other summer activities for you here, as well as some cool spots to check out the fireworks on Long Island.

If you haven't already, give yourself the gift of guilt free leisure, and grab our awesome Poppins Perk for Le Play Cafe before this deal is over. Have a great weekend.

Happy Fourth of July! Regardless of where you're spending the holiday, fireworks are the main event this weekend. In NYC, Macy's is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its annual spectacular on the Hudson River. We've got details on the best spots to watch the display both in NYC or across the river in New Jersey.

If you're spending the entire three-day weekend in the city, there are plenty of other exciting things to do. Head to Coney Island for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, catch an alfresco screening of Grease, groove to cool kiddie bands at SummerStage's Bronx Family Day or indulge your sweet tooth at a candy carnival.  Plus the city's free outdoor pools are open for the season, as are local beaches and awesome water playgrounds. Since it's also the first weekend of the month, many museums, including the Children's Museum of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Museum, are offering free hours and special programming.

You can find more seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and additional weekend options in our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar. Happy birthday to the U.S.A!

Even though we're parents, we can't always focus on the kids. We've got to spend some quality time with our friends and partners, too. That's why I enjoy writing about things for parents to do in NYC without their children in tow.

In the past, I've shared moms' night out suggestions like cool dance and art classes. Now I've got a great idea for an adults' day out. Who says you can only take a break once the sun's gone down?

Accomplice New York is equal parts interactive theater, scavenger hunt and a walking tour/pub crawl. Yes, it's a tad touristy, but it allows you to experience parts of the city in a totally new way.

The tricky part about writing about Accomplice is that I don't want to give anything away! The mystery is a big part of the fun, so the less you know the better. I promise not to reveal too many spoilers.

We were all snugly sleeping in our tent. The hubs and myself comfortably (mostly) on our bourgeois air mattress, and the kids in their sleeping bags surrounded by 82 glow sticks. Then I heard through my mom half-sleep, a pleading whine, along with the rustle, rustle of dog feet. There at the end of the tent was my ridiculous little dog, who I wouldn’t describe as outdoorsy, staring at me with bug-eyed dog panic. He clearly had to go outside, but maybe couldn’t figure out if the tent was technically already outside. Oh, to be so walnut-brained. After he left the tent and did his business — which I won’t elaborate on, except to say that I think he ate some bad mushrooms while securing the campsite perimeter — and was once again snoring an inch from my face, I laid there imagining how I might save us all if someone with an ax decided to stop by. Finally, I slept. This is camping, family-edition.

Summer’s here, time to set sail! There is so much to do and see in Long Island but sometimes you need a new perspective. Boat tours are an excellent way to see all of the beauty of Long Island while enjoying a cruise on the water. We’ve got some great boat tours featured here that you and your family will enjoy. One of these boat rides may even become your new summer tradition!

One of the positive aspects of having a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is that there is so much support out there for you!  You just have to find it and navigating the internet through tons of websites and even more pages, tabs & links can be quite stressful.  However, the information and services you receive can actually help alleviate some of your stress, so if you’re not computer-savvy, or just can’t seem to bring yourself to spend hours looking for all these services, go to a support group.  One of your best resources is other parents who are going through the same thing, and contact with other adults is so much more beneficial than sitting in front of a computer.  Sometimes I yearn for adult conversation after being with my boys all day.  (Don’t get me wrong, I love my boys to death but sometimes it gets to the point that if I talk about Transformers one more time I’m going to completely lose it.)  There are other things I want to talk about, other people I want to talk to, and other places I want to be at times.  A support group is a really great way to do all these things, and get some inner peace and great information while you’re there!