When you booked your family’s summer vacation to Cape Cod, you were presumably envisioning sand castles, leisurely strolls for ice cream, and endless afternoons splashing in the waves. But sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Without a rainy day back up plan, boredom can set in quickly, patience can run short, and your wannabe beach bums will be begging to head back over the bridge. Luckily, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep everyone entertained on the Cape until the sun returns.

If your child is a serious Shopkins aficionado, the lines have probably blurred for you one one season to the next. (Which one are we on now?) But good news: The manufacturer of all things miniature is opening an adorable pop-up experience in New York City to launch season 8—and get your kids worked up for all the tiny new additions to their current collections.

The French-themed Macaron Café is landing in Tribeca June 17-19, but those serious about getting a spot should reserve their FREE tickets now.

It feels like we went from the cold winter weather straight into hot and hazy summer days. I love my central air, but I don’t want to spend my summer indoors. Splashing around in water is one of my favorite ways to stay cool, but that could be a little tricky when you don’t have a pool in your backyard. Thankfully, we don’t have to venture outside of New Haven County for water fun. There are plenty of splash pads, water parks, and pools to help keep us cool this summer.  And if we're feeling like checking out Hartford County there is plenty of splash pad, pool and water park fun there too! Also check out the Mommy Poppins Theme and Water Park Guide.

Editor's note: This attraction has closed permanently.
We must have been good this year. New York City kids have barely had time to check out the just opened zip line and climbing tower at Adventures at Governors Island when the Bronx Zoo confirms it will open a Treetop Adventure park with a zip line that soars 400-feet in each direction across the Bronx River, multiple aerial climbing courses, and more in mid-June. (Note: The opening dates have been pushed back as of June 9. We will update you as soon as we have the info.)

Just a few weeks ago, NYC kids had but one outdoor adventure park with a zip line. Now they'll be able to boast of three! Read on for what to expect from these new top Bronx attractions, including opening dates.

So, you’ve decided to throw a birthday party and want to skip the hype of renting, and host the party yourself. Sure, you’re an excellent host and have the space to fit a handful of extra kids, but while you may be able to show off some pretty fantastic Pinterest skills, you might want to hire some extra entertainment. Philadelphia is full of local pros who can come to the rescue (some even in superhero costume no less) and take the party off the charts! From song and dance, to wild animals, to face painting, we have you covered! Also, if the idea of cleaning up after a handful of kids suddenly sounds like more work and less play, we have some excellent recommendations for places outside your home to throw an amazing birthday bash!

We’ve been on the prowl for the best and most delicious places to eat with kids in Westchester, and we have a new one for our list. Joining Westchester’s ranks of must-try summer stops for frozen delicious treats is Seven Scoops in Yorktown.

Looking for more kid-friendly places to eat? Check out our Restaurant Guide and sign up for our newsletters.  

School is (almost) out for summer! But the school of rock is in session. This summer, if your child wants to forego the usual camp experience in favor of a chance to see what it is like to feel the limelight, then consider signing them up for a week (or an entire summer) packed with opportunities to perform some old fashioned rock and roll. Rock and roll camps give kids an opportunity to learn music, try their hand at different instruments, and even perform on stage for friends and family! Who needs swim lessons and hiking when you can learn how to shred?!

And be sure to browse our Camp Directory, for even more ideas- like art camp for the artists in your family!

How stressful is the end of the school year? Let me count the ways. Oh sure, there's the silver lining coming of not having to drive to school or argue about homework for 10 blissful weeks; but blissful loses its luster pretty quickly in the face of, "What are we going to do today?" – particularly if you already know that what YOU need to do doesn't involve sprinklers or beaches. We know we should have figured out summer camp by now, really we do. We have a stack of flyers for neat-o programs that are probably filled up already with kids whose parents got on this weeks ago.

Summer vacation may be staring you in the face, but there's no need to panic; all of the camps listed below still have availability as of this publish date. Some of the programs even allow families to book by the day, for ultimate spontaneity. After all, you have to leave some time to bum around doing the fun things in our Summer Guide.