There are less than three weeks of summer break left, so get out there and hit a NYC public pool or beach, or plan a day trip to an out-of-town shore. The attraction-filled Coney Island should be extra-fun on Saturday thanks to its annual Sand Sculpting Contest, one of our top family event picks of the month. Other best bets include the final installment of Summer Streets, SummerStage Harlem Family Day, and a magical Potions & Planting party in Chelsea.

Have you entered our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE yet? This week is literally your last chance as we'll be awarding our grand prize on Friday: Everything you need to throw the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash. So share your family's playtime pics on social media using the hashtags #summerofplay and #playmatters and you just might be our big winner.

All of our weekend picks are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

If you have a young builder-maker, budding scientist, or technology enthusiast in your house, there are birthday party possibilities around Boston that will thrill you both. You could choose 3D printing at Einstein’s Workshop, design challenges at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, paleontology at the Discovery Museums, nature exploration at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, or from among many other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) themes. You’ll not only be celebrating your child, you’ll be celebrating your child’s interests and dreams for the future. Plus, your kid will have a super cool party, which is what it's all about. Here's the lowdown on geektastic parties in and around Boston.

Summer days are dwindling and although we may be preoccupied getting the kiddos ready for a new school year, there’s no reason not to take advantage of these last few August weekends. For big family fun, get your tickets to ride the Dinosaur Train at the Delaware River Railroad Excursions or jam out at the Kid’s Rock Weekend at the New Jersey State Theatre. You can also get those minds back into learning mode with a story time & craft at the NJ State Museum, the For Goodness Snakes outdoor adventure at Tenafly Nature Center or the historic Antique Auto Show at Allaire Village. Also, you can check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar and don't miss our Summer of Play Guide with 100s of ideas for a fun, playful, and tech-free summer!

Don't shoot the messenger! The back to school ads and fliers have long-since hit your mailbox before we even mentioned it. Nevertheless, the kiddies are returning to school in a few short weeks and you want to get the shopping for all of the new fashion trends, gear and supplies over with. Instead of hitting the big box stores, why not try shopping at a few local spots? It's a great way to support small businesses on Long Island and still get everything you need for September.

And for other back to school inspiration, be sure to check out our After School Programs, Classes & Activities Guide for Long Island Kids.

While there are certainly plenty of wonderful beaches in New York City, none of them give you that total out-of-town feeling. Much as we love NYC in the summer, sometimes even we natives want to escape for a day trip to swim and sun on a more suburban shore.

Happily, neighboring New Jersey is home to lots of pristine beaches and swimming lakes, and some of the best ones are less than an hour by car from midtown Manhattan. And if you don't have access to a vehicle, a few are also accessible via public transportation.

To find the five most fun-filled NJ swimming spots, we turned to the experts: local parents Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert, who regularly blog about their family excursions at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Kids Outdoors New York City, a FREE online community for families featuring alfresco activities in the NYC area. Remember, these beaches and lakes are only open for swimming through Labor Day, so start planning your city escape right away.

Bike riding is not only a fun activity that the entire family can do together, but it's also a great way to get everyone moving and enjoying the fresh air. The East End of Long Island has a few bike trails your clan can explore for a few hours or even a full day. So grab a water bottle, put on some sunscreen and start pedaling! And for more family-friendly activities, be sure to check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.