Adventure Aquarium is a captivating day-trip destination that will engage and educate family members young and old. 

Camden's world-class aquarium showcases a huge collection of underwater life—more than 8,500 aquatic species—plus hippos, penguins, and an assortment of amphibians, birds, and reptiles. Also: sharks. Lots of sharks. Adventure Aquarium houses the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast, and it features the only great hammerhead on exhibit in the U.S.

In short, the kids will be awed. You'll be transported. Everyone leaves a little refreshed. 

Read on to learn more about some of Adventure Aquarium's most impressive attractions and several ways to get up close and personal with sea creatures. And, if your visit to Adventure Aquarium happens to spark a new interest in life under the sea, check out our rundown of the best aquariums for your next family vacation. For trip ideas further afield, read our comprehensive Family Travel Guide. 

Ever wish you could go up, up, and away in a hot air balloon in New Jersey? Or maybe just watch a hot air balloon float across the horizon with your feet planted firmly on the ground? In some parts of New Jersey, ballooning is part of the local culture, with local hot air balloon festivals and opportunities to soar high above the treetops as you take the trip of your life.

We've rounded up a few vendors offering hot air balloon cruises in New Jersey as well as some popular hot air balloon festivals—including the uber-popular, long-running NJ Lottery Festival of Ballooning—where you can catch a glimpse of a hot air balloon-filled sky. A hot air balloon festival makes a great day trip and a ride—while pricey—is an unforgettable splurge to celebrate your kid's next milestone birthday.

Considering visiting The Metropolitan Museum with kids? Here are our top tips for a family-friendly visit to the world-class art museum.

One Friday afternoon, my son came home from kindergarten and announced that we must visit The Met over the weekend because he had to see the Renoirs. His wonderful art teacher introduced the class to Impressionist art, and I was overjoyed.

If you're lucky enough to live down the road from a world-famous art museum, why shouldn't your whole family take advantage of the sprawling galleries, priceless pieces, and kids' activities at The Met, and explore it together? We've made countless trips to The Metropolitan Museum of Art since—it's one of our favorite museums to visit with kids in NYC—and are offering our top tips for a family-friendly visit to The Met, plus our favorite kids' activities at The Met and the top exhibits and hidden treasures to explore. Find all our top picks for cultural outings in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC.

Everyone has their own idea of what the best Trader Joe's foods are, and while we all know about the magic of Trader Joe's Orange Chicken, the shelves at Trader Joe’s are lined with products that make meal time, snack time, and just about any other time more enjoyable. Eager to get some new easy dinner ideas, we asked readers what they think the best Trader Joe’s foods are. We were overwhelmed by the responses. Start this week's grocery list off with these best Trader Joe’s foods, from frozen treats to snacks to easy meal ideas. Meal planning just got a whole lot more fun!

If you need more meal inspirations, check out these 15 Easy Trader Joe's Recipes, and other favorite recipe ideas from taco recipes to sheet pan dinners kids love, in our Guide To Easy Recipes for Kids and Families.

Visiting the Long Island Aquarium with kids will give your family access to more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences, ensuring a fun day admiring majestic sea life. Formerly Atlantis Aquarium, the Long Island Aquarium allows you to embark on an adventure to the lost city of Atlantis, where you'll be greeted by stingrays, sharks, seahorses, and even mermaids. 

With different events and experiences throughout the year, it's always a good time to say hello to Poseidon and his friends. 

For more entertainment inspiration, check out our Guide to Amusement Parks and Water Parks Near Long Island, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar. 

If you have a little historian on your hands, plan a visit to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, where guests immerse themselves in rich American history in Historic Richmond Town's living history village and historical museum that springs to life with seasonal programs, workshops, and year-round special events.

Read on for details on our visit to this Staten Island gem and learn about more living history day trips nearby. We've got more picks for great local museums in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for Kids.

Teens and tweens are in that - interesting, shall we say - stage of life between being a go-with-the-flow kid and an independent adult. Sometimes they love anything and everything you do for them, and other times, they absolutely can't stand the sight of you. Parenting teens and tweens can be hard, but planning their birthday party doesn't have to be, because there are plenty of birthday party places near Houston.

With growing independence, the occasional energy for days, and the ability to safely participate in activities that may be just a bit too extreme for younger children (i.e., go-karts and paintball), teens and tweens are at the perfect age to venture out from indoor play spaces and parties at parks and plan a party at a Houston venue that offers a bit more adventure.

Here is a list of birthday party ideas for teens in Houston. For more Houston-area birthday party ideas for kids of all ages, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Houston families.

With more than 900 animals, a water park, and carnival rides, Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee is a must-see attraction for visitors and locals in south Florida. Located 90 minutes north of Miami (30 minutes outside West Palm Beach), Lion Country is the kind of place where a family can spend the entire day and still not see everything this park has to offer. Its drive-through wildlife preserve is one of our favorite drive-through zoo experiences. Visitors can expect to see rhinos, giraffes, and lions up close. And I mean close. Last time my family visited, an ostrich approached our car and started pecking at a parking pass in the window (much to my daughters' delight!)  Even more animals are on display in the park's walk-through zoo. And if you visit on a warm day, which is likely in south Florida, be sure to pack swimsuits; the splash pad and water slides here are some of the best in the area.

Here's more on what to do at Lion Country Safari—and for more ideas on Miami family activities, check out our South Florida and Miami guide.