Family road trips can be a great adventure—and also a pounding headache with antsy kids in the backseat—but the newly opened Bluebird Sunapee aims to reinvigorate the family road trip by offering a well-appointed, boutique, roadside motel with welcoming service and upscale amenities waiting to greet you when you put the family car in park.

The innovative new Bluebird Sunapee, in Newbury, New Hampshire, is located steps from the banks of the beautiful Lake Sunapee and within a stone's throw of the Mount Sunapee Ski Resort, making it a perfect jumping-off point for all-seasons adventure. Its proximity to major East Coast cities—1 1/2 hours from Boston, and 4 1/2 hours from NYC—makes it an epic road trip destination for families anxious to explore the great outdoors.

So, load up the kids, brush up on your road trip games, and pack some essentials, then hit the road. Bluebird Sunapee awaits.

Summer means long days at the beach building sandcastles, splashing in the waves, and collecting seashells. But what to do with all of those seashells when you get home? You can, of course, simply display them in pretty jars or bowls to remember your family beach days. But you can also step up the fun and create some awesome seashell crafts!

Here are 15 seashell craft ideas for kids of all ages, from toddlers to big kids. These fun seashell crafts are a great way to relive those beach days and bring out your kids' creative sides. For more at-home summer fun, check out our lists of 100 awesome art projects for kids, and 27 water games for kids to play all summer long.

Looking for the best baby swimming lessons in Westchester? Here are eight great mommy-and-me swimming classes to add to your list. 

There is nothing cuter than a baby's first reaction as they dip their toes in the water. However, those initial experiences with water should be enjoyable and take place in a comfortable and safe environment. Parent-and-me swimming lessons are a great way to introduce babies to the water and teach basic swimming skills in a fun setting that establishes a lifelong love of swimming. These baby swimming classes also provide a great bonding experience for parents and their little ones.

We have gathered the details on the top swim schools in Westchester that offer baby swimming classes. Classes are offered for babies as young as 4 months, and many offer toddler transition classes to prepare toddlers to attend more advanced swimming lessons on their own. Many classes include water games, toys, and songs to make learning fun. For more swimming lessons in Westchester aimed at all ages, see our roundup of the top swim lessons for Westchester kids and find more classes in our Guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Westchester. 

When it comes to special occasions, it's easy to leave kids with food allergies out of the fun, but NYC is home to myriad gluten-free bakeries and other sweet spots serving treats that include all the fun of a spectacular dessert while leaving out gluten, dairy products, nuts, soy, and other common allergens. Next time you're planning a birthday party or on the hunt for a sweet treat, consider supporting one of these local allergy-conscious sweet shops and gluten-free bakeries in NYC.

Looking for more kid-friendly sweets, treats, and eats? Bookmark our Guide to Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC for more picks at every meal.

Pennsylvania has a long (and sometimes haunted!) history that lends itself to ghost stories.  Museums and historic sites around the state are committed to preserving this haunted history and the folklore of its past. While some ghost experiences are offered seasonally during the spooky month of October, you can still get your fill of family-friendly ghost outings throughout the year. 

Here's our top six haunted happenings in Philly and Pennsylvania's most historic areas, from Bucks County to Gettysburg. With this list, it can be Halloween all year round.

Virtual reality for kids in NYC is becoming an increasingly popular activity. With gaming technology growing ever more sophisticated, spending a day immersed in one of these VR for kids outings allows visitors to enter an immersive and interactive new realm of fun.

When it comes to virtual reality for kids in NYC, there are a number of futuristic pop-ups and permanent exhibits catering to kids. Some of these VR for kids experiences are located within kid-friendly attractions, like those at Harry Potter New York, while others are standalone destinations all their own, including the brand new RiseNY in Times Square. Read on for seven picks for virtual reality for kids in NYC.

The playground area of Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore has been upgraded, adding overdue updates to the first section of the park that greets visitors. A colorful new climbing structure was added in late spring and has been attracting everyone from toddlers to tweens since.

For more info on local outdoor play spaces, check out our rundown of Long Island's top playgrounds. Find more great outdoorsy things to do in our Summer Fun Guide, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar.