When your summer adventures take you toward the Jersey Shore, make sure to save some time during your journey for these special sweet treats and quick eats. Whether you're in the mood for out-of-this-world soft-serve or craving a fully loaded hot dog, we've rounded up 20 local restaurants in South Jersey and along the Jersey Shore that are ready to fulfill your craving. Find more eats and treats in our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants in New Jersey.

Getting kids out the door and off to school should probably qualify as an Olympic sport, requiring all the patience and planning we parents can summon to make things run smoothly. A good kids' alarm clock can provide much-needed support by helping to establish consistent routines throughout the year, freeing parents up to focus on packing bookbags, making lunches, or whatever other tasks we face before the bus arrives.

For more back-to-school tips, from perfect backpacks for every age to school lunch ideas kids will actually eat, check out our Back-to-School Guide.

It's never too early to share a love of music with your baby. These mommy-and-me music classes for kids in Westchester are a great way to introduce songs into your routine. They can boost your baby's brain power, develop social skills, and foster creativity. These kids activities are also a perfect excuse to let your guard down and boogie to your favorite musical tunes.

Below, we've rounded up 12 mommy-and-me music classes in Westchester for babies and toddlers. Find more classes for kids of all ages in our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Westchester.

Looking for the 2022-2023 NYC Public School Calendar? Find it here.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar, and after a year of fits and starts, delays, and COVID-induced quarantines and closures, parents are wondering what the new school year will bring. With less than three weeks before the first day of school, we're republishing the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2021-2022 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

One notable change for the upcoming school year: There will be no snow days. Plan on logging your kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school during the 2021-2022 school year.

Lake Tahoe is gorgeous all year, and whether your family likes water sports and hiking or skiing and snowboarding, there are so many cool things to do with kids in Lake Tahoe all year round that a trip there is always in order. It's one of my favorite road trips from Los Angeles with my girls, and we go as often as we can. We've learned that a family road trip is best carried out with a solid list of fun stops along the way, as well as when you get there, so I've included some of our favorite roadside activities that break up the drive. From the secret to finding Hidden Beach to the single best vacation activity my family has ever done, here are 25 great things to do with kids in Lake Tahoe.

For a lake getaway that's closer to home, check our guide to Things To Do in Lake Arrowhead with Kids, and for more California family adventures visit our Weekend Getaway Guide.

While East Hampton is known for its ideal summer weather, beautiful beaches, and outdoor activities, it's also home to LongHouse Reserve, one of my favorite outdoor sculpture parks.

LongHouse is an outdoor art museum surrounded by beautiful gardens and lush plants and trees. My kids and I love spending a few hours admiring the art while being surrounded by such natural beauty. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the East End or merely interested in outdoor roadside art.

Read on to learn more about LongHouse and what you need to know before you go. 

There's so much to see and do in New York City on any given day that it can be a little overwhelming. There are world-class museums, restaurants, and attractions in every borough. Special events are a seemingly everyday occurrence, yet New Yorkers can be guilty of avoiding some of the city's best attractions—labeling them as just for the tourists. But, we're here to tell you those tourist attractions are part of the allure of living in this metropolitan mecca, and to prove it, we've come up with this list of 20 tourist attractions even jaded locals should visit regularly.

When Chicagoans list their favorite and most iconic museums, The Field Museum of Natural History is often among the top choices. It’s also one of the museums that’s been here the longest, after officially being incorporated as a museum in 1893 after it served as an exhibit hall in the Columbian Exposition. Chicago parents returning to the museum will recognize many of the exhibits they saw as kids. But The Field also hosts a series of rotating exhibits, including one that turned out to be my kids’ favorite.  “Becoming Jane:  The Evolution of Jane Goodall”  sparked an interest in both animals and stories about powerful women for my daughter.

We had planned to visit The Field Museum in the first half of 2020, but shortly after our visit to the Museum of Science and Industry in February, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the city, and the world. We visited just as the city was reopening in June 2021, and some changes from the pandemic are still around. Plan on wearing a mask, using a digital map on your phone or one posted on the walls of the museum, and buying your ticket in advance. The museum has also placed hand sanitizers throughout its building to help people keep clean. And if you have a preschooler or toddler, you’re going to need it because of the buttons. They’re going to want to push Every. Single. Button.

We loved going to see some old favorites for us, and finding some new gems with our little ones. Here’s what we think are the best parts of The Field Museum for kids. And if you like this article, don't forget to check out our other recommendations for museums.

If you're staying in town and plan to visit multiple attractions in the Chicago area (we’re looking at you, people with visiting relatives you’ll be squiring around town), it’s worth it to look into a Go City - Chicago  sightseeing pass to save money on entrance fees to attractions like the Navy Pier, Field Museum, the aquarium, and the planetarium.