Just 100 miles from New York City, the City of Brotherly Love has a spirit all its own and is loaded with history and activities that appeal to kids of all ages, from tots to teens. NYers can drive to Philly in approximately two hours; my family likes to stay the night at the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, which has an artsy vibe, and the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, with its small indoor pool.

Whether you're a local, visiting for a day, or staying the weekend, here are 13 fun activities to get you started. For a deeper look into Philly fun, check out our list of 100 Things To Do in Philly with Kids Before They Grow Up.

Look on my kids' bookshelves and you will find tons of books about New York City. And not surprisingly, we do not have one book about New Jersey. I mean, what comes to mind when you think about New York? The Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and there are even some who think of the Statue of Liberty (boo! it's on the Jersey side!). What comes to mind when you think about New Jersey? The weeds growing on the side of the turnpike? Well, Thomas Yezerski wrote a book for children called "Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story" and it celebrates just that... the neglected wetlands of New Jersey. Have you ever walked or boated through the Meadowlands? If you have, you will know why we were so excited about this book!

They say nothing is certain but death and taxes, but they forgot one: birthdays. Every year they come, whether you celebrate them or not. Of course, kids live for their birthdays (my daughter's been counting down the days until she turns six since the day she turned five!), and that kind of excitement and anticipation can put a lot of pressure on parents.

But there's no reason to stress. We've got the scoop on how to throw a memorable party, whether you're a DIYer who hosts every bash at home, or the kind of parent who prefers to pay someone else to do all the work.

After years of writing about parties, we've compiled our favorite posts onto one page. Plus we've added a super-cool Party Planner tool, which allows you to search for venues and entertainers by theme.

Read on for a sampling of what you'll find in our new-and-improved New York City Kids' Birthday Party Ideas Guide.

It's Spring and along with the flowers and new leaves on the trees ticks are lurking in the woods and tall grasses. There's plenty a parent can do to protect their children from this disease. Lyme disease was first discovered in Lyme, CT in the 70's.  It's preventable if recommendations are followed and can also be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. However, if  left untreated serious illness can occur. Most cases of Lyme disease develop during the spring or summer months, when people are more likely to be outside walking in the woods or in tall grass.

To prevent ticks from attaching to you or your kids:

The locavore movement is expanding in NYC, and there are some great new ways to get fresh, locally grown meats and produce on your table. This year, we've discovered new CSAs that give you more flexibility and convenience, including ones that deliver to your door, or allow you to order à la carte rather than requiring you to purchase a full share.

If you aren't familiar with CSAs—Community Supported Agriculture groups—they are organized arrangements that allow consumers to buy food directly from the farmers. This helps give small farmers the financial support they need to make it through the planting season, and it gets fresher food on your table. Usually you buy a share (or a half share) of a farmer's output, and in return you receive a boxful of vegetables, fruit, eggs, cheese or meat every week throughout the growing season. If you're interested in signing up for a CSA, now is the time since spots fill up fast.

There are drawbacks to traditional CSAs: You have to pick up your food at a central location, you often have to put in volunteer hours and you don't know what will end up in your box ("you get what you get and don't get upset"). Plus, if you travel or go away on weekends during the summer, you'll miss part of your share, which is a drag since CSAs are kind of expensive. But this year, we've found some new, more flexible options.