New York City is unlike any other place in the world, but sometimes we still need a break and these family-friendly weekend getaways near NYC are a great excuse to skip town for a weekend with the family. You don't have to travel far to feel like you're a world away.

We've rounded up 14 of our favorite kid-friendly weekend getaways near NYC for families—all are within 3 hours of NYC. If you're looking for other comprehensive guides to weekend getaways near NYC, check out our definitive list of the Hudson Valley's top attractions, our exhaustive survey of family-friendly options in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, plus our list of New York State's top attractions for families.

Discover more about Houston, NASA, Galveston, and more on a kid-friendly tour.

If you're working your way down our bucket list of 100 things to do before your LA kids grow up, you might notice how many of those are fun things to do in Pasadena—and we're not just talking about the Rose Parade. The inland, foothill community rivals Santa Monica for family-friendly, walkable streets and a variety of arts and entertainment. It's also one of the oldest communities in the LA area, which gave it a head start on collecting cool stuff.

Let the tourists spend their days in Hollywood because there's more going on most weekends in Pasadena, a city so bursting with kid and family-friendly activities that we had a hard time picking the best of the best. 

Parents have just a few short years before their little ones head to kindergarten. Luckily, DC-area parents can really make the most of that time thanks to all the fun things to do with preschoolers in the area. From fantastic free museums to incredible destination playgrounds, there are so many ways to have fun with little ones.

Here are 35 things to do with preschoolers in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia before they turn 5. Have a blast checking these items off your list, then extend the fun with our list of 100 things to do in DC with kids before they grow up.

While 2024 doesn't look exactly like the future we watched play out on The Jetsons, one exception may be the robot restaurants popping up all over Chicago. We found a dozen restaurants (and one hotel) with robot servers delivering food or drinks, and some with robots helping in the back of the house. They were a great impetus to get our kids to try new foods with a little added fun!

For more restaurant fun in Chicago, check out these themed restaurants, the best restaurants with room for kids to play, and the best breweries and beer gardens for families in and near Chicago. 

Whether you're planning a cozy gathering or an epic neighborhood event, backyard movie nights have become a fun tradition for many families. But you're going to need a few things, like outdoor movie projectors and outdoor movie screens. We researched how to transform your backyard into the ultimate entertainment space with any size budget.

Read on to learn about everything you need to know to set up the ultimate outdoor movie night, from choosing the right equipment at the right price point to setting the scene. 

Bring your event to the next level with our recipe for easy homemade pizza and these irresistible dessert boards, and don’t forget to pick a flick from one of our 75 favorite family movies! 

In today's fast-paced world, even children can experience stress from various sources, from school pressures to social challenges. As parents, fostering healthy stress relief skills early on is crucial. Engaging kids in activities that promote relaxation, mindfulness, and fun not only helps them unwind but also equips them with lifelong coping strategies.

From creative arts and outdoor adventures to calming exercises, here are 100 stress relief activities for children. Find more stress-busting things to do with kids, including our list of 100 awesome art projects, in our Boredom Busters for Kids Guide.

Kidmoto car service lets you book a ride to or from the airport with as many as 5 pre-installed car seats or boosters for the safest and smoothest trip possible.

Forget the stress of lugging a clunky car seat through airport security or gambling on whether the car service you booked will actually show up with the booster you requested. Kidmoto car service addresses the very specific and all-too-common challenge of getting families with young kids to the airport with its reliable fleet of drivers–and immaculate cars–who can not only provide up to five car seats or boosters for any ride, but are specially trained in proper installation.

Read about my personal experience and everything you need to know before booking a Kidmoto ride for your next trip.