Long Island is home to many wonderful outdoor activities for families. From beaches, to parks and farms, there are plenty of ways to keep everyone busy all year long. Long Island's parks are definitely on the top of our list for great outdoor destinations. Check out these three North Shore gems that are perfect for a family day trip. For more trip ideas, visit our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

We had an awesome time at our inaugural Mommy Poppins Family Cruise last Sunday. That's my daughter in the pic, helping to hoist the sails of Manhattan by Sail's Clipper City Tall Ship. (She turned eight that very day so I figured it was time to put her to work.) We put up a photo gallery on our Facebook page of all the fun we had, including face painting, Bill Gordh's sea songs and incredible views of the Statue of Liberty. Our next cruise is coming up on Tuesday, August 20 and it's got a pirate theme! Read our post for all the details and to book tickets.

It's the last full month of summer break so there's no time to waste: NYC's beaches and pools close on Labor Day. If you're in need of childcare those last few weeks before school starts, check out our post about late-August/early-September camps—we keep adding new programs as we hear about them. Or if you're looking for day trip ideas, check out our regional sites for inspiration. Westchester's August Go List includes one of my family's summer favorites: the New York Renaissance Faire in Sterling Forest. Much as we love NYC's free public pools, city kids really get a kick out of taking a dip in natural swimming holes like these ponds and lakes in Connecticut and New Jersey. Or stick close to home and explore the "forgotten borough:" We're highlighting the best things to do in Staten Island throughout the month.

Finally, if you're thinking about taking the kids to one of the big summer family flicks, our Boston site has parent-child reviews of Smurfs 2 and Turbo, so you can get opinions from both sides!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Families can savor this mid-August weekend in and around Boston with films (try the Free Friday Flicks or Family Ocean Movie Night), performances (Cavalia Odysseo and Wicked opened this week), festivals (Chinatown’s August Moon Festival) and creatures of the sea at the New England Aquarium. Read on for our weekend highlights, and remember you can find additional options in our Event Calendar.

it’s getting harder to ignore the fact that September and the start of school is just around the corner, but at least we can take advantage of ways to save on back to school shopping, from the upcoming tax-free holiday weekend to back to school shopping on a budget. Plus, it’s time to plan for fall classes - Rachel has found some amazing parent-toddler classes, from music to art to yoga.

And if you’re looking for ways to create just one more summer memory, we have more than 15 summer day trips to consider, plus a special kid-lit itinerary that takes you to Springfield, Northampton and Amherst to discover favorite writers and illustrators like Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, Eric Carle, and Emily Dickinson. Finally, we have some tips on viewing outdoor art with kids from Fruitlands Museum Director Wyona Lynch-McWhite, and some places to find the outdoor art.

Enjoy!

Rodeos in New Jersey? While a state like Texas is usually associated with all things western, New Jersey families may be surprised to know that they can experience the “wild west” much like their Texan counterparts. Rodeos are alive and well here in the Garden State. In fact, many events can be found close to home and are cheap to watch. Strap on your best cowboy boots and check out some of these thrilling horse and rider shows.

Remember last week when I said summer was only half-over?¹ Well, turns out I could not have been wronger.² Truth is, a whole bunch of you are going to be sending your kids back to school next week.³ Wondering if you’re one of the lucky ones?⁴ Check out our handy dandy guide to school start dates, (otherwise known as Academic Calendar Years.)⁵ Find out if your kid will be boarding the school bus on August what-were-they-thinking 13⁶, or if you have until September that’s-more-like-it 6 ⁷ to panic when you realize that your kid has grown two sizes since June⁸.

In the meantime, you’re going to want to make this weekend a memorable one. What a coincidence, we have some totally memory-making events to tell you about. The ultimate Disney fan event. The opening weekend of Disney’s Planes. A superduper Tea Party you can take your teddy bear to.  (Or your stuffed Mickey Mouse, just to continue on a theme.)

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this it's-still-summer-til-the-fat-lady-sings⁹ weekend...

We've had a nice break from the blazing heat this week and there are lots of ways to enjoy the gorgeous weather this weekend in Westchester. The annual South Salem Fire Department Carnival is going on now through Saturday and don't forget the New York Renaissance Faire continues this weekend. Also on Saturday, check out Kidz Bop Kids at Rye Playland, get creative at the 1st annual Sidewalk Chalk ArtFest at Cross County Shopping Center or check out the 13th Annual Storytelling Music Festival. Sunday head to the Hudson River Museum for a Family Talent Show, the last event in their Family Summer Sundays series, or check out the Summer Fair at Muscoot Farm.

If you see something you like, be sure to click through to the event listing for full details. As always, our event calendar offers even more to do this weekend.

The world-renowned Litchfield Jazz Festival highlights the weekend slate, and Mommy Poppins CT is proud to be involved! We are sponsoring the Kids Zone at this year's Litchfield Jazz Festival in Goshen on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a mural artist, magician, hoop dancers, stilt walkers and a circus act. Lots of interactive things for the kids to do as well. Come out and join us! Kids 12 and under are free.

Our suggestions on things to do this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our guides to CT Beaches and Water Fun, Swimming Holes in Hartford County, CT Day Trips and Indoor Play Guide. Our CT Go List of activities is a monthly round up to help you plan ahead for the remainder of August.