In my olden days (mid-'90s post-college), planning a road trip went something like this: "Friday night and nothing to do.  Hmm... Let's go to Vegas!" And within thirty minutes my friends and I would be on our way. Now I travel with a posse of children, so Vegas is not the first place that comes to mind when I'm considering a family-friendly weekend. Still, I love a good road trip, and LA is, as always, a fantastic base from which to branch out. Much more care is involved in my planning process these days, and it's a plus if the chaos of larger cities, theme parks, water parks, and too-trendy anything can be avoided. Are you like me - interested in taking the road less traveled, and perhaps a little more family-oriented? See if any of these strike your fancy.

If you’ve decided to stick around Jersey for 4th of July weekend, you’ll find plenty of summer fun! Family-friendly festivals are a great way to keep the whole gang entertained, so check out the annual Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards or the Front Porch Bluegrass Festival in Chester. If you’re craving some adventure, hop aboard Thomas the Tank Engine on the Delaware River Railroad with your little train lover or take a hike through Maggie’s Point Trail at Plainsboro Preserve. Read on for our top picks and find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

Fourth of July activities overtake the city this week, as Boston Harborfest celebrations run through July 7. As a reminder, we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite Boston Harborfest events, including "America's Biggest July 4th Celebration" on the Esplanade. There are also plenty of smaller-scale alternatives around Boston, just right for families.

We’ve also published our July Go Boston list - check out our picks for some of the best and biggest events happening this month. And Tara explored Foxboro with her family this past week - they found 15 things to do there this summer, including a visit to the Hall at Patriot Place. And fast on the heels of strawberry picking (the season isn’t over yet!) comes the you-pick blueberries season - we’ve rounded up some options for picking (and included our favorite blueberry recipe).

Read on for Harborfest highlights and other special events taking place this week. As always, you can visit our Events Calendar for even more things to do.

Enjoy, and have a happy and safe 4th!

When I was young, the dazzle of summer included my Auntie Grace's homemade coffee ice cream and the thrill of helping to make it. Oh, the delicious anticipation of taking a turn hand-cranking the ancient ice cream maker, lifting the top, and hoping the cream inside had thickened enough to be scooped and swallowed. There's nothing quite like hand-crafted ice cream. But, of course, there's also nothing like summer laziness and letting someone else make the ice cream for you. Read on, hammock dwellers, for we've got the inside scoop on the most delectable ice cream (and gelato) on the Westside, most of which is made in-house. Come on in and have a lick.

Whether you spell it Foxboro or the official “Foxborough,” it’s an equally fun place to spend the day with kids this summer. There’s something going on for every age and every interest, like celebrating New England football at The Hall at Patriot Place, storytime at the cinema, exploring the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog, live music, hiking, biking, or indoor adventures at 5 Wits. There are lots of interesting things to do, and many of the activities are free!

It's always fun to find a unique enrichment experience for kids, something quirky and different from the usual music, dance, and mommy-and-me fare. The Hamptons and North Fork offer several "off the beaten path" art classes to stimulate little creative minds.

Summer is here, and vacation deals are plentiful for those looking to score a discount.  Hotel chains like Embassy Suites and Millennium are featuring excellent rates and bonus giveaways at popular locations.  Consider an exclusive resort in Vermont, back-to-nature yurt camping at Yosemite, a family-friendly town in Georgia, a Florida beach resort and more options for your next family holiday.

Summer is in full-swing and, as the governor announced live on the Today show the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, the Jersey Shore is back and open for business! This is generally true, however there are a few areas that were hit the hardest that aren't bouncing back as quickly as others (including Mantoloking and Sea Bright). Things may still be on the mend, but there is a lot of fun to be had at the shore this year. Keep reading for a 2013 update to my previous post to get you in the know about the beaches at the Jersey Shore! Here's a list of some of the spots that are open now and how much they will cost you. Let's all continue to help "restore the shore" and get down there with our NJ kids and families this summer!