We finish up our series of posts about Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill with a roundup of the best places for kids to play in the area, both inside and outdoors. While there are lots of small playgrounds and green spaces peppered throughout the neighborhood, Carroll Park is definitely the community hub and hosts FREE family activities throughout the year like its popular kids' summer concert series.

But there are many great places to play indoors, too, including drop-in tot spots like ArtsCetera and Gumbo, an awesome local library, and cool programs for school-age kids like makerspace Pixel Academy and board game mecca The Brooklyn Strategist. Here are the best places for kids to play in BoCoCa.

No matter what you're looking to do, there's something for everyone in Jersey this weekend! If you’ve got a little Dino lover in the house, check out the Dinosaurs Return exhibit at the NJ Children’s Museum or Dinosaur Storytime & Craft at the NJ State Museum. Feel like sitting back and taking in a show? There’s plenty of options for that too! Sing along to The Music Man at NJPAC, laugh along with the family-friendly Junie B. Jones at Papermill Playhouse or for big entertainment, get tickets to see Ringling Bros. LEGENDS at the IZOD Center. And of course, with spring just around the corner, you can get your fill of fresh air at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum’s Discovery Saturday or an End-of-Winter Tree Walk at NJ Botanical Gardens. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

As my daughter’s 6^th birthday approaches, I am scrambling to find an entertaining and unique party location. My house is small, so a home party is not an option (plus the mess and clean up. Ugh!). A party that would involve the 3 F’s, food, favors and fun, seems like the perfect formula for NJ kids and their party-planning moms. How about a make-your-own-craft party? New Jersey has a variety of studios that offer make-and-take crafts for your little Picasso. Aspiring painters, potters, glassmakers, and jewelers can satisfy their creative side. The best part is that the finished masterpiece becomes your built-in favor! Check out some of our favorite New Jersey arts'n'crafts studios. And for even more fab ideas, check out our NJ Kids' Birthday Party Ideas Guide.

If you’re still trying to figure out what to do with the kids during April Vacation Week, take a look at these terrific workshops and camps. They provide fun opportunities for kids who enjoy arts & crafts, writing, theater, and history. If your child is more outdoorsy, check out my first roundup of 2014 April Vacation Week camps, highlighting programs that get kids outdoors and exploring nature. 

NYC kids, prepare to be blinded by science (and art, too) as Brooklyn debuts two STEAM (that's STEM with an A for Art) programs, along with a brand-new Coney Island thrill ride that's sure to get your hearts pounding. Plus, find out where to pick up FREE treats this Thursday in honor of Macaron Day, two of our favorite Queens ice cream spots close, a book swap no kid-lit lover will want to miss, and a notable new children's book by an iconic rock star.

Spring is coming!  Spring is coming!  SPRING IS COMING!!!! 

It's that time of year...time to get out and about!  Because both of my parents were teachers, my childhood years were full of road trips.  Many were the times that we packed up – two parents, 3 children, and an incessantly panting dog – and headed west to Colorado, and a few times, even all the way to CA.  These trips were both horrible and wonderful at the same time.  Horrible in that they involved hours of fighting with my two brothers, the inevitable boredom of the Kansas highway, and occasionally a very gaseous dog.  Wonderful in that we saw every nook and cranny of this country, felt insignificant in the shadow of the Rockies, and marveled at the sheer awesomeness of Crater Lake.

What I did learn in my many family road voyages were the essential ingredients of every road trip. Because, really, whats the point of heading to a great destination if getting there makes everyone cranky and irritbable? As spring approaches (I promise…it’s coming!), we will be getting ready for some of our favorite local day trips (Connecticut College lacrosse game, Old Saybrook, Mystic Seaport, Kent Falls), keeping these essentials in mind:

When my husband announced our family's plan to relocate from Southeastern Connecticut (city, seaside life), to the Western end of the state (suburbs and very inland), I felt very unsure how we'd fare.  Where would we live?  What would we do for fun?  How would I ever live without seeing the ocean out my front window?  We ultimately settled on Southbury in western New Haven, and what a fabulous decision we made.  Since our move, we've often said we hardly need to leave town to do anything!  There's so many super cool, fun things to do with the whole family!

Last fall, we asked our readers to take a short survey and share their thoughts about how to improve our Summer Camp Guide. Overwhelmingly, we heard that you wanted a combination of our editorial recommendations, plus the ability to search listings and find recommendations from other parents.

So we're happy to debut our newly updated Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, now featuring an improved search, parent reviews and star ratings, and other enhancements. Even better: Our overhauled Directory isn't just for camps. We have listings for party places and services, and enriching classes, too.

Read on to find out more or head straight to our Day Camp Guide and Directory to browse the listings and leave reviews for your favorite programs.