Before Spring Break, I excitedly made a list of adventures I wanted to undertake with my children.  I had grand visions of exciting trips to NYC, educational outings to local museums, and spine thrilling natural adventures.  I carefully planned itineraries, scouted deals, and made reservations.  And then I called my friend Sarah and invited her and her twin girls to join us.  Sarah graciously listened to my grand plans before suggesting an alternative right here in Fairfield County.  “Have you thought about a trip to the Springdale Diner?”

Been procrastinating about summer camp? Well perhaps it's paid off. Our latest roundup of deals includes 25% off cool summer programs where kids can enjoy music, modeling, language and sports, and a whopping 50% off fencing camp.


Already have summer camp all planned out? We also have significant discounts on the upcoming Kidrockers concert, the hilarious improved pirate show The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told! and more. If you see a bargain you can't pass up, act fast: Many of these deals will be gone before Memorial Day hits.

The travel industry calls May and June the shoulder season. Kids are still in school and many resorts are operating at a low capacity. If you can plan to get away, crowds are thin, prices low.  Choose a Disney or Universal getaway to Orlando. East Coast families can find deals in Delaware, Washington, D.C., New Hampshire and Hershey, PA.  If Mother Nature is on the program, Estes Park, Colorado is a beautiful spot with fabulous deals.  If you crave sun, the Waikiki Parc Hotel and the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach are just the ticket for a glorious family vacation.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. And while there are plenty of fun things to do in NYC—beaches, Governors Island and Victorian Gardens amusement park all open for the season—the three-day vacation is a great time to skip town and enjoy a quick getaway. After all, you have three more months to experience all the summer fun the city has to offer.

We've rounded up five cool family destinations that are all two hours or less by car from midtown Manhattan. From farm fun to creative festivals to The Crayola Experience, here are five great day trips for NYC families this Memorial Day weekend. You can find more travel inspiration in our NYC Day Trips Guide and on our Travel site.

The one upside to the torrential rain this week were all the impressive pics of NYC rainbows I saw on Instagram. I took my rainbow shot down on Delancey Street and it was quite a hit on our Facebook page. But now that May is here, all of the April showers should be behind us. We certainly hope so since many of our top family event picks for May in NYC take place outdoors, like the iconic Dance Parade New York and the Memorial Day weekend opening of the newly expanded Governors Island.

If you're thinking about going on a quick spring getaway, look to our May Go Lists in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island and beyond for inspiration. There are some truly day-trip-worthy happenings coming up, including Historic Hudson Valley's brand-new glow-in-the-dark installation Lightscapes and the annual Hoboken Spring Arts and Music Festival, which are both happening this weekend. Thinking of taking a longer trip? Over on our Travel site, Mommy Poppins founder, Anna, talks about the benefits of extended travel with kids and recalls the transformative experience of spending a month in Spain as a child.

And we have an amazing giveaway going on this week: Enter to win an entire summer session of camp at the JCC Day Camp at Pearl River—a $3,500 value. Since I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my eight-year-old this summer, I wish I were eligible to enter!

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

May has arrived and this weekend's forecast promises less rain and more sun--perfect for enjoying some of the fun outdoor events taking place all weekend including the opening of Lightscapes, a new walk-through art and light installation in Croton-on-Hudson going on all month. Other outdoor festivities include the annual Strawberry Festival at the College of New Rochelle, and the Children's Carnival at Rosenthal JCC.

Another popular event taking place this weekend is Crafts at Lyndhurst. You'll also find several events to connect nature lovers with wildlife such as  Hands-On Egg Collecting, Bird Banding or Meet the Animals – What Do Animals Do in Spring? For a seriously fun exploration of science, sign up for STEM-tastic Saturday.

Read on for our top picks for weekend fun in Westchester. If something piques your interest, click through to the event listing for full details. Plan out your month by taking a look at our May Go List. Looking for even more ideas? Peruse our Events Calendar. Also, be sure to check out our brand new (and growing) Party Planner Guide, full of party tips, resources, local venues and more.

The beginning of May seems to mark the beginning of festival season as the weather turns warm and (hopefully) stays that way. The Wake Up the Earth Festival in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain celebrates spring and community activism this weekend, while up in Cambridge the Harvard Arts First Festival provides mostly free concerts, performances, and other celebrations of the arts. Some of kids' favorite characters come to life in Boston this weekend, with Disney Jr.'s Pirate and Princess Adventure at the Agganis Arena and Sid the Science Kid at the Wilbur Theater (pictured).  And Star Wars fans can meet costumed characters (and show off their own Jedi gear) at the Franklin Park Zoo's May the Fourth Be With You event. As always, see our full events calendar for more great ideas of where to go with your kids this weekend.

We've been highlighting Charlestown this month on Mommy Poppins Boston. Kristin finds 20 Things to do with Kids in Charlestown and shares the skinny on some great Classes for Kids in Charlestown.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Tara highlights summer theater camps for your little thespian.
• We focus on festivals for the May Go List, a monthly roundup of the best Boston has to offer.

And finally, big news: We've just re-launched our Birthday Party Guide with shiny new Party Listings. Whether you're looking for entertainment or planning a cooking party, you'll find some great leads in our searchable party directory. Be sure to take a look around in the guide to see what else is new -- we're always highlighting great party places and party planning ideas. 

Enjoy the festivities this weekend!

If your little matey enjoys pirate hijinks and tall ships, head on over to the Boater's Maritime Festival this weekend in Port Jefferson. In conjunction with this two-day event, The Maritime Explorium is offering children's activities and tours of an 1885 schooner this Friday.

The long, blustery winter yielded a new batch of baby animals this spring at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank. Visit and pet these furry little creatures on Saturday.

As the weather starts to cooperate more and you're planning outdoor birthday parties, peruse our Long Island Party Guide for ideas, themes and locations. And don't forget about Mother's Day next week! We've complied kid-friendly brunch spots on Long Island and a Mother's Day freebie list.

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