Good old Jersey sometimes gets a bad rap with its pollution, traffic and calorie-laden diner food. And while I'll be the first to admit NJ has a gritty side, there actually IS a reason we're called the Garden State. As you drive west, past the crowded bridges and tunnels that leave Manhattan, past Newark airport, shopping malls and suburbs, you'll soon find yourself a world away as the roads open up into wide green spaces. Pick any summer weekend, pack up the family in the car and head straight to one of our state's bountiful farms to PYO (that's 'Pick Your Own' for all you city folk!). Then head home and try out one of these simple, but delicious recipes to make the most of New Jersey's awesome summer crops.

Every year, the weekend following the July 4th holiday, the city of New London transforms from mild mannered, seaside city, into one of the premiere festival destinations on the East Coast during Sailfest. Sailfest boasts food from all corners of the world, a two city block carnival midway, vendors, tall ships, and one of the largest fireworks displays east of the Mississippi. And, while it's almost impossible to do everything Sailfest has to offer, we've got your inside scoop on what are the must sees and dos!

There are so many great vacation spots within driving distance from New Jersey. We take a long road trip every year and now that we are into the toddler years, it has become more important than ever to have unique and fun things to do in the car or while flying. But, there is one magic item that never fails, whether in the car or on a plane -- the iPad! Besides being able to watch movies and shows, the one thing that can keep things fresh is having some new apps on there for your little one to discover while on the move to your final destination. From educational to just downright fun; here's a list of some of the best apps for toddlers -- don't forget to download them before your vacation!

In the words of Paul Simon, “…it's all happening at the zoo. I do believe it, I do believe its true…” And there’s no better time to see what’s happening at the zoo than during the summer, when the animals (like our children!) can fully enjoy their outdoor habitats.

While zoos are often host to special events like really cool sleepovers and outdoor birthday parties, they also make great local getaways during the hot, lazy days for summer. Kids can visit with animals from different continents, like the giraffes at the Franklin Park Zoo or the the wildlife from Down Under at the Stone Zoo. They can celebrate the birthdays of the zoo animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Southwick’s Zoo has daily animal encounter shows that offer an up-close look at the resident birds, reptiles and other animals.

Read on for some ideas for summertime fun at four Boston area zoos.

Now that summer is officially in full swing, Long Island beach waves beckon. If you have a kid that is itching to hang ten, there are plenty of excellent surf schools to teach well, and safely. While Montauk boasts the most surf schools, and some of the biggest waves, there are schools all along the South Fork that teach aspiring surfer dudes how to paddle and ride. Don't forget to remind the kids, as Laird Hamilton said, "wiping out is an under-appreciated skill." 

In the past we've told you about the fun-filled Parents' Night Out/Kids' Night In pajama parties hosted by child care service Project Playdate. Now that school's out for the summer, Project Playdate is launching a brand-new series of drop-off daytime field trips, so parents can run errands, hit the gym or just enjoy a little me time while kids experience cool New York City culture.

At Summer Playdates with Project Playdate outings, children ages 1 to 7 get to see kids' concert at Madison Square Park, spend time with the animals at the Central Park Zoo, visit the American Museum of Natural History and the Children's Museum of the Arts, and much more. Parents will be happy, too, since Project Playdate is known for its experienced and caring staff, low child-to-sitter ratio, affordable rates and donates a portion of its proceeds to charity.

As moms ourselves, we known firsthand how hard it is to tackle everything on our long to-do lists, especially with kids underfoot, so we think these Summer Playdates with Project Playdate sound wonderful. In fact, we like the idea so much, Mommy Poppins is sponsoring the program along with UrbanSitter. The first field trip is coming up this Thursday, July 11 and Summer Playdates continue on select dates through the end of August. Read on for all the details and for registration information.

So your child wants to be a Jedi Master? My Star Wars-loving kids certainly do. In fact, one of my sons is so obsessed, last year he took a demo class with New York Jedi: The Light Saber Enthusiasts Collective, a group of cosplayers and martial artists who specialize in stage combat based on a mash-up of fencing, kendo and the world of Star Wars.

Since the New York Jedi have primarily worked only with adults, they made an exception for my son to take their Jedi training class, but apparently, my son wasn't the only underage aspiring Jedi in NYC. Demand for kids' classes was so great, New York Jedi is set to debut Saber Kids!, the first-ever five-week light saber stage combat training program aimed specifically at children ages 7 to 13. May the course be with you!

In our book, FREE is good. It's not always easy finding free stuff to do with the kids! Low and behold, I’ve found several low cost – and even FREE! – family friendly opportunities here in southern CT that include submarines, bowling, movies, story times, free museum days and free passes to state beaches and state parks like Gillette Castle. If you are in Hartford County, we've got a great list of free things to do there too.