Sandcastles, carnival rides and great kids' concerts are all on the schedule this summer weekend. Head to Rockaway Beach and get creative at the annual sandcastle competition. Soak up some cool outdoor culture at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Family Day, including a FREE concert by Dan Zanes. Hit Staten Island's Greenbelt for the annual Children's Day Extravaganza at the Carousel for All Children. Or gasp at Quidam, the latest Cirque du Soleil extravaganza, which is playing at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Looking ahead to next weekend, have you booked your tickets to our Mommy Poppins Family Cruise yet? Our inaugural Manhattan by Sail voyage in June was such a success, we just announced four additional New York Harbor sails on the Clipper City Tall Ship featuring enriching kids' activities and stunning views. Our first excursion, Stories and Tales of the Sea with master storyteller Bill Gordh, takes place next Sunday, August 4. Purchase your tickets today so you don't miss out.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Between vacation, camp and day trips, summer can burn a hole in the pocket. Not to mention the daunting electricity bill from running the A/C constantly. We have over a month left before school starts, and if you still want to have adventures that won't break the bank, check out Ten Free Family Activities in New Haven County and Free Events and Activities in Southern CT This Summer. 

There are some wonderful free, family hikes this weekend including Giant Adventure at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Salter's Pond Adventure in Manchester and the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. CT has 618 miles of coastline, and Our CT Beach and Water Guide will simplify that search on where to go.

Last night, we piled into the car (along with our lawn chairs and lots of bug spray) and headed out to the Mendon Twin Drive-In to see a double feature: Turbo and Monsters University. We enjoyed both movies, and all around it was a fun family night out.  Our friend, Toby, at Mommy Poppins in LA has already written a review of Monsters University, so I’m focusing on Turbo, the tale of a snail with an impossible dream. For parents, the big question is always: Is it really a good film for kids? Read on to find out.

Whoever said summer is a slow season clearly wasn’t talking about New Jersey! There’s a ton to do in the Garden State this weekend, from big family fun at the QuikCheck Festival of Ballooning or the New Jersey Peach Festival to educational outings like Grossology at the Liberty Science Center or Open Cockpit Day at the Aviation Hall of Fame. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

If your family harbors a Shakespeare aficionado, then summer just isn't summer without a dose of Midsummer. For families who approach classical theater more hesitantly, A Midsummer Night's Dream performed among the trees and the owls may be the perfect introduction, and Shakespeare Center LA's annual summer stint in the VA's Japanese Gardens delivers all that Shakespeare in the park should . 

Now there's yet another reason to spend time in NYC's fabulous parks and playgrounds: Free Wi-Fi! We've got the details on that plus an old-new independent bookstore in Washington Heights, a new robot shop in the East Village, fresh Summer Streets attractions and the last strike at a family-run Brooklyn bowling alley.

You may have seen our post on language immersion preschools in Los Angeles and wondered how to find options like these in Orange County. Well, don't worry! The OC has plenty of choices for bilingual education as well. Whether or not a bilingual immersion elementary school is in your child's future, a second language is within reach.

Back on June 29, we hosted a special Mommy Poppins family cruise on the Clipper City Tall Ship with Manhattan by Sail. The sold-out voyage was such a huge success that many readers asked if we could do more cool New York Harbor trips. Ask and ye shall receive: We are thrilled to be partnering with Manhattan by Sail for our new Mommy Poppins Family Cruise Series.

We have four fun-filled sails coming up between now and October, each with a different theme and enriching kids activities to enjoy while cruising around the harbor (including a festive Halloween sail!). Take a look at some of the photos from our June excursion and read on to find out more about our upcoming sails and how you can book your tickets.