This past year, hiking has exploded in popularity. Families enjoying Mother Nature have filled parks from coast to coast. Hiking is a great (free) activity that allows people to remain socially distant. And you can find hikes all over the country that are perfect for kids of all ages, from babes in backpacks through slightly surly teens.

While time in nature is awe-inspiring for adults, it can quickly get stale for kids. Little ones that were once keen to lace up their sneakers are now reluctant to head out the door. That doesn’t mean that it’s time to stay indoors—just add some pizazz to those outdoor activities. Here are 12 hiking games for kids that turn walks into adventures.

As the temperatures start to rise, our thoughts drift to long summer days, and nothing screams warm temps more than ice cream from a local scoop shop. Huntington Village has a unique new dessert spot to satisfy those cool cravings: Milky Ways. The Huntington outpost is the third Long Island location for the self-proclaimed cereal bar and ice cream shop, and it debuted in early March.

Read on for details on the sweet shop and find more local eats in our Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

One of the most important American sculptors of the 20th century, Alexander Calder, loved to incorporate motion, repurposed objects, and a sense of whimsy in his works. He is well-known for his mobiles, stabiles, wire sculptures, and large-scale, outdoor sculptures. We have good news for New Yorkers: All these are on display at MoMA's newest exhibition, Alexander Calder: Modern from the Start.

Read on for our full review of the installation at the family-friendly culture hub, which I recently explored with my 4.5-year-old son. He had been familiar with Calder's works from an art book, but seeing them in person took his appreciation to another level. As always, find more kid-friendly exhibits in our Guide to Museums and Galleries. 

After a year spent indoors, we're all excited to slowly re-enter the world and take advantage (safely) of all the fun the Jersey Shore and neighboring locales have to offer. From adorable baby animals to a new water park and fireworks galore, it's time to get out there and explore.

Here are 10 must-see places, events, and to-dos to add to your family's bucket list to enjoy this spring and all summer long, down the shore or nearby. Find more must-do activities in the region on our list of 70 things to do with kids at the Jersey Shore.

Whether you're looking for a rainy-day activity or just want to bust a move, a multifaceted indoor action center offers loads of high-voltage fun. In addition to the many fantastic indoor play spaces in and around Westchester, we've rounded up our A-list of action centers where toddlers through teens can jump, bounce, climb, spin, and burn some energy (and calories).

Ready for more fun? Check out our Guide to Indoor Fun and Play Spaces for Westchester Kids, and look to our Event Calendar for tons of fun indoor happenings all year long.

Kids grow ridiculously fast. Some days, it feels like by the time my boys come home from school, they’ve already outgrown what I dressed them in that morning! My bank account can vouch for this as well. It’s no wonder why many families are turning to a more economical and eco-friendly way to fill the closet: online consignment shops where parents can buy, sell, and trade new and pre-loved clothing.

Echo Park is a neighborhood that’s seen substantial change since its establishment as one of LA's first suburbs over 120 years ago. These days it’s not very suburban, boasting an eclectic mix of homes and shops and a reputation as a hotspot for artists and hipsters. But this dense, walkable neighborhood is not just for single young people—it’s also one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in LA with abundant parks, unique attractions, and plenty of great food and coffee. Whether you want to catch a baseball game, eat some vegan treats, walk hidden stairs, or shop in the future (!), Echo Park is a great neighborhood to explore with kids.

Boston kids are ready to get outside and play! Even if you live outside the city, consider a day trip to one of these innovative Boston-area playgrounds, which feature nature-inspired layouts, brain-boosting equipment, and wheelchair-accessible structures that promote inclusivity. These new-school playgrounds—two of which are also on our "destination playgrounds" list—are beautiful, safe spaces for kids of all ages and abilities to entertain and challenge themselves, so parents can watch from a distance as kids do what they were born to do: play. 

If it's an especially warm day, consider a day trip to one of these Massachusetts spraygrounds and splash pads, too.