They call them the dog days of August, when it might seem impossible to enjoy yourself in the hot and sticky outdoors of a Long Island summer. Nonsense, we say. In fact, we here at Mommy Poppins think there’s plenty to bark about in the final full month of summer.

This month, we’re highlighting family events such as street fairs and summer festivals, family days, cultural celebrations, history, and more. Discover nature at Garvies Point in Glen Cove, watch as your kids cast a line at Captree State Park, or perhaps return to a time when games were played minus the iPad.

So, we blinked, and now August is here! But summer isn't over yet, so there is still time to catch a free movie or an outdoor concert. The Houston International Jazz Fest is coming up, and there are plenty of farmers markets around town to get your fix for fresh produce. Don't forget on the first Saturday of every month you can enjoy events like Marine Biologist for a Day, Arts Market in The Heights, and head to Tomball on the second Saturday of the month for games, music, and food.

Check our calendar every day for great things to do with kids all around Houston. And without further ado, here are the best things to do around Houston with kids this month.

August in Boston is free and festive for kids and families! There are free summer festivals almost every weekend in August, plus lots more free fun throughout the month. We've also picked a few activities that require a visit to the piggy bank, but we think they're well worth checking out—especially if you have an insect enthusiast or young astronomer in the house, or might be thinking about taking the kids camping for the first time. 

We hope you'll be able to squeeze a few of these top picks for hometown fun between summer day trips and weekend getaways before the kids head back to school.

Summer is a great time to throw an outdoor birthday party, but if you don’t have the space (or the desire) to host a bunch of high-energy kids at your house, one of Westchester's beautiful parks can be a great alternative.

Whether you’re looking to have a small party or a big bash, there are lots of parks in the area to accommodate your needs—and many have tons of fun amenities too, from splash pads and swimming pools to playgrounds and soccer fields. Here, we’ve rounded up eight of our favorites.

Looking for even more fun birthday party ideas? Check out our Kids' Birthday Party Guide for Westchester Families, and sign up for our newsletters!

It’s nearly impossible to believe that summer starts to wind down this month, but not before families soak up the last bit of summer fun. And for this, August does not disappoint. We’ve rounded up 13 happenings around the Philly area that we think you and your kids will love.

Besides what’s on our list, don’t forget to catch a free outdoor movie or music concert before the season ends, cool off at an area splash pad, and find a place to unwind with a brew while the kids happily play close by or grab an ice cream cone. And as always, dive into our full events calendar for more  ideas for August fun.

Not every summer day can be a sunny beach day, even at the Jersey Shore—but there are plenty of indoor spots where families can find rainy day fun.

From Asbury Park to Cape May, we've put together a list of shore activities that will get you off the beach and out of your condo or hotel room. So whether the rain is spoiling your beach day, you need a day out of the sun, or just a change from the sand and surf, we have you covered.

For more entertaining activities this season, check our list of 70 Best Things To Do at the Shore all summer.

If you mourned a piece of your childhood when Toys 'R' Us closed its doors in 2018, take heart: the gone-but-not-forgotten toy store is about to make a small-scale comeback just in time for Black Friday. Two Toys 'R' Us stores, coming to The Galleria in Houston, Texas, a Simon Mall, and in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, are slated to open in November. 

As a Bronx mom with three kids, I find myself in a perpetual state of birthday party planning. And while we've had many a house party, once I factor in food, decorations, favors, and more, it often costs just as much as a destination bash. Besides, destination parties bring a change of scenery and fun perks such as slides, sports, live animals, spa days, and more to make the celebration memorable. Best of all, I don't have to deal with the cleanup.

The Boogie Down borough has a growing list of cool birthday party spots for kids, from old favorites such as the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, to more recent additions tailored to kids' interests—with a decidedly local flair. We've rounded up a dozen birthday party places in the Bronx, with options for kids of all ages and interests.