Summer is here and these family-friendly hotels on the Jersey Shore are just waiting for you to plan your next family vacation. Our picks for family-friendly hotels span the region from Sandy Hook hotels to Cape May hotels and near all the entertainment-packed boardwalks in between, these family-friendly hotels on the Jersey Shore are ready to make your stay memorable.

Start planning now so you can go down The Shore before school starts, and find all our top picks in the region in our Jersey Shore Travel Guide, including curated picks for a 3-day Shore getaway from a local mom. We've got more seasonal fun in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Bubble guns are the best way to take your backyard play from fun to magical. This summer, water guns are out and bubble guns are totally in. From party-grade bubble machines that can crank out thousands of bubbles to adorable bubble toy wands for your toddler, we researched and tested all the best bubble guns and bubble toys so you can know which toys will keep playtime going all summer long.

Ramp up the bubbles with a great foam machine or foam toy. For more wet summer fun, check out our favorite inflatable pools & backyard toys, plus these cool water games for kids. For more ways to make this summer funner, check out our Ultimate Kids Summer Vacation Guide, packed with hundreds of things to do for kids of all ages!

Local families in the know are well aware that Mommy Poppins has been covering the greater NYC area for more than 16 years, and we're happy to announce we're extending our reach again and officially expanding our local Westchester site to include even more coverage of the Hudson Valley.

From the Rivertowns to Legoland New York and the Catskills and beyond, we have always covered loads of fun things to do in the Hudson Valley.  But, we heard from tons of readers who have moved—or are spending more time lately—in the Hudson Valley.

So, in addition to covering even more events and activities in towns across the Hudson Valley, we'll be relaunching our weekly event picks and delivering you the top things to do each weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley every Thursday morning. This is in addition to our Saturday and Monday newsletters full of news, picks, deals, and seasonal fun.

So, whether you live in the Hudson Valley, or just spend a lot of time there, make sure you're subscribed to our Westchester and the Hudson Valley newsletter to get weekend picks and more family-friendly activities delivered to your inbox!

Big things are coming to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos. Just when you thought the supersized family-friendly resort had maxed out its fun factor, Great Wolf Lodge Poconos is undergoing a major renovation that's sure to wow. From the newly constructed family suites to seven brand new water slides to an outdoor pool area and the luxurious Woodland Villas slated to open in October, this family vacation destination is getting some major upgrades.

Read on for all the details on Great Wolf Lodge's improvements and start planning your Poconos getaway now. Find more vacation inspiration nearby in our Guide to Kid-Friendly Activities in the Poconos.

If you need the world’s easiest homemade playdough recipe, look no further. My kids love playing with clay, but our store-bought playdough always seems to dry out or end up jumbled in a mixed-up mash of muddy colors. That’s when we take matters into our own hands and whip up an easy batch of homemade playdough.

And when I say easy, I mean EASY. This playdough recipe uses only three ingredients that we always have in the kitchen—flour, salt, and oil. I candidly shudder at playdough recipes that include ingredients like “cream of tartar”. (Who has that on hand? Not me, anyway…)

Read on for our easy playdough recipe that comes together in just a few minutes. Then visit our Boredom Busters for Kids guide for more at-home activities, from awesome art projects to fun Magna-Tiles building ideas.

If you've got a little one at home, we've found the best things to do with preschoolers in NYC. Read on for our top picks for little-kid fun.

New York City doesn't lack awesome family events and institutions, but as a mom of two children under the age of 5, I'm always on the hunt for new ideas. These early years are fleeting, and I want to create lasting memories—within budgetary reason—manageable enough for little kids who sometimes still need a nap and a sippy cup.

So, inspired by our roundup of 100 things to do with kids in NYC before they grow up, we came up with this list of 26 things to do with preschoolers in NYC before they turn 5 and head to kindergarten. A few of our selections are well-known favorites with specific under-the-radar attractions perfect for preschoolers, while others are more off the beaten path, but all are things we've enjoyed doing with our own preschoolers or aspire to try soon! Find more ideas in our Guide to NYC for Preschoolers.

There are so many free things to do in San Francisco this summer that the season might not be long enough to do them all! 

The kids are out of school, the weather is warming up, and the Bay Area is sprawling with things to do every day of the week. Free outdoor movie nights and free museum days are a great way to spend an afternoon that won't cost you a penny (if you steer clear of the gift shop). Summer is also the best excuse to take a day off from work and go on a day trip to one of the many beautiful places just a short drive away. 

Whether you've got a summer filled with summer camps and travel or prefer to enjoy the days as they come, we've got 51 free things to do in San Francisco with those kiddos this summer.

Have the best summer ever in San Francisco at summer festivals and fairs, and find more summer fun in Ultimate San Francisco Kids Summer Vacation Guide.  

With 12 miles of gorgeous beaches, great restaurants (especially for seafood lovers), and a relaxed southern vibe, Hilton Head Island, SC is the perfect destination for a family retreat. Located 45 minutes outside Savannah, Georgia, Hilton Head boasts white sand, salty sea air, and plenty of kid-friendly attractions should you tire of the ocean.

My family recently spent a week in Hilton Head and came home refreshed and recharged, with some wonderful memories. If you are looking to relax while connecting with your kids, I highly recommend this low-country resort town.

Here are 20 of our favorite things to do in Hilton Head, South Carolina with kids, including the best Hilton Head hotels and restaurants for families. For more family vacation ideas in the sunny South, visit our Southern States Vacation Guide.