New Jersey is home to some amazing FREE beaches, which can come as a relief after seasonal sticker shock involving camps, vacations, and day trips. Luckily, the beaches we've listed below don't require an admission fee–though some do have parking fees. 

While some of these FREE beaches are found in popular vacation hotspots on the Jersey Shore, other quieter, unguarded ones are located by swimming lakes and bays. Read on for a baker's dozen of our favorite FREE New Jersey beaches.

Check out our mom-tested, kid-approved Jersey Shore itinerary, and more in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Glamping near Los Angeles offers all the benefits of camping outdoors without giving up those comfortable amenities.

From the fresh air to the clear starry skies, for many Angelenos, spending time in the great outdoors is a welcome reprieve from the congestion, pollution, and hustle-bustle of the city. But for other families, packing up the car, setting up the campsite in the dirt and dust, and maybe even purchasing all of the supplies you need is so much of a hassle that it offsets the joy of the experience. Whether the former or latter describes your family, glamping is the perfect halfway point between roughing it and booking a hotel room. 

The beautiful thing about Southern California is its array of glamping options. The city is bounded by towering mountains, providing an abundance of pine-laden wilderness retreats—drive a little further, and you're in one of the most unique desert landscapes in the world. And, of course, we're famous for our beaches. No matter your preference, there are dozens of opportunities for glamping near Los Angeles. Here are some of our favorites. 

If you're feeling more adventurous and want to transition from glamping to camping, try these SoCal campgrounds with extra entertainment for Kids, or test out tent camping with kids. Explore more outdoor recreational fun in our Hiking and Camping Guide for Los Angeles Families. 

Once upon a time, Saratoga Springs, New York, was a magnet for famous—and infamous—New Yorkers, from the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, and Rockefellers to the bootleggers and gamblers who took up residence during prohibition. Thankfully, Saratoga's offerings are now more family-friendly than booze and bookies.

A 3-hour drive from Midtown Manhattan pays off with a visit to the historic racetrack, hiking and fishing, or even a quiet stroll down Saratoga Spring's quaint Main Street. Rainy day activities can be found at the Saratoga Children's Museum or the local library, which offers a great children's room. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Saratoga Springs, New York, with kids. Find more local towns to explore in our Guide to Family-Friendly Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

Printable activities for kids may seem a little old-school, but there's something to be said for good old pen-and-paper fun. While there are tons of great online resources for kids, it's important to take a break from screens sometimes.

We've rounded up 100 printables you can take with you just about anywhere. From printable coloring pages and paper dolls to craft instructions and STEM-inspired fun, these activities provide hours of entertainment. They also keep kids actively learning by developing fine-motor skills, working on critical thinking, and even inspiring some gross motor play workouts. And the best part is, they're completely free!

Bookmark this list of printable activities and come back to it anytime you hear the dreaded, "I'm bored!" You can also check out our guide to Boredom Busters for Kids for more ideas for screen-free fun.

Between the end of the school year and the start of summer camp, families often need classes and activities that offer last-minute, drop-in options or single-day summer camps to keep kids busy. We've rounded up eight local summer camps and classes that offer programming during this time and give parents lots of scheduling flexibility, so you can sign up at the last minute. Lest you think this list is just for summer camp, keep it handy: Many offer of these single-day summer camps also offer programming during the random days off that pepper the NYC public school calendar. There's even a cool workspace on the list that provides childcare and kids' activities while parents get some work done.

If you need more coverage than these one-day summer camps and classes offer, bookmark our Summer Camp Guide and NYC Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps in NYC by type, age, and neighborhood.

Upcycle your cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes, and more with these cardboard crafts kids love.

How many times have you bought your kids a new toy, and had them toss the toy aside and play for hours with a cardboard box? When it comes to keeping kids happily occupied, nothing is quite as cheap, easy, and effective as empty cardboard boxes.

With a little imagination, empty cardboard boxes and other recycled and upcycled cardboard pieces easily become the foundation of a cardboard box house, a cardboard box car, and an endless amount of cardboard crafts.

Check out our other paper crafts for kids for hours of crafting fun. We've got hundreds of crafting ideas and more in our Guide to Boredom Busters for Kids. For more suggestions on recycled crafts for kids, check out our Earth Kids Guide.

Did you know you can go horseback riding in New York City? While your NYC apartment probably won't accommodate a pet pony, you can indulge your child’s love of horses without leaving town. There are several options for family-friendly horseback riding and grooming lessons, plus drop-in trail riding experiences, which offer a unique way to experience the great outdoors in NYC.

While, sadly, there are no stables in Manhattan, you can go horseback riding in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. If that's not enough animal fun for your kid, consider booking an overnight at one of these local farms, and find more animal fun in our Guide to Family-Friendly Farms and Pick-Your-Own Fun near NYC.

There are so many things to do in Ventura with kids; there are family-friendly activities and entertainment as far as the coastline stretches. Ventura has remained refreshingly authentic with a small selection of places to eat, beaches framed by privately owned houses, grassy parks, and tasteful walkways. Pile the kids in the car, and head up the 101 to this happy little spot—you won't regret it.

Looking for more day trips from LA? Keep driving up the coast to check out Santa Barbara, or browse our ultimate beach guide to find plenty of sandy spots for your family.