Newport Beach may be synonymous with surf, sun, and sand, but there's plenty more to do in this scenic community beyond lying on the (admittedly inviting) beach. From whale watching to skate parks and petting zoos, there are countless kid-friendly activities to engage a family in the heart of Newport Beach—plus a wide variety of enriching options in adjoining Costa Mesa as well.

And when SoCal's version of winter rolls around, some of the season's most memorable events take place in these two communities, including one of the oldest holiday traditions in the country. 

For more amusement in Orange County, discover fun things to do in Irvine with kids, and add these things to do with Orange County kids before they grow up to your ever-growing bucket list. If you're looking for more sandy beaches along the coast, check out our Beach Guide to Los Angeles and Orange County.  

"Getting away from it all" and spending time camping in the woods sounds idyllic, but let's face it: Sometimes—especially when kids are involved—you just need something a little extra.

Whether it's a water slide, a museum, a side trip to a historic site, or even a cricket pitch, the campsites we list below offer that little something more to keep everyone entertained, get the kids off their phones for a bit, and fend off cries of "I'm bored!" All sites are within a reasonable distance, so they're far enough to get away from civilization but close enough for comfort.

For more summertime fun, check out our Ultimate Westchester and Hudson Valley Kids Summer Vacation Guide. And be sure to follow on Facebook and sign up for our sign up for our newsletters.

Glamping sites and campgrounds with cabins on Long Island offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. From the beaches that line our shores, to our rivers, wetlands, and forests, there is an abundance of nature to become one with on Long Island–and you don't need a sleeping bag or tent to do it.

Here is our list of the top glamping campgrounds on Long Island. Some locations have cabin rentals, while others offer RV and camper hookups. 

Check out our list of the 18 Best Places to Go Camping on Long Island with Kids for more great camping ideas. 

The Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania are home to a variety of beautiful campgrounds, cabins, and RV sites, so it’s no wonder the area is a popular vacation destination for New Jerseyans. Just an hour away for those near the border in Warren County and not too far from other areas of the state, getting to the Poconos is a doable drive with young kids in the backseat.

The 10 family-friendly sites listed below are fun options for camping in tents, RVs, or cabins. For nearby entertainment, we also have a guide to kid-friendly activities in the Poconos area. If you prefer to stay in NJ, then check out our list of the best family campgrounds in New Jersey and our guide to the state’s many playgrounds and parks.

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.