The Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center offers interactive exhibits and hands-on animal experiences right on Jones Beach's coastline. Unlike other Jones Beach attractions, the nature center is indoors, so it's perfect for any season. Plus, admission to the center is free. 

My animal-loving kids love that the center lets them touch awesome sea creatures and play with different materials. 

Can't get enough of nature? Check out our guide to Long Island Nature Centers.

As the celestial spectacle of total solar eclipse 2024 approaches, families are anticipating the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness this awe-inspiring event together. During the solar eclipse 2024 on Monday, April 8, the moon passes in front of the sun, casting a shadow upon the Earth resulting in moments of complete darkness in the middle of the day for those in the path of totality.

While the solar eclipse 2024 cuts across a great swath of the United States, the path of totality—where complete darkness exists—crosses over eastern and northern New York state, giving local families the chance to take a day trip or long weekend to witness the excitement. But, take note: The solar eclipse 2024 is expected to draw huge crowds, so if you want to travel to the path of totality, book now.

We've got the scoop on all the best events and destinations to witness the solar eclipse 2024 in New York state, plus family-friendly hotels to stay in, and more fun to round out your trip. Find more family-travel destinations in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offers a thrilling adventure for visitors of all ages. Ascending the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon, the tramway provides breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley and beyond. 

At the Mountain Station, located at an elevation of 8,516 feet, families can explore hiking trails, enjoy dining with scenic vistas, revel in winter activities, and experience the natural beauty of the San Jacinto Mountains. With cooler temperatures and stunning landscapes, the tramway offers a refreshing escape from the desert heat and unforgettable memories for families seeking outdoor recreation and exploration at new heights. 

Explore more to do in Palm Springs with kids, plan road trips from Los Angeles for a family getaway, and find adventures in our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families. 

For decades, American kids have made lasting summer memories at sleepaway camps from New England to the West Coast. But, what about the adults? Enter: Family Camps with cabin camping. Many popular sleepaway camps open their bunkhouses to families for weekend or week-long family camps each spring, summer, and/or fall.

Family camps offer families an entire summer camp experience with a slew of activities including sports, hiking, boating, arts and crafts, and more. Nearly all of them serve up three meals a day, and some offer extra perks like evening happy hours and movies under the stars.

Here are 20 family camps with cabin camping in the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West Coast. Get even more fun family vacation ideas in our Family Travel Guide. And if your kids are ready to attend an overnight camp on their own, find the perfect one in our US Sleepaway Camp Guide.

Brooklyn can't be beat for indoor playgrounds. From Play Kids in Greenpoint to Fairytale Island in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn kids have some prime indoor playgrounds to explore.

While we've included a couple of mellow tot spots with crafts or storytelling, this list of the best indoor play spaces in Brooklyn is focused on active indoor playgrounds, where toddlers, preschoolers, and even bigger kids can conquer multilevel mazes, swoosh down slides, climb rock walls, or just turn around in circles until they fall down exhausted and ready for a nap.

Read on for the best drop-in indoor play spaces in Brooklyn and find more indoor playgrounds citywide in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces.

Board books for babies are the perfect way to spend time together and foster a lifelong love of books and reading. From classic tales to brand-new reads, there are so many incredible board books that babies can gnaw on, play with, flip through, have read to them, and one day even read!

Sweet, silly, profane, profound, inclusive, and interactive—these are our tried and true recommendations for the best board books to read with your baby.

For more tips on building a fabulous home library check out lists of our favorite banned kids' books, bedtime stories for kids, and even 100 Books Every Kid Should Read. They're all in our Best Kids' Books Guide.

Upper Manhattan families take note: Play Street Museum has just debuted on the Upper West Side bringing with it a brand-new mini-city perfect for imaginative play. Geared toward children ages 8 and younger, the new play space is a perfect destination for cold or rainy days and offers a creative outlet for little New Yorkers.

Read on for all the ways you can play at Play Street Museum, which seems destined to make its way onto our list of Manhattan's best drop-in play spaces, and find more fun places to play in our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones in NYC.

San Francisco with kids in just three days may surprise and delight you with all there is to do and see! Sure, the city is pretty expansive and has tons of attractions. With a perfect itinerary, you can have an ideal mix of adventure and relaxation without missing the most iconic hot spots in San Francisco with kids. 

As a mom in San Francisco, I love sharing my favorite city with fellow families. This San Francisco with kids itinerary includes notable landmarks like Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf, but it also has hidden gems, incredible family-friendly restaurants, and gorgeous outdoor spaces. 

If you've got more than three days in San Francisco with kids, explore the Presidio Tunnel Tops, embark on family-friendly urban hiking trails, and find some hidden gems in our Free Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids Guide.