Historic mansions may not be the first thing kids (or their parents) think of when planning a fun-filled outing, but take a closer look. Westchester County is home to several historic homes that offer visitors more than just a glimpse into the past. Many have dedicated kids programming, annual and seasonal events, fairs and festivals and stunning displays and exhibitions. We've covered many of these events on Mommy Poppins, including the debut of Lightscapes, and the annual Sheep-to-Shawl and Great Jack O'Latern Blaze at Philipsburg Manor.

Now we've got the scoop on six historic mansions throughout Westchester that are worth checking out with the entire family. These architecturally stunning homes have been restored or maintained throughout the years (and in some cases, centuries) and offer a peak into prominent, wealthy family life (in the case of the Rockefellers), colonial life during the 18th century and so much more, as well as interactive programming that brings history to life in fun, educational and unforgettable ways.

The weather forecast for this weekend is sunny and in the low 80s -- perfect weather for getting outside. Early birds can go corn-picking this weekend on Verrill Farm. The Ignite Festival lights up Union Square with fire spinners and great food. Check out the Wharf Festival, part of the week-long Summer on the Waterfront series. You can party country style at Faneuil Hall with the Hoedown at the Hall, or meet Wally the Green Monster at the Stone Zoo. Interested in catching an outdoor movie? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace are both playing on outdoor screens this weekend.

Also on Mommy Poppins this Weekend:

• Tara gives us great ideas for things to do on Spectacle Island and Georges Island. And the ferry to the Harbor Islands is free this Friday as part of the Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays, so there is no better time to visit.
• Stephanie gives us 5 Ways to Incorporate Technology into Our Play -- more great ideas for our Summer of Play Challenge. There is still time to enter to win a Go Out and Play pack from Kaboom so don't forget to share your pictures with us on facebook, instagram, and twitter with the hashtags #playmatters and #summerofplay.
• Ally gives us the recipe for Blueberry Yogurt Pops, so you and your family can cool down after all that playing outside.

Don't forget to check the Mommy Poppins calendar for even more fun, and enjoy your weekend!

This weekend you have two options: Take the red pill and it’s hasta la vista summer, hello school. Pop the blue one and your summer never ends. Red pill and this weekend is your last hurrah (better watch that bedtime; you need to be bright and early on Monday and/or Tuesday). Blue pill and you can sleep in all you want (unless you want to catch some killer waves).

Some choices are made for you, but others are yours alone to make. How will you decide between the closing weekend of the Ventura County Fair and the closing weekend of the Orange County Fair?  Between the free My Little Pony Shakespeare in Culver City, and the free Grimm-inspired comedy in Culver City? Between the Natsumatsuri Festival at the Japanese American National Museum, Shark Week at the Natural History Museum, Shine and the Moonbeams at the Getty, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band at the LevittLA Concert series, the celebrity-filled Annual Children’s Festival of the Arts, Gladys Knight and Kool & the Gang at the Hollywood Bowl, or a meet-and-greet with PBS Kids' Arthur … which free screening will you attend? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? A Star Trek double feature? Field of Dreams? The Wizard of Oz or Despicable Me?

Whatever choice you make, we hope you do so with curiosity and joy. Because whether you spend it in the classroom or out in the endless bounty of the So Cal outdoors, this season is still the Summer of Play.

Keep reading for the many, many choices available to you this weekend ....

We loved Adventure Aquarium's KidZone back in the spring, but AA is all about the sharks this summer. Big ones. Scary ones. Prehistoric ones. 17 species call the aquarium home, more than anywhere on the east coast. And there’s a little bit of shark thrill for every age, from the cheerful, cartoony Great White sculpture that welcomes tiny tots to the impressive hammerheads. Here’s the lowdown on “Shark Fest”.  Dive in!

Three of our top picks for August take place this weekend: the FREE Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a trio of offbeat FringeJr family theater shows at the 14th Street Y and the second installment of Manhattan's car-free Summer Streets. My family is really looking forward to that last one (we go every year), plus we hope to make it out to Governors Island for its Civil War Heritage Weekend.

Whatever yo do this weekend, remember to share photos of your family having fun on social media for a chance to win our SUMMER OF PLAY grand prize: Everything you need to throw the ULTIMATE SUMMER OF PLAY BASH, including gift cards for toys, tableware and decorations, and healthy snacks. If you need playtime inspiration, we have hundreds of ideas in our SUMMER OF PLAY GUIDE.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

It may be the lazy days of summer but we're going full throttle here at Mommy Poppins with (almost all) good news. In fact, we have lots of things to sing about, in particular a brand-new series of kiddie music classes created by children's music legend and NYC mom Laurie Berkner. Plus info on signing up for this year's edition of Morningside Lights, how to snag two-for-one Broadway theater tickets come September, the latest on the battle to keep public school student data private, the sad closure of an Old New York soda fountain and other tidbits of interest to NYC families.

Growing up in the midwest, seafood was always sort of a special thing … or a strange thing.  Raising my kids on the coast, I don’t want them to have a second thought, or have them sneering at a lovely clambake spread.  Even if you’re a fifth generation New Englander, you can still have a kid with an aversion to the smell/look, etc. of any given sea creature.  I figure part of the fun, and all of the flavor, is contingent on finding a good fish market — one with good selection, fair prices and fish heads for the kids to squeal about.  Bonus points if you can find one that's sourcing responsibly.  (Click here for a free guide to guilt-free fish buying, published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium). We’ve only begun our hunt as a family, but I’ve had time to sample a few over the years, and polled my friends across Fairfield County for their faves.

August might be upon us, but summer in the Hamptons and the North Fork is still in full swing with more than a few family-friendly events happening, from the Sag Harbor Fire Department Carnival to a flea market in Westhampton Beach. We've come up with 9 must-attend events during the weekend of August 8-10.

Be sure to check out our Long Island Calendar for more kid-friendly activities, as well as our Hamptons and North Fork Guide. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can receive our roundup of fun things to do delivered directly to your inbox.

And for those of you staying out on the East End during the week, be sure to check out CMEE's Summer Concert Series every Tuesday this month. Mommy Poppins Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide is a proud sponsor and we'll be on hand each week with a new prize to give away! This Tuesday (8/12) will feature Tim and the Space Cadets, and we're giving away a $200 voucher toward a Manhattan birthday party.