My daughter and I recently found ourselves with several morning hours to pass in North Salem, and as we hopped from place to place it was clear that the best word to describe the character of this northern Westchester town is peaceful. Children played tag and basketball in the parks, leafed happily though books at the local library, licked ice cream cones in the painted Adirondack chairs outside the farm markets and watched for brightly colored fish in burbling gazing pools. We wrap up July’s spotlight on North Salem with a look at where local families and visitors can play, learn, relax and explore in this sleepy suburb. 

Summer in the Hamptons and the North Fork is in full swing with more than a few family-friendly events happening, from the Zoppe Family Circus in Westhampton Beach to an ice cream social and a kite-fly. We've come up with 8 must-attend events during the weekend of August 1-3.

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, 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!

Ease into the laid back month of August with some fun & low-key summer activities this weekend. Stuff your face silly with juicy fruit at Terhune Orchards’ Just Peachy Festival, take a Farm Wagon Ride around Fosterfields Historical Living Farm or get muddy during Pond Study at Liberty State Park. For some great entertainment, check out the summer stock production of Oklahoma at Morris Museum or take your little superhero fan to see Marvel Universe Live at the IZOD Center. Also, you can check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar and don't miss our Summer of Play Guide with 100s of ideas for a fun, playful, and tech-free summer!

Last week I was looking to take the kids on a family adventure that would involve nature, water and lots of fun. I decided to take the family out for a canoe trip down the Farmington River. I had found Huck Finn Adventures, which has been guiding people down the river for nearly thirty years. They offer a 3, 5 or 9 mile trip. We opted for the three mile trip which ended up taking just under three hours! Turns out we could have walked to our destination in much less time but that wouldn't have been nearly as fun or beautiful, now would it?

We used our GPS to find the starting point and became a little confused when it led us into an Avon, CT shopping center. There's a dirt road right next to the center and that's where you want to go. You'll drive down a little bit before seeing the van, kayaks, canoes and life jackets. The owner John was there to greet us and give us the scoop on how our trip would proceed.

Whether it’s a child’s birthday party or graduation celebration, parents want their event to be memorable for everyone. Throwing a party at an indoor bounce place has a ton of advantages; not only do kids love to jump and play (and parents love that their little ones get to blow off some steam), but there's no need to worry about bad weather, setting up, or cleaning up. While there's no shortage of indoor party places in Westchester, Bounce! Trampoline Sports in Valley Cottage sets the bar high with an array of fun and unique activities for all ages.

Who says there’s no such thing as a free meal? Restaurants throughout Central New Jersey offer free kid meal promotions nearly every night of the week. You’ll never cook again. Dining out is a fun way to spend time with the family, but the bills can eat into your budget. Visit your favorite establishment on a kids-eat-free night, and you won’t have to worry overspending on kids’ entrees, especially the ones that are barely touched. Check out some of these Central New Jersey restaurants that feature free kid meals on certain nights of the week.

Complimentary meals are with the purchase of an adult meal, unless otherwise noted.

If you were raising your kids in, say, Utah—or any other place that doesn't have a Mommy Poppins daily calendar to point you in fun directions—you'd have to work a lot harder to keep your summer days playful. Our SUMMER OF PLAY partner, KaBOOM!, works with community leaders around the country to create more spaces and ways for kids to enjoy balanced and active play. Mother of three and registered nurse, Cyndalynn Tilley, is one of these community leaders in Woods Cross, Utah, and she's shared some of her favorite ideas for finding opportunities to play while doing ordinary daily activities. Backyard games are great when you have the time and space, but what about when you have to bring kids along to do chores like shopping and laundry? Even then grown-ups can help kids get the play they need to thrive.

What are your secrets for finding play in mundane situations? Share pics of your inventive playtime ideas on social media for a chance to win great prizes in our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. Then for even more inspiration, check out our SUMMER OF PLAY photo gallery on Facebook to see what others are posting.

Fishing is an inexpensive, family-friendly activity that is fun to try with kids. Not long after they learn to toddle they can practice holding a pole; as kids get older and their attention span increases, they can learn to set up the rod and reel, hook a worm, and wait for a catch. Some of the best fishing spots for kids are also swimming holes in  state or local Hartford parks, so you can pack your rods, towels, and a picnic lunch for a fun summer day.