Summer is a great time to catch up on reading, and not just because many local libraries gives out prizes. Whether your kids are nose-in-book types or the sort that require a little literary nudge, summer has plenty of room for playing your way through some great kids' books. Check out my time-tested list of vintage classics, modern classics, and recent best sellers that inspire fun activities beyond their pages—and at very little cost.  

Looking for more low-cost ideas for a summer of play? Mommy Poppins' 100 Summer Play Activities List is a great place to start.

The Fourth is over and we are deep into the middle of summer. Don’t let the doldrums take over. Los Angeles has culture and nature and many things that kids and grown-ups can enjoy together. Be sure to get to the Hollywood Bowl at least once; the Summer Sounds program designed for kids starts this week and runs through August 1. As temperatures rise, a little water play at the beach, in a pool or in the back yard with a hose will refresh and replenish. And in between all that splashing and dashing, make time for one or two of our picks for this wonderful week of summer.

Like all moms, I spend most of my time doing fun stuff with my kids. But when I get the chance to have a night out with the girls, I jump at it. I recently had the pleasure of hosting a Mom’s Night Out for a few Mommy Poppins Long Island readers at Noodles & Company in Garden City. I had such a wonderful time meeting these women and hearing about how much they love the site—not to mention enjoying the delicious food and wine!

What's the worst thing you can do before a three-day summer weekend? Write a really long blog post. So I'm going to keep this brief since I know we're all ready to start our holiday. NYC is filled with patriotic fun in honor of July 4th from Macy's iconic fireworks to sparklers in Coney Island to a kid-friendly Independence Day parade in Harlem. If your weekend is already booked, all of our sites published July Go Lists this week so you can find out about the best things to do with kids throughout the month in NYC, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and beyond. Many of our tri-state area family event picks are worth traveling for, like this weekend's Hudson Valley Balloon Festival in upstate New York, the New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival on July 19 and the Ice Cream, Blueberries and Bluegrass Bash on July 20 at Connecticut's Fort Hill Farms, which is also a great place to pick your own blueberries.

If you're looking for summer vacation destinations, check out our Travel site. This week we shared brand-new posts about the best attractions for families in Yosemite, California; Richmond, Virginia's top-notch children's museums and historic Maymont mansion; and a roundup of summer family travel deals all over the country.

And no matter where you spend this July 4th weekend, be sure to share your family's playful pics on social media for a chance to win great prizes in our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE, our season-long initiative encouraging families to spend quality time playing together.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Kids sometimes find history boring. And, really, who doesn't find memorizing lists of dates and names to be a bit dull? Kids love learning by doing, so the way to learn history is to go back in time! At a living history event, actors are in period costume, crafts relate to the time period, music and dancing are time-specific, and kids and their adults can hear the noises and smell the smells of the era. Actors dressed as historic figures talk about themselves in character, and traditional food is often available.

Family-friendly living history events occur all over greater Los Angeles (not just at that annual Renaissance Faire), and many events offer special activities for young ones. Some are completely free; others have free admission but charge for parking or pay-as-you-go activities. All of them offer an opportunity for a time-traveling weekend.

After the big family barbecues and firework shows that mark our 4th of July celebrations, you might be tempted to just put your feet up and relax a bit this coming weekend. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, if you’re looking for more family fun (or a way to entertain the restless kiddos) Jersey still has some great events going on. Check out the always popular Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards, bring your little ones to explore the Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit at Liberty Science Center or take a laid back summer hike at Tenafly Nature Center.

Also, you can check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar, and don't forget, we've declared this summer to be the Summer of Play! So what are you waiting for? Get out there, make playhouses out of cardboard, count birds and flowers on your street, paint masterpieces with sidewalk chalk, and turn your lawn into a gameboard. Looking for some inspiration? We can get you started with a list of 100 Ways to Play.

Now, play is its own reward, but there’s no reason we can’t sweeten the pot.  Share your summer fun ideas, photos, and tips on social media and we just might return the favor with some fun-makin' gear. Let the hashtags begin!

If you and your family love nature, get ready to strap on your hiking boots, pack lunch and enjoy the beauty of the East End's woodlands. From the North Fork across to the South Fork, there are plenty of hiking trails for you and your family to enjoy. It's a great way to see the natural beauty of Long Island, as well as get the whole family some exercise. Below, we list 6 family-friendly hiking trails to explore this summer. And for more kid-friendly activities, check out our Summer Fun Guide and Long Island Events Calendar.

In June we have been highlighting the City of White Plains and all it has to offer visitors and residents alike. We've covered our favorite things to do in the city, awesome parks and playgrounds and our picks for indoor fun. Now we're turning our attention to the best places for families to eat in White Plains.

While there are plenty of chain restaurants glowing bright on the street corners and inside the malls, the real dining gems in White Plains are independent, locally owned establishments. Mostly located along Mamaroneck Avenue, the main strip for small shops, these kid-friendly restaurants lend a small town feel to a large suburban city.