We are generally NOT a family of outdoorsy folks.  Our idea of connecting with nature is bird/critter watching, in the woods surrounding our home, from the comfort and safety of our deck.  However, as my kids have gotten older, they've expressed more of an interest in "adventuring", as they call it, traversing through the woods, hiking, and the like.  Even though a fellow Mommy Poppins writer wrote about ziplining at Catamount, as a bona fide city gal myself, I've balked and defaulted much of these activities to my husband.  But, very recently, at the strong urging of my family, I found myself en route to The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT, to enjoy a day of fun in the great outdoors.  I had no idea just what excitement, thrill and fun I was in for.  But I soon found out!

Although some New York City outdoor music and performance series are created specifically with children in mind, there are lots of grown-up ones that families can enjoy, too. At these wonderful alfresco events—most of which take place in parks and plazas—families can pack a picnic, stake out a spot, lay down a blanket and soak up some culture at no cost. Don't worry if the kids aren't totally into it; sit along the perimeter and let them run around, dance and play and they'll be happy.

While many series including SummerStage, Celebrate Brooklyn! and Lincoln Center Out of Doors host dedicated family days, it's worth browsing their full schedules. There's no minimum age to enjoy jazz, classical or rock, right?

We've rounded up NYC's best FREE outdoor music and performance series and highlighted the events we think will be of particular interest to families. You can find even more family fun in our jam-packed Summer Guide.

This page will be updated as the info for 2015 becomes available. So far this summer, we've rounded up free sports programs, free concerts, free movies and free things to do every day over school break. Now we've got the scoop on the free Summer Play Streets program, which kicks off on Monday, July 7. New York City kids in all five boroughs can enjoy old-school supervised outdoor activities at no cost, courtesy of the Police Athletic League.

Confession:  I have never chaperoned a school field trip.  It’s been 29 years since I set foot on a yellow school bus.  Given the choice of a group tour or a month without chocolate, I’d forego the sweets.  Our kids go apoplectic at the suggestion of any outing not involving electronic entertainment, so you can imagine my trepidation at accompanying a class of second graders on an educational trip to the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg.  Forget enjoying this day, I was just hoping I’d come out alive.

In the final post of our epic five part series covering the City of Yonkers, Mommy Poppins is looking at the best places to take the kids for family friendly meal. From breakfast to dessert, fancy to fast, Greek to Cuban, there is plenty to choose from on the busy streets of Westchester's largest city. If Italian food is what you're looking for, you're definitely in luck. Not far from Bronx's Arthur Ave, Yonkers is known for its generous pizza slices. 

My family and I had Coney Island practically to ourselves on opening day last Saturday thanks to stormy skies. While in Luna Park, we got a sneak peek at its newest ride, the Thunderbolt roller coaster, tentatively scheduled to open next weekend. Also coming soon: a brand-new mini-amusement park at Staten Island's Midland Beach. Looks like this summer is shaping up to be a fun and dizzy one.

This week we launched our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for the season, in case you're planning on a weekend getaway or perhaps a whole summer on Long Island's East End. Be sure to check our LI site for frequent posts about the best things to do in the area with kids, like family-friendly fishing charters and the best weekend events. You'll find other great summer day trip ideas, like New Jersey playgrounds with free mini zoos or boating in Westchester, on all of our regional sites, and more far-flung destinations such as San Antonio, Texas on our Travel site.

If you're sticking around the city this season like my family, make sure you check out our roundup of the best things to do with kids this June and our list of more than 50 NYC summer camps that still have space. Speaking of camp, we're currently giving away a FREE week of Summer Media Camp at Queens' Museum of the Moving Image. Enter now.

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

May is winding down, summer is on the horizon and there are lots of fun events happening this weekend throughout Westchester. To help you get ready, we've rustled up our top weekend picks including nature themed activities, art festivals, musical performances and more.

Of historical significance, this weekend marks the 70^th anniversary of D-Day, and Lasdon Commemorates D-Day has planned a full day of displays, period music and dancing, memorabilia and more to commemorate the Normandy invasion. Also noteworthy this weekend is the annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks. There’s still time for you to sign up--you can even form a team!

Other weekend events include the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival, which showcases the work of local artists while raising money for kids’ arts scholarships or you can shop for crafts, food and other items at the Tarrytown Craft, Food & Street Fair. And if you haven’t yet seen Lightscapes--the light-and-art installation of elements found in nature--this weekend is your last chance before the exhibit closes.

For unadulterated carnival fun, the ICS Carnival is a can’t-miss with full-fledged rides, carnival games (with decent prizes!), classic carnival fare including candy apples and cotton candy, sand art and more. This runs Thursday through Sunday.

Read on for our best bets--many of which are FREE. As always, if something piques your interest, be sure to click through to the event listing for full details. To stay in the know, sign up for our weekly newsletter--it's FREE! And don't forget to check out our Events Calendar for more events happening this weekend and beyond!