Just a hare's breath north of the Bronx borough line, Yonkers, New York State's fourth most populous city, is full of beautiful greenery and lush open space. From stately mansions to meandering bike paths, it is a city that is simultaneously steeped in history and accelerating into the future. Because there is just so much for families to do here, we are dedicating this post to amazing outdoor play spaces for kids in Yonkers--and keep your eyes peeled for our top picks for indoor play coming soon.

Every year at this time, I feel as distracted as a toddler in a roomful of bubbles. It's hard to focus on anything because I'm so excited about the Memorial Day holiday. (And if this is happening to me, I don't even want to imagine how my eight-year-old is acting in school this week.) My family and I are looking forward to a fun-filled Memorial Day weekend NYC staycation—the beach, Governors Island and a Bronx backyard barbecue are all on our agenda. Lots of big seasonal attractions open for the season this Saturday so be sure to check our just-updated Summer Fun Guide to see all of your options.

Of course this is a big weekend for leaving town, too, and you'll find great family getaway ideas on all of our regional sites, from beaches with playgrounds on Long Island to outdoor water adventures in Connecticut to pick-your-own flower farms in New Jersey. If you'd like to teach your kids about the significance of the holiday, there are patriotic Memorial Day parades throughout the tri-state area and military ship tours right here in NYC.

Before any of us can lose focus again (it's hard, right?), we want to wish you and your family a happy holiday, whatever you end up doing. Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Most of my kids love amusement parks. For my three little ones, there is no ride too big, too scary or too fast (though the height restrictions sometimes say otherwise). As our family balloons to five children this year, amusement parks are becoming more of a luxury (all of those tickets add up). But what makes an amusement park outing even more challenging for us than money is our teen with special needs. Unlike his siblings, he's not a fan of rides, screaming children, roller coasters or that big bucket that dumps water on everyone's heads. So it takes a lot of planning to have a successful theme park experience with my brood.

Luckily, there are five wonderful theme parks near New York City that can accommodate my son with special needs while still delivering a thrilling time for the rest of my family. Most are within a two-hour drive of Manhattan (also good if your children with special needs hates being cooped up in a car, like mine). A few have park-wide special needs programs in place; the others host special needs-friendly days when the usual sensory triggers (all the screaming and loud music and lights) are kept to a minimum. Here are five special-needs friendly amusement parks near NYC.

A few weeks ago I let my daughter bring a pair of binoculars on our weekly hike. She is not always the most enthusiastic hiker so I was pleasantly surprised when she immediately perked up. The next week I picked up a birding book and she started checking off all of the different birds we saw. Turns out, bird watching can instill a real appreciation of nature in children. New Jersey's wide variety of distinct habitats and location on the Atlantic Flyway make it a great place for bird watchers to enjoy over 400 different species of birds. Kids naturally gravitate toward nature when given the chance, so give them a pair of binoculars and open their eyes to the wonders of birding at one of these great birding spots and sanctuaries. For more outdoor fun, check out our post on family friendly hikes in Central New Jersey.

Cooking is a favorite pastime in our house, so my daughter has been in the kitchen since day the day she came home--first in a sling, then in a bouncy seat and, eventually, on a stepstool at the kitchen counter. I’d like to say she’s willing taste everything she cooks, but she’s willing to at least touch it.

Whether your kids are just getting started on their culinary adventures or ready to step out of the home kitchen and work with the professionals, Mommy Poppins has you covered. Westchester County is chock full of classes for the littlest helpers, seasoned sous chefs and talented teens.

Looking for more fun ideas? Check out our Spring Activity Guide. 

This weekend you can honor the men and women who have lost their lives in military service to their country by visiting the Garden of Flags on the Boston Common or doing patriotic crafts at the USS Constitution (for more ideas, take a look at our Memorial Day events roundup). Several new exhibits open this weekend at area museums, including the summer Play on the Plaza and Tree Canopy Walkway at the Ecotarium in Worcester and the 2theXtreme Math Alive! and Grossology exhibits at the Museum of Science. LEGOLAND also opens its doors this weekend. Music lovers have a lot to celebrate this weekend: The Boston Calling Music Festival returns to City Hall Plaza, Alastair Moock sings at the JFK library, and families get together for a Pete Seeger Sing-a-long to raise money for Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders.  As always, check out our full event calendar for even more ideas.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Anna gives us the scoop on the Bing in the Classroom and Bing Rewards programs.
• The Appalachian Mountain Club shares Four Up-Close Animal Encounters in New England.
• Stephanie gives instructions for Marble Painting with your Preschooler as part of our Wee-Work series. To get Wee-Work activities in your inbox, click here.

Enjoy your weekend!

After this long, harsh, Connecticut winter, what a relief to glimpse the calendar and see Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff of summer, finally right around the corner!  While you might feel like it crept up on you, and you're wondering what to do with the kiddos over the three day holiday, never fear!  We here at Mommy Poppins have the state covered and have a round up of all the best parades, events, festivals and family fun for Memorial Day 2014!

First on most to-do lists is taking in a good Memorial Day parade, and there are no shortage over the holiday weekend.  On Sunday, Ledyard, Rowayton, and Monroe, all honor fallen heroes with their parades.  Monday is the big parade day, and you can pick from East Lyme/Niantic,  Darien, and Wilton.  Be sure to check our calendar for the full round up of parades and step off times.

After the parades, or instead of one, there are plenty of other family friendly activities to take in all weekend long:

We may live in a concrete jungle but there are still plenty of great ways to connect with nature in New York City. And with the renewed interest in waterfront access in NYC, it's easier than ever to get out on the water to row, canoe and kayak during the summer months.

As part of our ongoing commitment to highlighting interesting nature outings for families in NYC, Mommy Poppins is proud to launch a series of guest posts by the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors New York City. Kids Outdoors is a FREE online community for families filled with ideas on outdoor activities in the NYC area and expert advice on how to get started. Our first post is by Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert, Outdoors with Kids New York City authors and local parents. They took their children, ages 7 and 10, kayaking in NYC for the first time and shared their experience and important tips for families. They've got the scoop on the best places to go kayaking with kids for FREE in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.