Rockaway Beach is home to soft sand and formidable Atlantic Ocean waves—it's the only shore in NYC where you're allowed to surf. Although this area was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, the boardwalk and Rockaway Park have been renovated with amazing playgrounds and water play areas. It's a perfect spot for a beachy daycation and much closer to home for locals than The Hamptons.

Read on for all you need to know about spending a day at Rockaway Beach with kids. Beyond the basics—sand! surf!—we've outlined need-to-know info like how to get to Rockaway Beach and the best things to do when you arrive at this NYC summer favorite. Find more local beaches to explore in our Guide to NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks.

Trivia questions for kids are a fun way to battle boredom, learn new things, and keep kids’ brains active. Whether your family is on a long car ride, stuck inside on a rainy day, or just in the mood for some friendly competition, trivia questions are sure to entertain and enlighten kids of all ages. Plus, your kiddos will have some interesting facts to share at school or at their next party.

Here are 100 trivia questions for kids, including everything from animal facts and history trivia to Disney and sports trivia. We made sure to provide the answers too, just in case you get stumped! Once you've gotten through this list, read up on our list of 75 Fun Facts For Kids, and then find more ways to keep idle minds busy in our Boredom Busters for Kids guide.

After my daughter was born, our mommy-and-me classes were a bright spot in the middle of some of the longest days. Not only did our yoga class help me regain my strength, it was also a place where I could form lasting bonds with other new parents in the city. Having a self-care routine proved essential for me after becoming a new mama—and my daughter seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, too.

The beauty of good postnatal mommy-and-me classes is that instructors have designed workouts just for postpartum bodies, plus they understand if you or your little one are having a challenging day. Mommy-and-me classes should be a judgment-free, safe zone for you and your baby.

Here are places and programs that regularly offer mommy-and-me exercise classes in New York City. As with any new exercise program, check with your doctor for the go-ahead. For more classes, check out our NYC Classes Guide for Kids or search our classes directory to find programs by age, interest, and borough from the Bronx to Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

Mattel's iconic Barbie dolls have been a childhood staple for decades. There aren't many adults alive that remember a childhood without the fashion dolls. Even today, with TV shows and an ever-expanding lineup of dolls, Barbie is as popular as ever. For anyone seeking a dose of nostalgia,

World of Barbie in Santa Monica is the place to get your fix. The experience combines an Instagram-ready walk-through with interactive activities and informative exhibits about the history of the toy. There's something for everyone at this immersive experience for tiny toddlers to Baby Boomer grandparents to enjoy the world of pink. 

While you're on the westside, check out all these other fun activities for kids in Santa Monica, and if Barbie's beach house or other beaches are on the mind, browse our Beach Guide to Los Angeles and Orange County. 

STEM activities are all the rage in education right now, and for good reason. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) – and the Arts for STEAM – are crucial to kids’ learning and our future. But how to get your younger children interested? They might not be ready for coding, but many preschoolers under age 5 can enjoy some basic STEM principles through play.

Below we've got easy instructions to help you and your budding scientist build an apple boat or a toothpick-marshmallow castle, attempt a pom-pom drop, or indulged in baking soda science. Read on for a list of 25 tried-and-true screen-free STEM activities to do with your preschooler.

For more science experiments for kids of all ages, check out our list of 64 easy science experiments for kids, try our colorful Skittles science experiment, or enjoy one of our magical light experiments for toddlers and preschoolers—all of which can be found in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids. Happy discovering!

Atlantic City is known for its casinos and fun for adults, but the city has plenty of children’s entertainment, including the Steel Pier amusement park. The 1,000-foot-long Steel Pier extends from the Atlantic City boardwalk and sits right across from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which is where my family stayed during spring break. My husband, two kids, and I were able to easily walk from our hotel to the pier.

With more than 20 rides for families to enjoy plus boardwalk games and snacks, Steel Pier is a fun way to spend an afternoon in Atlantic City. My 6-year-old was tall enough to get on many of the rides by himself, which was a relief to me and my husband, who only had to squeeze onto a few kiddie rides that required adult accompaniment.

Read on for tips for parents to know before they go. For even more fun in the area, check out our guide to Atlantic City with kids and the best spots on the Jersey Shore.

Sometimes the best NYC playgrounds are hidden in plain sight and at Ravenswood Playground in Astoria, Queens this is certainly the case.

If you are looking for a new playground that doesn’t disappoint, look no further than this NYC playground. While Astoria has always had a great history of parks and playgrounds, with the most well-known being its namesake Astoria Park, Ravenswood Playground is the new park on the block, and it’s not messing around. Read on for the highlights of this new romping spot, which made our list of the new NYC playground we couldn't wait to visit, and find all our top NYC playground picks in our Parks and Playgrounds Guide for NYC Kids.

Kemah and its boardwalk may be just 20 miles from downtown Houston, but it delivers a drastic change of scenery from city life. The Kemah waterfront is packed with kid-friendly attractions that will keep the whole family entertained for hours.

Kemah, Texas, is well known for its delicious and family-friendly restaurants, which make for the perfect lunch or dinner after a long day with kids. And the boardwalk has plenty to keep you entertained between meals, from amusement park-style rides to the fascinating Stingray and Reef exhibit.

For more family fun south of town, check out our ultimate guide of things to do with kids in Galveston. 

You can also save with the top attractions in Houston with Go City - Houston card. By purchasing this ticket, you receive admission to several Houston attractions at half the regular price: Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo or the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Kemah Boardwalk or the Children’s Museum Houston.