Indoor playgrounds on Long Island often cater to little kids, but Xplore Family Fun Center in Commack is upping the ante for action-packed all-ages fun with the addition of glow-in-the-dark go-karts. Suffolk County speed demons can now rev their engines at this local indoor entertainment zone that opened a few years ago. 

Xplore, which already offered laser tag, arcade games, inflatables, soft climbing indoor playgrounds, and a toddler zone, has now debuted its glow-in-the-dark go-karting attraction. On a recent visit, my group of tweens was delighted by the glo-karts and everything else Xplore's indoor playground had to offer. 

For similar fun zones, check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island, where we've rounded up FREE indoor play spaces, Long Island's best bowling alleys, and more.

Visiting Connecticut with kids is a great way to pack a lot of family fun into a short amount of time. While Connecticut is one of the smallest states, there are activities and attractions for all ages. The true benefit of being a small state is that everything is pretty much a short drive away. As a four-season state, Connecticut offers family-friendly beaches, swimming lakes, farms, parks, reserves, and more. There really is something for every interest. Plus, Connecticut offers delicious food! Home to the hamburger, Pez factory, CT-style lobster roll, homemade ice cream, and New Haven pizza. Who knew visiting Connecticut with kids would taste so good?

The Adirondacks Mountains are one of the most idyllic family vacation spots in the Northeast. The enormous, pristine natural setting features numerous lakes and quaint towns sprinkled across gorgeous mountains. Visitors to the Adirondack Mountains find tons of all-season outdoor adventures as well as fun, family-friendly attractions. While Lake Placid and Lake George draw throngs of visitors, we opted to stay in Schroon Lake, a cute town that's a little more laid-back, centrally located, and makes a great jumping-off point to explore the region.

Visitors can spend time hiking, boating, skiing, sledding, and even bobsledding or speed skating! In short, the Adirondack Mountains offer tons of things to do, no matter your family's interests. We've rounded up our top picks, whether you want to immerse yourself in history at Fort Ticonderoga, connect with nature at the Wild Center, or slide onto Mirror Lake in a toboggan, the Adirondack Mountains are a dreamy destination for a memorable family vacation. Of course, we've even got some options for great Adirondack hotels so you have somewhere to unwind following your Adirondack Mountains adventures.

Find more family vacation ideas in our Adirondacks, Catskills & Hudson Valley Family Travel Guide.

Indoor play spaces are the answer for South Florida days that are raining, hot, or just because. The Miami area overflows with great places to visit, and outdoor family fun is everywhere you look, but when the word of the hour is air conditioning, these indoor playgrounds beat the heat for kids of all ages. Some of them even offer great solutions for birthday parties.

Read on for our recommendations for where to play indoors, when outdoors is not an option.

So visiting Boston with kids is on the agenda? Great choice! The northeast has so much history, culture, and food to experience when traveling with your family. 

Boston is a kid-friendly city that has so much to offer. From museums to historic landmarks to family-friendly restaurants, it’s packed with adventures just waiting to be had. If you have more than 3 days planned for your family vacation, there are tons of great day trips you can plan around the Boston area. We've rounded up a few of our favorite locations for visiting Boston with kids. 

New York's Hudson Valley was recently named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 20 must-see destinations in the world and those of us lucky enough to live here know that is a prime destination for a family trip. Its picturesque hills offer stunning views and numerous activities for all seasons, from hiking and waterfall hopping in the summer to skiing and snowtubing in the winter. 

To give you the best bang for your buck, we're giving you a local's perspective on the best things to do in the Hudson Valley. You probably can't do all of these activities in three days (kids could probably spend the entire trip at Legoland), but we have included plenty of options so you can take your pick. 

For more family-friendly fun, check out our roundups of Things To Do with Kids in the Hudson Valley, Best Hudson Valley Sledding Hills, and Easy Hikes in the Hudson Valley. 

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

New York City overflows with things to do for families, and while you may have visited the city that never sleeps in your pre-parenthood youth, it’s a completely different experience with kids in tow. Lucky for you: I’m here to offer my parent-tested tips for the best things to do in NYC on a family vacation. Even locals can appreciate these picks, which are a combination of off-the-beaten-path destinations and New York City’s top attractions, all catering to a mix of ages and interests.

I’ve laid it all out in an easy-to-follow three-day itinerary, and while you can’t do it all in three days, you can definitely take a big bite out of the Big Apple. Read on for my top picks for things to do in NYC during your family vacation—or use these picks for a local staycation to explore some new-to-you sites and neighborhoods. You can find all our top things to do in NYC on our NYC kids’ bucket list and in our Visitors Guide to New York City.

Looking for things to do when visiting Houston with kids? We've got you covered with this three day itinerary packed with kid-friendly activities in Houston.

You’re sure of a big Texas welcome in Houston on a family weekend away. Houston is a large, diverse, kid-friendly city with many amazing indoor and outdoor tourist attractions. With warm weather year-round, Houston is great to visit in any season – although plan for indoor and pool time in the heat of the summer. Whether you’re looking to head to one of the world-class attractions in the Museum District or are keen to learn about space at NASA, there are hundreds of awesome things to do in Houston with kids.

When you need to take a break and enjoy local dining, most restaurants welcome small to large families with family-style meals, large booths and kids’ menus. We’ve made suggestions for eating out with some of Houston’s most famous cuisines, such as Tex-Mex, steaks, and barbecue, but if you need further inspiration, check out our Houston kid-friendly restaurant guide. And if you're looking for festivals and other special events on the days that you're in town, use our kid-friendly activity calendar.

Ready? Check into one of Houston's Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels and start exploring!