Just because Hartford isn't near a shoreline doesn't mean kids have to venture far to enjoy the water. Plenty of Hartford-area parks are outfitted with fun spraygrounds, splash pads, and fountains to beat the heat, no pool membership required. Here are some of our kids' very favorite water play areas, most of which are free—so there's no need to bring your wallet (just towels and sunscreen)!

Be sure and check out our guide to the Top 15 Swimming Pools for Families in Connecticut for more places to cool off the kids. Our Connecticut Summer Fun Guide includes more fun ideas for keeping kids active and busy in July and August.

The pretty southern Vermont town of Manchester is nestled in the Green Mountains, making it the perfect New England getaway for hiking, skiing, biking, and all sorts of outdoor pursuits.

Manchester undoubtedly shines in the winter, but with dozens of restaurants, numerous retail and factory shops, and tons of outdoor activities, this quaint Vermont town is a fun place to visit any time of year. My family loves the area and frequently visits for summer vacation.

If rainy days and Mondays always bring you down, it's probably because you feel stuck indoors. While a rainy day here and there is a great excuse for cuddling on the couch and watching movies, baking cookies, or crafting, a few rainy days in a row can be a real drag.

But don't fret, there are so many ways to get out of the house and have an indoor adventure in Philadelphia—from indoor playgrounds to more educational experiences— than we can possibly name in one list. It could rain for 40 days and 40 nights and there would still be plenty to explore.

NYC has no shortage of sky-high observation decks, but much like the city's collection of skyscrapers, there always seems to be room for one more, and the developers of One Vanderbilt have some daring details in store for the city's newest soaring attraction, Summit One Vanderbilt, which opens this fall.

Set to launch on Thursday, October 21, Summit One Vanderbilt seeks to stand out from its neighbors with a thrilling design, including an all-glass elevator that travels up the building facade to a height of 1,210 feet, top-notch culinary experiences, and even an immersive art installation.

Read on for details on the development, and if you can't wait until October to take in soaring city views, consider visiting the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, the classic Empire State Building, the soaring One World Observatory, or the Top of the Rock right now.

My family loves spending a day at the zoo. There are so many zoos around Southern California but for us, nothing beats the good old LA Zoo. It’s close by, appeals to kids of all ages, has great exhibits and programs, and even has a petting zoo where kids can get hands-on experience with animals. The LA Zoo also hosts amazing holiday activities, camps, and sleepovers. Over the years we’ve picked up a ton of helpful tips and secrets that make spending a day with the wildlife an easy and memorable experience for your family.

Located in the middle of Griffith Park, there are so many other things nearby for kids to do! The Autry Museum of the American West is right across the street, Travel Town is around the corner, and Shane's Inspiration (one of the best playgrounds in LA) is just down the street. So when you visit the LA Zoo, plan on spending the rest of the day exploring Griffith Park.

Just two hours from New York City or Philadelphia, the Pocono Mountains offer pristine natural beauty mixed with enough family-friendly activities to fill a long weekend getaway or an entire summer vacation. Truly a four-season resort area, during the winter people flock to the Poconos for skiing and other winter sports, and the cool lake-dotted mountains draw families for swimming, hiking, boating, horseback riding, and more in the summer. It's also loaded with great water park resorts, both indoor and outdoor, and lovely cabin rentals, many of them either lakeside or mountainside.

While nothing has been easy about this past year, one small upside has been the number of great outdoor parks and preserves we’ve visited in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. From Croton Gorge Park to Minnewaska State Park, my family and I have been able to spend time in nature and truly take in the natural beauty that is practically right in our own backyard. On the agenda recently: A visit to Lasdon Park & Arboretum, a 234-acre park on Route 35 in Katonah.

Bought by the Lasdon family in the 1930s as its "country retreat," Westchester County purchased the land in the mid-1980s, transforming it into a public green space with gorgeous gardens, lots of family-friendly walking paths, and (best of all for the kids) a Dinosaur Garden. There is plenty here to keep Westchester families engaged, and it makes a great day trip destination for New York City families, too.

Read on for more details on how to fill your day at Lasdon Park & Arboretum, and find more outdoor fun in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds.

After much anticipation, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center has finally unveiled its brand new Nature Playscape. Envisioned in the Arboretum's master plan years ago, the new play area is unlike a traditional playground; this play space is inspired by nature and designed to complement the surrounding vegetation. Native Texas flora is incorporated throughout the playground, growing lush and vibrant along the winding walkways.

The individual climbing structures and the various sections of the park are created with natural materials like logs, wood, and rope, that blend in nicely with the surrounding landscape. Best of all, this exciting new Nature Playscape is yet another attraction that visitors of the Houston Arboretum can enjoy for free.