Huge, colorful, hot-air balloons will take to the skies above Rhinebeck next weekend for the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival. This summertime family favorite features synchronized launches that decorate the sky with festive colors and eye-popping designs. Whether you choose to take a ride (tethered or otherwise), or watch with your feet firmly planted on the ground, the experience is well worth a day trip.

The 28th annual festival will continue to be held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck—from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14, 2019. Read on for details about this Insta-worthy festival, and consult our Summer Activity Guide for more fun all season long. If you haven't already, stay in the know about family attractions like this by signing up for our newsletters and following us on Facebook.

Boston's neighboring Seaport District and Fort Point neighborhoods are bursting with cool new spots to play, learn, and eat, and families are flocking to live here. So it's no surprise that this waterfront district just across the channel from Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail is becoming a day-trip hot spot with young kids. Between awesome playgrounds, kid-friendly art installations, world-class museums, and drool-worthy restaurants, these 25 ideas for enjoying the Seaport and Fort Point area with kids will keep your family plenty busy when exploring the area. Warning: If you don't already live here, you may find yourself thinking about a move after reading this list!

STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) is taking off, with public schools adding STEM to their curriculum, and after-school classes and STEAM camps sprouting up throughout Westchester. For those looking to expand their kids’ exposure, we've rounded up STEAM programs throughout Westchester for kids of various ages.

Even if your child isn’t destined to become an engineer or mathematician, STEAM education is increasingly valued by educators for its ability to foster creative approaches to problem-solving and skill-building. Best of all, these enrichment classes emphasize fun, so kids needn’t worry that a class in, say, robotics or coding is just “more school.”

Looking for more ways to emphasize the A in STEAM? Check out our supplemental roundup of Westchester art classes. And find even more kids' classes and enrichment programs in our Classes Guide for Westchester Kids. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.

From Beethoven to Bob Marley, music delights children from a very young age and fosters healthy brain development. These NJ music classes for babies to preschoolers will inspire your little ones while providing great bonding experiences for parents and children.

For more cool classes, from swimming lessons to STEM programs, check out our guide to Classes and Enrichment Programs for New Jersey Kids.

Whether you’re interested in mommy and me music classes, dance, or yoga, Westchester has no shortage of kids' classes you can take with your child. But for working parents—or any parent who’s short on time during the week—it can be tough to find a class that fits your family’s schedule.

The good news: There are a number of mommy and me classes that meet on the weekends. Here, we’ve rounded up 12 parent/child classes that take place on either Saturday or Sunday.

Find more classes and enrichment programs in our Classes Guide for Westchester Kids. 

One of Manhattan's most picturesque communities, the West Village is filled with historic houses on quaint and crooked tree-lined streets. This former countercultural epicenter is now home to many of New York's priciest restaurants, retail stores, and real estate. But there are still plenty of affordable and even FREE attractions for families to discover as you stroll through the labyrinth of this area and its sister neighborhood Greenwich Village. 

Beautifully renovated playgrounds pepper the area, including two in iconic Washington Square Park. Treat spots like cupcakeries and candy shops abound. Stretching from 14th to Houston Streets between Fifth Avenue and the Hudson River, this area may be cozy, but it's also packed with so many things to do and places to see, families can spend many days exploring the neighborhoods.

Get ready to make a splash. Several pools in the Hartford area offer open swim times and lessons to refresh you on a hot day or help you think sunny thoughts on a cold day. Some require town residency while others are open to nonresidents. It’s a great way to get the family some exercise even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Plus, swimming is a lifelong skill that enhances safety and increases opportunities for fun. For more enrichment and after school classes, check out our Classes and Activities Guide.

Kids march to the beat of their own drums, so why not help them keep their rhythm with some music classes? Some studies have shown that early music education helps children develop academic, physical, and social skills, and it also gives them an introduction to arts and culture. We have put together a list of music classes for kids in the Philadelphia area, but be sure to visit their websites for updated schedules. Visit our Classes Directory to keep up on the latest additions.