It's summertime, and if you want to go all-in on the wet-and-wild fun, take note: These free swimming pools in NYC open Friday, June 27, 2025, a day after public schools let out. With more than 50 free swimming pools in NYC to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to find the right outdoor swimming pool for your outing. We've done the legwork, though, rounding up our picks for the most family-friendly free swimming pools in NYC. These local NYC swimming pools are all places we've visited personally or have come highly recommended by families we know. Read on and get ready to dive in!

Find more cool places to play this summer in our Guide to Swimming Pools and Sprinkler Parks in NYC, plus all our picks for free fun on this list of 100 free things to do in NYC this summer.

Bear Mountain State Park makes for a great day trip for families any time of year, but in warmer months it bursts with kid-friendly activities. The Rockland County park, which is nestled against the Hudson River, offers spectacular scenery, nature experiences, and lots of things for kids to do. Bear Mountain is one place our family has returned to each year.

With hiking, paddleboat rentals, a playground, ample room for picnicking, and even a zoo, the park has plenty of options to fill an entire day. Our summer readers will be especially happy to learn the swimming pool is open from mid-June to Labor Day. We recently visited the park and can fill you in on what you need to know about this year-round destination, including our top 15 favorite things to do.

If you're looking for other great activities in nearby parks, check out our rundown of easy New York State Park hikes or our look at Westchester's top destination parks. For even more on local parks, check out our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester. 

The best Long Island swimming pools for families include spots in Nassau, Suffolk, and the East End. Kid-friendly pools on Long Island are a perfect place for everyone in the family to cool off, splash around, and have a great time. Some of the pools even have splash pads and kiddie pool areas for the little ones to enjoy. 

We've rounded up a list of swimming pools across Long Island that are ready to welcome swimmers this summer 2025. For even more seasonal fun, check out our Ultimate Long Island Kids Summer Vacation Guide, which is packed with activities and destinations sure to keep you entertained all summer long.

Swimming pools in NJ with day passes for families and kids can be found at clubs throughout the state. These facilities allow guests to spend the day swimming without membership or residency.

Many pool clubs also feature splash pads, kiddie pools, water slides, and playgrounds, making a day at the pool one of our favorite summer activities for kids.

Read on for the top NJ swimming pools that offer day passes. There are plenty more ideas for seasonal fun in our Ultimate New Jersey Kids Summer Vacation Guide, including our story on the best Jersey Shore beaches for families.

Find the best beaches near Boston within an hour's drive of the city!

When it comes to entertaining a Philly tween or teen, it can be challenging to find activities that aren't too babyish and have the appropriate amount of cool. Philly parents must dive deep into their former adolescent selves to be reminded of what was cool when they were a tween or teen. Thankfully, hanging out at the mall or going to the movies aren’t your only options! We have rounded up some ideas for those struggling for ways to connect with these tween/teen creatures... other than by text and emoji.

Prospect Park, a 585-acre oasis adjacent to Park Slope in Brooklyn, is home to the borough’s only forest, plus bird life galore, roller skating, biking, picnicking, sledding...You name it, Prospect Park's got it. When people ask if we have a backyard, my nature-loving son immediately exclaims, “Yes, it’s called Prospect Park!” For kids growing up in Brooklyn, it truly feels like an extension of home, a haven that satisfies our need for outdoor activities and fun, year-round.

Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same duo who designed Manhattan’s Central Park, and many consider Prospect Park their crowning achievement. Whether you want to hike, skate, boat, catch a concert, learn about nature, or just hit an awesome playground or splash pad for a few hours, Prospect Park welcomes you with green space aplenty.

Though the park offers countless activities and experiences all year long, this curated list of the top 25 things to do in Prospect Park with kids showcases our true favorites.

Since the Wicked movie came out in 2024, musicals have enjoyed a surge in popularity amongst kids, tweens, and teens. My own kids weren't even out of the theater after seeing Wicked before they asked what other musicals they could watch. And while we still love singing Defying Gravity on an endless loop, we were happy to find alternatives so we could feed their newfound interest in all things Broadway.

But this wasn't as easy as I had originally thought. I started perusing some of my grandma's favorites from the 1950s and 60s, and not all of them hold up in today's society. There are bits of racism in many of the classics, as well as songs I really don't want my tween daughter singing at school. But there are still plenty of kid-friendly musicals that do stand the test of time, as well as a new generation of family movie musicals with more modern themes.

Here are our picks for the best movie musicals for kids (besides Wicked, if you're also ready to stop hearing Popular over and over again). Find more ideas for family movie night, including the 75 best movies for kids, in our Guide to the Best Movies and TV Shows for Kids and the Whole Family.