Looking for more ways to get outside with kids this summer? Whether you’re sporting two wheels or four, riding a bike is efficient, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, and fun—and just about anyone can do it. One great thing about our area is just how bike-friendly it is, from city to suburbs. 

As part of a plan to turn Boston into a world-class bicycling city, The Boston Bikes program is working to expand safe biking options for all riders. Boston Bikes helps to design streets for cycling (including bike lanes), provides free bikes to low-income residents, and offers a city bikeshare program. Don’t forget that you can access many of these trails on the T, which allows bikes—or if you don’t have your own bikes, you can use Boston’s Hubway rental program. Beyond city limits, there are plenty of beautiful—and safe!—places where riders of various ages and abilities can bike together, ranging from flower-filled arboretums to waterfront pathways. Here are our picks for family-friendly bike trails around our town.

If you're drawn to classic children's literature, it's time to don your fanciest frock and head over to the New-York Historical Society where a rawther special guest has taken up residence.

Eloise, the brain child of cabaret singer-turned author Kay Thompson and illustrator Hilary Knight has taken over the museum's second floor, bringing her precocious spirit and side kicks Weenie and Skipperdee along to the gallery, which was previously home to other beloved NYC characters like Mo Willems' Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant and Piggie.

Feel like you've seen and done it all in Fairfield County?  How about the outdoor museums?  Outdoor what? I  know. I hadn't really heard of such a thing either, but they're here. They're also a great way to pass the day without having to go the full-on Day Trip route. On top of that, many won't cost you like a regular museum. So here you go, several spots to learn a little something while enjoying the great outdoors with your kids.

Note that due to construction at Mother's Beach, Kayaks for Kids will not be offering its usual classes in the 2018 summer season.

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but what about a free kayak lesson? I've wondered for years about that free kayaking class for kids in the Marina, which we shout out on our list of 50 Free Things for Kids To Do in LA this Summer. It seems so unlikely—like there must be some catch. Does someone actually offer kids a chance to spend a couple of hours kayaking the Marina for free on alternate Sundays all summer long? Has this program really existed for 15 years, teaching hundreds of kids to kayak, without most Angelenos even noticing it's there?

For kids interested in science, nature, art, trains, or lighthouses, there is a family-friendly museum for everyone to discover in the Hamptons and North Fork.

With its rich history from the earliest days of colonial America and its important natural wildlife habitats, there's so much to learn about on the East End of Long Island. Ducking into a museum or art workshop is also a great activity for rainy vacation days, or just ducking out of the sun. Read on for our top picks of art museums, children's museums, and even nature centers for kids and families visiting or living in the area.

For some good, old-fashioned comfort food and a blast from the past, check out these vintage, retro diners and ice cream parlors in the Hartford area. Adults will love the old school vibe while kids will love farm fresh ice cream and shakes!

Have you ever planned a perfect day of hiking with the kiddos only to hear whines ranging from “I’m bored,” to, “I have to go to the bathroom,” to, “Are we there yet?” I have definitely been there and feel your pain. You’ve packed the perfect picnic lunch to be enjoyed alongside a babbling brook after you’ve spent your morning becoming one with nature but your kids have lost interest after finishing their Nature Valley granola bar 10 minutes into the hike. Sigh.

Well, have you considered climbing a mountain? We have rounded up some hikes across the state that are sure to keep the kid’s interest as you scale mountain tops, discover giants, castles, and maybe a hobbit house or two.

Art.  So simple.  Yet, impossible to define.  What I will say is, it can be the antidote to the stresses of an uber-busy Fairfield County kid.  Yes, they need to do their homework, practice their gymnastics and/or hockey, learn the piano, attend swimming lessons, and hey, master computer coding, but what about an after-school activity that's theirs to make and mold?  There are art classes on everything from anime to weaving available, and you can enroll in a short session, or one that lasts all semester.