Labor Day weekend is nearly upon us, and the milestone typically marks the end of the beach season in the tri-state area, but from the Jersey Shore to the sands of Long Island and Westchester County, area beaches are extending their seasons, giving visitors a chance to enjoy a little more sun and surf.

Read on for the details on which family-friendly beaches are welcoming visitors into September. 

New York City has pushed back the start date for its public school children to Wednesday, September 16, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. The move is part of an agreement between the city and the UFT, which had long been pushing for enhanced safety protocols before schools reopened, even threatening legal action and laying the groundwork for a strike if its safety concerns weren't addressed. 

In-person instruction will not begin until Monday, September 21, meaning all students will start with remote learning.

Outdoor classes are coming to NYC, Mayor Bill De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced at a press briefing Monday, August 24, as they invited principals to develop plans to utilize outdoor spaces on school property and those nearby as outdoor classrooms and offered to help facilitate street closures or the use of nearby parks to make outdoor space available to school communities who wanted to utilize it.

The policy announcement is the latest development in a busy week of school reopening news.

New York City's public schools are scheduled to open in less than three weeks, but each day seems to bring more questions than answers about the reopening plans as key stakeholders question the reopening timeline.

From Learning Bridges to a Back-to-School Pledges, and more pushback from educators and public officials, here's the latest news from the nation's largest school district.

Looking to get out of the apartment, but in need of an out of the ordinary destination? This season's crop of public art displays in NYC might be just what you need to spice up your next socially distant adventure and provide a bit of culture in a time when museums have been shuttered for months. From a fresh crop of Black Lives Matter murals in every borough to site-specific pieces in Queens, a giant gorilla on the west side, and even an augmented reality installation in the Rockaways, we've rounded up 16 cool pieces of public art to check out this summer.

Some are in familiar locations, like the newly reopened New-York Historical Society while others are off the beaten path, in spots like LaGuardia's new Terminal B. Whatever the location, you're sure to see something new.

For more family-friendly diversions, be sure to check off all the fun things to do on our list of 50 top summer activities to do before school starts, and find lots of seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide.

With New York City barreling toward reopening of schools this fall, the plan set forth by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza has received plenty of pushback from educators and other stakeholders. The city's hybrid model, which combines in-person and remote learning, may have seen its most vocal opposition this week as some school leaders implored the mayor to reconsider the in-person start date to allow more time for teacher training and planning.

Currently, students are expected back in the classroom on Thursday, September 10; teachers would report just two days prior, which presents a learning curve in setting up classrooms to accommodate smaller, more socially distant seating arrangements, while also tackling the planning challenges of teaching a blended model.

Yet, despite the pressure, the administration seems set on its plans, which were given the green light by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo last week.

Before long, we'll be singing the back-to-school blues, but in the meantime, NYC parents are staring down a few more weeks of unstructured time with kids who—like their parents—are tired of being cooped up. We know the struggle and have rounded up 50 summer activities in NYC for kids that are sure to take the edge off a little.

Though many of our favorite summer haunts (like industrially cooled museums!) are still dark, we've managed to find plenty of things to do in NYC with kids this summer. From fun, at-home summer activities for those rainy days, to plenty of action in our favorite playgrounds, and enjoying the sand and surf on our newly reopened seashores, here are 50 summer activities in NYC. Find more seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide for NYC Kids.

Rocky Mountain National Park was my family's summertime playground growing up, and I'm lucky enough to now make the trek to this Colorado natural gem with my kids annually. Spanning 415 miles of Rocky Mountain wilderness, this national park is jam-packed with family-friendly fun. From spectacular wildlife viewing to historical sites to explore, family-friendly hikes, and stunning scenery, there's tons to do and see in Rocky Mountain National Park.

It's also just over an hour away from Denver, so it is possible to day trip there or combine the two into one family vacation. Read on for our favorite ways to explore this national park, including stroller-friendly trails and the best campgrounds. Be sure to check out our other favorite national parks to explore with kids.