These swimming lakes near New York City add to the bounty of options local families have for taking a plunge on a scorching day. While New Yorkers are lucky to be surrounded by water, including family-friendly beaches right here in NYC, plus those on Long Island or at the Jersey Shore, for families with little kids, the ocean can be intimidating, with its choppy waves and miles of hot sand without an inch of shade. If you're itching to get the kids out of the city to enjoy a swim in the great outdoors, what better place than one of the area's beautiful, tranquil, freshwater swimming lakes?

We've rounded up 11 swimming lakes in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut ripe for summertime visits. Some are even close to our favorite family-friendly campgrounds, making them perfect for a weekend away. Speaking of getting out of town, our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways has more picks for all seasons family travel.

Prospect Park spans more than 500 acres, providing plenty of space for varied adventures within its woods, green lawns, winding paths, and brooks and ponds. But did you also know this green space is also home to seven playgrounds? From big-kid swings to water features and toddler-sized slides, there’s something for every kid (and parent) in Prospect Park's playgrounds.

While you can—and should—head to all of these playgrounds at some point, if you're short on time, we've tested them out to present this parent-and-kid approved ranking of all seven playgrounds, from those that are destination-worthy to picks perfect for impromptu playtime. Find more picks for top play spots in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in NYC.

Brooklyn is full of fun experiences for little kids, whether you live here or are just looking for new adventures. From pedal boating in Prospect Park to sharing Key lime pie along the water in Red Hook, we guarantee you'll want to take your Brooklyn preschoolers and toddlers out exploring with these 40 must-do activities.

One of the great things about these early years is your kid may not be in school every day, so you often can avoid the weekends and enjoy some of these Brooklyn gems without the crowds.

One day, your baby is barefoot in a bucket swing, and then you blink, and she's riding her scooter so far ahead of you that she can't hear you calling, “WAIT!"

Suddenly, you realize it's time for big-kid playgrounds, including in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and other favorite spots. So leave those toddler slides behind and read on for our favorites in Brooklyn.

When the sticky NYC summer heat sets in, kids need fun things to do to keep cool (bonus points if the kiddos also get a chance to burn off some energy). There’s no better solution than water playgrounds—get cool in the water, dry off to hit the other playground equipment, rinse and repeat. All afternoon.

And best of all, hitting a water playground is a FREE summer activity you can do every day. We’ve rounded up the best water features and playgrounds around Brooklyn so that you and the little ones can try a new place to spray and play every day of the week. 

It's a long summer! Find more ways to keep cool with our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide, which includes splash pads in other boroughs too!

Even if you brought a bag full of snacks to your Brooklyn Botanic Garden excursion, kids will be hungry after all that time running through the grass, collecting sticks, and chasing butterflies.

The good news is that there are plenty of family-friendly options for a bite in the nearby Crown Heights and Prospect Heights neighborhoods, many with high chairs and changing tables available. These restaurants are also close to the Brooklyn Museum, and a short walk from the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Prospect Park.

New York City kids are lucky to live in a city so infused with the arts and even luckier to have so many class options to help them explore their creative side. Ballet is a popular dance option for kids of all ages, and NYC is teeming with top-notch ballet schools. From tots to teens, we've rounded up top picks for ballet classes citywide—nearly two dozen of them!

Remember, though, this is just a sampling of ballet lessons in the city. Find more in our Classes Directory.

Every year, your kid's birthday arrives even faster, right? It seems like you just had her last party! But here you are again, and you need some new ideas. 

Good news! So many great new spots have opened in NYC in the last year, so you're about to be the coolest parent party planner. Whether your kid wants to make art, roll in a ball pit, dress up her dolls, play with dogs, or just bounce up and down for an hour, there's a new place for everyone. Read on for six new kid party spots that have opened in the last year.

Find more party spots and entertainers in our NYC Party Directory.