Summer Activities

Register for Free Fall/Winter Swim Lessons for NYC Kids

Submitted by Katie Nave Freeman on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 9:00am

The New York City Parks Department offers FREE swim lessons for children and adults all year round, but you have to apply through an online lottery for each session. The FREE fall/winter swimming lessons are on the horizon, and the lottery for registration opens Monday, October 1, 2018, at noon.

Read on for the details on where to swim for free, or check our directory of paid kids' swim classes, and mommy-and-me swim lessons for babies and toddlers, including those in Brooklyn and in Queens.

New Adventure Park Planned for Jones Beach

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 1:00pm

An adventure course at J ones Beach State Park is scheduled to open at the beachfront attraction in 2019. WildPlay Element Parks will install the gravity-defying East Mall Adventure Course, facing the Atlantic Ocean.

There are plenty more thrill-seeking destinations on Long Island. Check out these spots for little (and big) adrenaline junkies in your house. Or visit another state park on Long Island and embark on an adventure of your own.

34 Festivals, Fairs, and Carnivals for Philly Families this September

Submitted by Kristen Sullivan on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 10:30am

Summer 2018 comes barreling to a halt this month, which can leave Philly families conflicted. How has summer flown by so quickly? We weren't finished with our Summer Bucket Lists! But, despite the fact school and fall activities may be upon us, Philly parents and kids alike can try to keep summer fun alive in the first half of September (technically it's summer until September 21), while welcoming fall towards the end of the month with some amazing festivals, fairs, and carnivals. After all, who doesn't love pumpkin-flavored everything?

There are festivals to surely satisfy your appetite and make your mouth water. Would you care for pizza with mushrooms and sausage, perhaps with a side of pickles? There are festivals that celebrate the culture and traditions, whisking you to Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Poland all while staying in the Delaware Valley. Other events feature classic carnival amusements and still others prepare for the change in season with scarecrows, pumpkins, and fall fun.

Keep reading for family-friendly events that will help your crew celebrate September.

10 Swimming Lakes You Should Know Near Los Angeles

Submitted by Brian Steele on Fri, 08/17/2018 - 6:37pm

With our new normal somewhere between hot and hotter, SoCal families are eagerly looking for ways to cool off. Did you know that there are some wonderful lakes within spitting distance of sizzling Los Angeles? And if you're willing to drive a little farther, lake options get even more plentiful. Whether you want to take a dip in a secluded swim hole, or join the masses at a lavish lake resort, here are some of the best spots to take a swim before the entire family melts.

11 Outdoor Water Parks in New England

Submitted by Tara D on Sun, 08/12/2018 - 8:05pm

In two hours or less by car, you can get to any of the following outdoor water parks to cool off and have a blast this summer with your kids. Although there's no shortage of thrill rides and slides at these places, you don't have to be a daredevil (or of a certain height) to enjoy them. There are play areas for young children, wave pools, family raft rides, and lazy rivers for those of us who don't need to plummet a down a very tall slide to have fun. Some of the parks are dedicated to water attractions and others are part of a larger theme park, but they all offer plenty of chances to get completely soaked.

Ice Cream Shops Near Great Playgrounds in Brooklyn and Manhattan

Submitted by Lia on Sun, 08/12/2018 - 10:00am

We're well into playground season now, and New York City parents are steeling themselves to endure hearing the Mister Softee theme playing on a loop until September. While there's nothing wrong with grabbing a cone from your friendly neighborhood ice cream truck, I admit that I prefer play spots that have really fantastic ice cream vendors nearby. Cold and sweet, a few scoops of mint chocolate chip or strawberry (my flavors of choice) make sticking out the sticky New York City weather that much more manageable. And my kids don't mind eating it either.

Here are some of my favorite spots to grab a scoop, plus fun places to play before or after.

35 Ways To Keep Summer Going after School Begins

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 08/10/2018 - 2:11pm

Whether you're relieved by the quiet or disturbed by the abrupt ending, most LA families are using those three little words (back to school) a whole lot earlier these days. Of course, dropping our kids off at school doesn't change the weather; there might be no child left behind at the beach, but it's still summer until close to Halloween. So if your family is not yet ready for summer to end, pick a few items off our Endless Summer List and go have some fun while the sun still shines!

Visiting Sunken Meadow State Park: Picnics, Playgrounds, Beaches

Submitted by Gina Massaro on Fri, 08/10/2018 - 12:00pm

A trip to Sunken Meadow State Park on the rocky, picturesque North Shore of Long Island can be whatever you want it to be.

There's a different feel to this beach than those on the South Shore. It's quieter, more relaxed, and less trafficked than Jones Beach or Robert Moses state parks. The Long Island Sound waters are calm and clear. Families with children of all ages line the shore with beach chairs and umbrellas.

Kids can enjoy watching the water rush over them as their feet dig into the sand. If excitement is what you're after, you'll find it at Sunken Meadow State Park, which boasts a little something for everyone.