There are 14 miles of beautiful beaches in NYC, with sandy shores to explore in four of the city's five boroughs, and many are easily accessible by ferry or train. Soon, there will even be a beach in Manhattan. As much as we enjoy hitting the Jersey Shore, Fire Island, and other Long Island beaches, we're not big fans of renting cars and sitting in traffic.

Luckily it's easy to hit the sand and surf by taking a ferry or subway to these beaches in NYC. From the "Bronx Rivera" to iconic Coney Island and the Rockaways, these urban seasides often offer just about everything suburban ones do—except the out-of-town commute.

Read on for details on our favorite beaches in NYC and find more seasonal fun in our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Once upon a time, Saratoga Springs, New York, was a magnet for famous—and infamous—New Yorkers, from the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, and Rockefellers to the bootleggers and gamblers who took up residence during prohibition. Thankfully, Saratoga's offerings are now more family-friendly than booze and bookies.

A 3-hour drive from Midtown Manhattan pays off with a visit to the historic racetrack, hiking and fishing, or even a quiet stroll down Saratoga Spring's quaint Main Street. Rainy day activities can be found at the Saratoga Children's Museum or the local library, which offers a great children's room. Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Saratoga Springs, New York, with kids. Find more local towns to explore in our Guide to Family-Friendly Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

Between the end of the school year and the start of summer camp, families often need classes and activities that offer last-minute, drop-in options or single-day summer camps to keep kids busy. We've rounded up eight local summer camps and classes that offer programming during this time and give parents lots of scheduling flexibility, so you can sign up at the last minute. Lest you think this list is just for summer camp, keep it handy: Many offer of these single-day summer camps also offer programming during the random days off that pepper the NYC public school calendar. There's even a cool workspace on the list that provides childcare and kids' activities while parents get some work done.

If you need more coverage than these one-day summer camps and classes offer, bookmark our Summer Camp Guide and NYC Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps in NYC by type, age, and neighborhood.

Did you know you can go horseback riding in New York City? While your NYC apartment probably won't accommodate a pet pony, you can indulge your child’s love of horses without leaving town. There are several options for family-friendly horseback riding and grooming lessons, plus drop-in trail riding experiences, which offer a unique way to experience the great outdoors in NYC.

While, sadly, there are no stables in Manhattan, you can go horseback riding in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. If that's not enough animal fun for your kid, consider booking an overnight at one of these local farms, and find more animal fun in our Guide to Family-Friendly Farms and Pick-Your-Own Fun near NYC.

To see, or not to see Shakespeare in the Park with kids? That is the perpetual question when it comes to Shakespeare and other classics. While FREE outdoor mountings of the Bard's iconic plays abound in NYC every summer, some are more family-friendly than others. The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions get all the press and feature big stars, but also involve hard-to-get tickets, long run times, and prickly patrons who may give you the stink eye if your child gets fidgety. Happily, lots of other local troupes put on quality, no-cost Shakespeare shows in various NYC parks. These revivals don't require tickets or reservations, are engaging and accessible, and often clock in at less than two hours, so your kids have a better chance of making it all the way through (and if they don't, just leave quickly and quietly—no money wasted!).

I started taking my daughter to outdoor Shakespeare when she was 7 and now, as a teen, she's totally hooked. Here are nine FREE classic shows to enjoy with your kids this summer, plus tips on how to make the most of the experience, and the lowdown on how to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park if that's atop your list. Find all our picks for kid-friendly theater no matter the season in our Guide to Children's Theater in New York City.

Legoland New York keeps adding to its attractions. In its third season of operation, the mega Hudson Valley theme park debuted its long-anticipated Water Playground and we got an early look at the wet-and-wild fun.

From how to nab coveted reservations, to all the other fun in store this season, here are our parent-and-kid-tested tips for visiting the Legoland New York Water Playground. Coming from afar? Consider pairing your theme park visit with an overnight at the on-site Legoland New York Hotel, too.

Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie, an overnight camping trip with the kids can be a great experience for the whole family. It was visions of tent camping and afternoon hikes that prompted my husband, two children, and I—plus our friends and their two kids—to book an overnight stay at North-South Lake Campground in Haines Falls last summer.

One of our favorite family-friendly campgrounds for families, this New York state-run facility offers plenty of creature comforts (bathrooms!) and had enough to keep kids occupied (playground! lake!), but not so much that they’d get overwhelmed.

Here’s a closer look at what we did during our family camping trip to North-South Lake Campground. Find more picks for exploring nearby in our Outdoor Fun Guide.

Families who pine for old neighborhood joints take note: NYC is still home to a collection of old-fashioned soda fountains, where hopping on a barstool is akin to climbing aboard a time travel machine. These classic New York City soda fountains serve up plenty of fun alongside soda fountain treats like towering ice cream sundaes, creamy milkshakes and malts, and even a classic egg cream.

The next time you want to give your kids a sweet treat with a side of nostalgia, consider visiting one of these soda fountains in NYC, which range from Carroll Gardens' Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain to the Lexington Candy Shop on the Upper East Side. No matter where you are from Brooklyn to Queens, Manhattan to Brooklyn, and even on Staten Island, we've found a soda fountain in NYC near you.

Find more kid-friendly eats and treats in our NYC Restaurant Guide for Families.