No matter how many visits we've paid to the Bronx Zoo, there's always something new to see. And today, we've got the details on its Wild Encounters program, an intimate, safe, educational behind-the-scenes way to experience the beloved zoo. These special programs introduce Bronx Zoo visitors to its ambassador animals and plenty of fun facts along the way.

This splurge-worthy outing is a perfect experience gift for the little (or not-so-little) animal lover in your life. Read on for details on our Wild Encounter, and then start planning your own.

Observation decks seem to be multiplying in NYC, and soon New Yorkers and visitors alike will have a brand new, sky-high observation deck to take in the city views. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt officially opens to visitors on Thursday, October 21, but we got a sneak peek at this four-floor, art-and-entertainment space that aims to transform the observation deck experience.

Read on for our review of this kaleidoscope in the sky, which offers stunning views inside and out, including a unique perspective on its Midtown competitors at the Empire State Building, Edge, and Top of the Rock.

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.

Native daughter Ruth Bader Ginsburg gets her due in a brand new exhibition at the New-York Historical Society. Based on the best-selling book and Tumblr of the same name, Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg brings the Brooklyn-born Supreme Court justice's story full-circle.

Whether your kids have a hunger for history, an interest in the law, or a feminist streak, the exhibition, which made our list of must-see museum exhibits this fall, is worth a visit.

By now you've probably heard that Broadway is back! But what about theater for young audiences? Because children under age 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, many beloved theater series for families, including BAMkids, Just Kidding at Symphony Space, La MaMa Kids, Central Park's Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, and Lincoln Center Kids, are still on pause. Even the New Victory Theater is reopening with a show for high schoolers. However, if your family is craving the communal magic of in-person theater, there are some fabulous fall theater shows aimed at tweens and teens, plus an eye-popping Winnie the Pooh puppet show for the sippy-cup set.

An escape to the Catskills is always a cozy retreat for my family. And while the Catskills towns closer to the Hudson River seem to attract all the splashy press (New Paltz! Woodstock!), there are quite a few hip little towns hiding out in the Sullivan County section of New York's Catskills, which leans up against the Delaware River.

Sullivan County towns like Narrowsburg, Callicoon, Cochecton, Roscoe, and Livingston Manor are filled with things for families to do on a quick weekend away, including adorable main streets and shops, great restaurants and breweries, family-friendly farms, rail trails for biking, and cozy boutique hotels with hiking trails and amazing taverns.

Big news, New Yorkers: Governors Island, our long-time favorite summer-only destination, is now open year-round. Its expanded schedule was announced Tuesday by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Trust for Governors Island.

While the big summer season comes to a close on Sunday, October 31, the new NYC Ferry service begins the very next day, allowing New Yorkers to enjoy the 43-acre isle 365 days a year.