1. Take a ride on the Conservation Carousel at the Staten Island Zoo, which offers free admission every Wednesday.

2. Celebrate Independence Day a day early at the family-friendly Historic Richmond Town on Sunday, July 3.

3. Splash around at Faber Pool (my family's favorite public pool overlooking the Hudson river).

4. Celebrate the Fourth of July at the 106th annual Travis Parade.

5. Take in an evening Staten Island Philharmonic concert while watching the fireworks at the Alice Austen House, also on Monday, July 4.

6. Cool off at the big sprinkler area in Clove Lakes Park after enjoying its FREE summer sports clinics for kids.

7. Arrive at Clove Lakes Park on Thursday, July 7 to enjoy The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital for FREE.

RELATED: 50 Things to Do with Kids on Staten Island

Fantasy Shore offers plenty of rides for kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of the park.

8. Spend summer days at Fantasy Shore in Midland Beach—Staten Island's first amusement park.

9. Check out the local Rock-a-Silly Band Concert at Historic Richmond Town on July 7.

10. Strap on your skates to spin around one of the few roller rinks left in NYC, RollerJam USA.

11. Get soaked at Sprinklerfest on Friday, July 15.

12. Hit up Staten Island Pride Fest on Saturday, July 16. The fun-filled day features live music, craft vendors, artists, drag performers, and more.

Burn off energy at the indoor Fly High trampoline park. Photo by the author.

13. Fly higher and higher at NYC’s first indoor trampoline park.

14. Head Back to the Beach Saturday, July 16-Sunday, July 17, for a weekend full of live music, games, food, rides, and fireworks.

15. Explore Staten Island Museum's Snug Harbor location.

16. Test your cooking skills (or learn new ones) at Kidz Cook every Friday at the Staten Island Children’s Museum.

17. Kayak Staten Island—for FREE.

RELATED: Exploring Staten Island's Greenbelt with Kids

Catch a fireworks display weekly at South Beach. Photo by Jeff Sutain via Flickr.

18. Enjoy weekly fireworks at South Beach every Wednesday.

19. Skate over to 5050 in Stapleton, NYC’s only indoor skate park.

20. Raining outside? Get to Boom Kidz for a romp in the indoor playground.

21. Older kids can find clues to solve a mystery at Staten Island’s new Amazing Escape Room.

22. All ages will enjoy cheering on the Staten Island Yankees.

NYC's only drive-in movie theater sets up on Staten Island again this summer. Photo courtesy of the venue.

23. Indulge in nostalgia at the 6th annual All American Drive-In, Monday, August 8-Saturday, August 13.

24. Build, make and create at Makerspace's drop-in workshops, Friday Funday.

25. Don't forget to visit Fort Wadsworth, the oldest military site in the United States but also a picturesque spot to explore, with sweeping views of the harbor and NYC bridges.

26. Catch a FREE outdoor showing of the G-rated An American Tail: Fievel Goes West in a St. George park August 23.

27. Ride the Staten Island Ferry (it's FREE and No. 70 on our 100 Things to Do in NYC with Kids list).


The overhauled Schmul Park in Freshkills Park is great for younger kids, including toddlers. Photo by the author.

28. Explore Staten Island's amazing destination parks and playgrounds, including the nautical-themed Seaside Wildlife Nature Park, Miller Field, the revamped Schmul Park, Willowbrook Park, and more.

29. Try Tibetan crafts and family activities at the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.

30. Celebrate Labor Day weekend at the Richmond County Fair, Saturday, September 3-Monday, September 5.

Top image: S.I. Ferry. Photo by Alexander Baxevanis via Flickr.