New York City

We made a real splash this week with a visit to nearby Long Island water park Splish Splash.

We went ape for the Bronx Zoo's Great Summer Zoofari: A Lego Wildlife Expedition, which is why we're giving away 15 family four-packs to an exclusive Lego Master Builder event next weekend. Details are below.

Looking to indulge your kid's (and your) sweet tooth? Check out the new Forest Hill candy haven Emily's Sugar Rush.

Even in the asphalt jungle, nature is all around us. We highlighted 20 fantastic spots to commune with Mother Nature in all five boroughs and beyond.

Another awesome outdoor destination: Riverbank State Park. We profiled the many attractions as this Harlem hot spot.

This week's notable news for families included info on a scratch-and-sniff NYC picture book and the tale of a mom who was banned from the Upper East Side Fairway. 

Best bets for the weekend include the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Brooklyn Bridge Park's first-ever kite festival and the family-friendly shows at the New York International Fringe Festival.
 

New Jersey

Across the river, our special needs contributor shared back-to-school resources for special needs families.

We spent an amazing day digging for fossils at Big Brook.

Another excellent outing to a classic NJ fun spot: Six Flags Great Adventure. Even sweeter: We're giving away a pair of tickets to the theme park. Details are below.

Weekend highlights include the annual Ducky Derby at the Historic Village at Allaire and the OMG! Tea Party in Union.

Long Island

Over on the isle, we rounded up six miniature golf courses.

Weekend events include Bubble Mania at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and Butterfly Adventure at the Suffolk County Farm and Educational Center.


Connecticut

In CT, a mom took her tweens to a Summer Jam Live concert at Stepping Stones Museum.

Mystic makes for an amazing day trip (or weekend getaway, depending on where you live), featuring the seaport, the aquarium and that iconic pizza parlor.

More fun family destinations in the state: Dinosaur State Park and Collinsville, both located in Hartford County.

Things to do this weekend include the annual Water Ski Show at Bantam Lake in Litchfield, the Family Clam Bake at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield and Danbury's Jai Ho Indian Fest Summer Series.

Cool Deals and Giveaways

It's your last chance to enter our Great Summer Zoofari Lego Master Builder Event giveaway. We love the Bronx Zoo's Lego animal display and we know you will, too. Enter to win one of 15 family four-packs to our exclusive event next Saturday, August 20, which includes breakfast, a Lego building session and free time at the zoo. We're picking the winners on Friday, August 12, so enter right away!

Our NJ site is giving away a pair of one-day passes to any Six Flags Theme Park in the U.S. and a $25 Discover gift card to one lucky winner. To enter, read this post about the iconic amusement park, and then leave a comment.

And there's still time to buy our Hot List book, which offers more than $1,000 in savings on the best summer activities for NYC families. For just $4.95, you'll snag discounts to places like the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, the Art Farm and nearby water parks. Best of all: 100% of the profits will benefit NYC public schools.