When I'm shlepping myself and two kids to NYC, I gird my loins for a hot descent into the PATH, a motion-sickness-inducing ride on the bus or mind-numbing traffic in the tunnel. But recently I met a friend to take the NY Waterway ferry to mid-town Manhattan and the experience was as different as, well... the difference between a nauseating bus ride and a lovely, fresh-air boat journey. Read on for the wonders of NY Waterway and their Summer Special for travel out of Port Imperial in Weehawken.

We finish up our month-long focus on Washington Heights and Inwood with a roundup of three great outdoor adventures in the area. Upper Manhattan is famous for its many hilly green spaces, like Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Hill Park, both great for city hiking. But there are three specific destinations where kids can learn a bit about NYC's past while enjoying a stroll through urban nature.

For this guest post, we turned to local parents Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert, who regularly blog about their excursions at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Kids Outdoors New York City. Kids Outdoors is a FREE online community for families filled with ideas on alfresco activities in the NYC area and expert advice on how to get started. The Jong-Lamberts and their children, ages 7 and 10, explored a trio of neighborhood attractions: a Colonial-era farmhouse, a famous red lighthouse and a great gray bridge, all enriching summer staycation destinations in Washington Heights and Inwood.

Believe it or not, an afternoon picnic at a vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island is a joy for the entire family. There are quite a few options, whether tasting wine at a couple of wineries, or hanging out and enjoying a bottle of wine and music at one winery. There are many nice stops to choose from among the 30 plus vineyards on the North Fork. From Baiting Hollow to Greenport, there are vineyards that specialize in all types of award winning wines. Tasting rooms are meant for adults to sample alcoholic beverages, so please drink responsibly. Keep children outside whenever possible and be sure to keep an eye on them at all times. We also have recommendations for those looking for vineyards on the South Fork. 

One of the harder things about being a parent to a preteen with special needs is playdates–or lack thereof. Due to his specific needs, I can't just drop him off. Instead, I end up hosting playdates and doing all of the work. And frankly, most of his peers without special needs don't really like the idea of a playdate anymore. They just go around by themselves, something my son isn't ready to do.

But I don't want my son to miss out on valuable social interactions. Playdates help him forge relationships and learn typical social cues. That's why I'm so glad I found The Friendship Circle, a nonprofit organization that pairs teen volunteers with children with special needs for fun and friendship.

We continue our month-long focus on Washington Heights and Inwood with a look at our favorite places to eat with kids in the area. While both neighborhoods are known for their hundreds of acres of parkland and fun things to do with kids, neither is considered a culinary hot spot. But there are some delicious kid-friendly restaurants if you know where to look, and many are owned and operated by local families. From a new soda fountain serving up retro treats, to a 24-hour Dominican mainstay to fine-dining with incredible views in Fort Tryon Park, here are a dozen family-friendly restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood.