The first day of summer is around the corner, which means schools are shutting their doors and LA parents are turning inside-out:  Outdoor concerts, festivals, beaching, camping… and let’s not forget outdoor eating!  So what makes a picnic spot great?   In my book, that means clean facilities, relatively painless parking, and a little something special to occupy the kiddos after they’ve scarfed down their PB&Js.   So read on, then dust off your picnic basket and be prepared for some interesting adventures.

I grew up in Jersey.  And before you start with the jokes, let me clarify.  Not the Sopranos Jersey, the Jersey Turnpike Jersey or the Snooki Jersey.  Nope, I grew up in beautiful, rural Western Jersey, right on the Delaware Water Gap.  If you haven’t been there, go. It’s lovely, historic, and nearby.  

Growing up on the Delaware Water Gap meant lots of Sunday family canoe trips.  (Canoeing rules to live by: don’t share a canoe with your younger brother, don’t share a canoe with your older brother, and wear sunscreen).  In hopes of replicating the canoe experience for my own kids, I’ve been researching canoeing options here in CT.  Turns out there are lots of options around here, ranging from waterways on tame lakes and slow rivers to more arduous river rapids and open ocean/sound trailways.  We've written about a few and you can find that info in our CT Beach and Water Fun Guide.

Father's Day was the theme this week on all of our sites with posts about the best ways for families to celebrate in NYC, Westchester, Long Island and beyond. Our Boston site also shared four easy-to-make treats kids can prepare for dad. Moms don't have the monopoly on dining in bed, you know.

If you're still searching for the perfect NYC day camp, our summer deals post has a bunch of great options, including discounts to chess, language and circus programs. And we've got the exclusive scoop on how to snag a coveted spot in the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp which, at $500 for the entire summer, may be the best deal around.

Our crowdfunding campaign for the Mommy Poppins Kids' Activities App hit the 31% mark! You've got two more weeks to contribute $2 to help us make this app FREE for all. Donate more and you can earn some really cool rewards. There's only one more day to enter this week's giveaway: a Shark Sonic Duo Floor and Carpet Cleaner, a $250 value. (Getting someone else besides you to use it: priceless.)

Here's what else we covered this week on the NYC site:

With so many great summer day camps in NYC, finding a good one isn't an issue, but it's hard to find a camp that's as great a deal as NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp at just $500 for the entire summer. Usually parents have to enter a lottery to get a place at these coveted camps, but the Parks Department has given Mommy Poppins the inside scoop that there are some select spots still available.

Run by the New York City Parks Department, this seven-week program has multiple locations throughout the five boroughs. Campers enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking in local parks, a variety of sports including swimming, as well as educational activities like field trips to museums and other cultural destinations.

You can no longer apply through the Parks' Department website. The only way to snag one of these spots is with the information in this post. So read on to find out about NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp locations with availability, and how you can register your child.

Or check out other hot deals on cool summer camps where kids can engage in a wide range of activities, from chess to pottery to language immersion to circus.

Happy Father’s Day!

We’ve got plenty of things to do for plenty of types of dads. For the sports fan dad, there’s the vintage baseball tournament in Ipswich; for the nature lover dad, the Butterfly Landing reopens at the Franklin Park Zoo. The history buff dad can attend the Bunker Hill Parade; the foodie dad can indulge at Arlington’s Feast of the East. And for the easy-going dad who will do whatever his kids want to do, there are plenty of festivals and performances and other special events.

Also for Father’s Day, we’ve rounded up some places to take Dad for breakfast; some chef-recommended recipes to make for Dad at home; and some places to go to make gifts for Dad.

Still figuring out what to do this summer? In the latest addition to our Cape Cod and the Islands Guide, guest blogger Eastham Vacation Guide shares its top things to do in Eastham with kids.

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

It’s no secret that moms are busier than ever these days. Work, kids’ activities and LIFE keep us all on the move. So when it comes time to plan, shop for, and run your child’s birthday party, a little helping hand is truly appreciated. Lucky for us, there is now Busy Moms Party Planning, Jen Anerson's small business based in northern New Jersey. Anderson helps us busy moms plan all kinds of celebrations from birthdays to bar mitzvahs, stepping in to either fully run the show, or providing a consultation to steer you in the right direction. Read on for my personal party experience with Busy Moms Party Planning!

Father's Day is Sunday and there are lots of great ways to celebrate this weekend in Westchester. We've already given you a few ideas for celebrating Dad on Sunday and there's more fun to be had. The weekend brings Clearwater's Hudson River Revival, The Little Mermaid and farm fun for families. Annie is showing on Saturday and Sunday is packed with fun events to choose from, including Family Day at the Hudson River Museum and Father's Day Fishing at Westmoreland Sanctuary. 

Happy Father's Day to the many, many wonderful dads out there! 

It's Father's Day this weekend! Head on over to the Father's Day In Flight program at The Maritime Explorium in Port Jefferson, where you'll build a plane and watch it take flight. Sands Point Preserve in Port Washington is hosting the Father’s Day: Build A Bat Box program, where you can create a bat box for birds and bats to use. The annual Daddy & Me Rocket Building program is taking place at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Centre, where you'll watch your rocket fly into the sky. Long Island Game Farm in Manorville is offering half price admission to dads on Father's Day. Also on tap: the Pirate Festival & Classic Boat Show at the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville and Bingo Night at Country Fair Entertainment Park in Medford. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family. Also check out our article on Father's Day Ideas For All Types Of Dads.