Best Family Fun Summer Vacations for 2024

Jessica Laird's picture Submitted by Jessica Laird on

These family-friendly Marriott hotels and resorts are packed with on-site water parks, kids camps, oceanfront rooms, and more top-notch amenities.

Where should we go on vacation this summer? Whether you’re beach lovers, theme park goers, or outdoor adventurers, we’ve got the hottest summer spots for a family vacation, plus the best places to stay for an array of budgets—family-friendly hotels and resorts packed with on-site water parks, kids camps, oceanfront rooms, and more top-notch amenities.

We’ve partnered with Marriott Bonvoy, the free loyalty program that helps you earn rewards and get the best rates and benefits when you stay at any of their hotels, resorts, and villas across the globe. Choose from 10,000 properties from more than 30 hotel brands, designed to fit every traveler’s budget. Become a Marriott Bonvoy Member for free.

How To Make the Best Paper Airplanes - With Free Printables

Submitted by Maureen Wilkey on

Learning how to make the perfect paper airplane is a childhood rite of passage.

Wondering how to make the best paper airplane? Read on!

Paper airplanes combine lots of kids' favorite things: crafting, vehicles, science experiments, and throwing things. You also don't have to buy endless supplies or clean up paint, glue, or glitter to make them.

If your kiddo is new to making paper airplanes, it's best to start with a simple version. Then, they can experiment with more complicated paper airplane designs to see which flies the farthest or fastest or which can do the best tricks.

Read on for paper airplane instructions for everyone from beginners to advanced plane-makers. Your kids will be on their way to making the best paper airplane in no time! Once they've tackled that, visit our Crafts and Games Guide, which includes our list of 100 awesome art projects.

Best Summer Camps in NYC with Weekly Enrollment

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Tennis is just one thing kids love about Advantage Summer Day Camps. Photo courtesy of the camp

Families who need flexible summer camp plans are in luck: New York City is home to tons of summer day camps offering weekly enrollment. Whether travel plans mean you can't commit to a camp for the whole season or your kids have more than one passion to pursue, these local summer camps with weekly enrollment make it easy to create an enriching summer camp experience no matter your kids' interests or your family's schedule.

Our picks for top summer camps in NYC with weekly enrollment include summer camps in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. We've rounded up more than 20 summer day camps in NYC below, but you can always find more summer camps, including free and cheap summer camps, great sleepaway summer camps in the Northeast, and teen-friendly summer camps by bookmarking our New York City Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and borough.

Where to See Free Summer Fireworks in NYC

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The New York Philharmonic puts on a brilliant show with a sparkling grand finale in four of NYC's five boroughs. Photo courtesy of the Philharmonic

When it comes to summer fireworks shows in NYC, there's no denying Macy's 4th of July fireworks are the main event in New York City. But that's certainly not the only bang-up display in town this season. While some of the summer fireworks shows in NYC honor our nation's birthday, others just celebrate summer in the city and take place everywhere from ballparks to city parks.

Read on for all the free summer fireworks shows in New York City this season and find more fun things to do in our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Catch a Long Island Ducks Game with the Kids: What Makes this Ballpark a Winner for Families

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on

QuackerJack brings tons of fun and entertainment to the crowd at a Long Island Ducks game.

A Long Island Ducks baseball game is a home run experience for the whole family. The minor league Long Island Ducks play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, where my kids were thrilled to attend their first-ever baseball game. 

The Ducks game delivers a memorable day or night of baseball magic and interactive activities for the little ones. Parents love the family time and stadium pricing that won't break the bank. 

Read on for all the family-friendly Long Island Ducks game details to plan an outing, which earns a spot on our list of Long Island’s top attractions to visit with kids.

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