With space travel increasingly in the news, children’s fascination with all things space is sky-high. Being able to get up close to real space artifacts at one of these space museums near NYC is thrilling for any kid, not just those obsessed with space, like somebody in my house!

We've found a collection fo dedicated space museums near NYC, plus some ultra-cool space-themed galleries within some favorite local science museums. At these spots, kids and adults can experience what it feels like to be in space through simulators, interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, or watching a live feed from the International Space Station.

Find more cool museums for kids in our Guide to Museums and Galleries for Kids or find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids.

Creating your very own pollinator garden is a fun and easy activity that teaches kids the importance of bees and butterflies to every aspect of our ecosystem. Don't have a green thumb, or even a backyard? No problem. We’ve got tons of easy solutions to get started on a simple at-home bee garden or butterfly garden for your backyard or a window box. And planting and caring for a pollinator garden isn't just for adults; it’s a perfect family activity suitable for kids of all ages.

Once you’ve planted a bee garden or butterfly garden, you can watch these creatures up close as they drink nectar and fly from flower to flower. But don’t stop there—get crafty and create some homemade wind chimes out of recycled materials to decorate your new pollinator garden.

Check out more green activities for kids as part of our Earth Kids Guide to Green Activities for the Planet.

Have you heard about Boat Cinema? It's billed as a sort of floating drive-in, a float-in if you like, and it just might be the coolest way to experience movies this summer. With Boat Cinema, families in LA can watch movies on a big screen while lounging in small, family-sized boats.

Read on for the current lineup of movies! You can also see a movie at one of the local drive-in theaters in Los Angeles, or at an outdoor movie on a blanket in a park.

Ever think you would spot a seal in Manhattan or a giraffe in the Bronx? Did you ever hope you'd be surrounded by sharks at Coney Island? New York City zoos and the New York Aquarium offer families the chance to get up close and personal with animals from all over the world. From the Bronx Zoo to the Staten Island Zoo, each borough has its own unique zoo experience. Whether your children are big or small, there is a zoo in NYC suited to their age, interests, and attention span. Best of all, access to these creatures doesn't have to break the bank. Free admission can be as easy as picking the right afternoon to visit. Check out our insider tips for making the most of New York City's zoos and aquarium.

If you grew up in the Garden State, you’re already familiar with the hotly contested "Taylor ham" versus "pork roll" debate, or the “What exit?” joke. Kidding aside, New Jersey has a lot of well-known assets, including its shoreline, farmland, mountains, the Pine Barrens and, of course, its urban hubs.

There are also a number of lesser-known lures that are worth a visit. Here are some off-the-beaten path attractions in Jersey, from the birthplace of its most illusive and infamous resident, the Jersey Devil, to a giant elephant that used to be a hotel. There's even a museum dedicated to weirdness. What's not to love about that?

If you're looking for other diverting day-trip ideas, check out our guide to New Jersey's best zoos and aquariums or our rundown on the best beaches in the state. And be sure to bookmark our Weekend Trips Guide for things to do with the fam all season long. 

There’s just something about Legoland California. It’s such a special place that even though you can drive here from Los Angeles or San Diego for a day, you really want to spend the night to be there the minute it opens, go back the next day to the Water Park, or just stay and explore the very underrated and gorgeous town of Carlsbad. Which is why we’ve rounded up the best Carlsbad hotels near Legoland—some within walking distance, some by the beach—all will ensure that you have a wonderful stay in town.

So come for my favorite of the SoCal theme parks, stay for the Flower Fields, the strawberry picking, the charming beach town, the ocean walks, and so much more. Or use Carlsbad as a non-crowded jumping off point to explore all that San Diego has to offer, from Sesame Place San Diego to the San Diego Zoo and so much more.

There’s so much to see and do in San Francisco and the Bay Area, and a top-rated San Francisco tour can make a trip to the Golden City a whole lot easier–especially with kids in tow.

Whether you’re hoping to hop aboard a San Francisco Bay cruise, looking to customize your itinerary with popular stops like The Exploratorium and San Francisco’s Chinatown, or searching for a big adventure outside of the city, San Francisco city tour options are pretty much endless. Take on San Francisco sightseeing by double-decker bus, helicopter, bicycle, or even tiny car, and you’ll be one step closer to truly seeing it all.

With the help of enthusiastic TripAdvisor travelers, we’ve narrowed down your search to the best family-friendly San Francisco tours with 4- and 5-star ratings and rave reviews. Here's our list of the best tours for exploring San Francisco and the Bay Area with kids, plus some insider tips. Click through for quick and easy booking with TripAdvisor.