40 Things To Do with Kids on a Rainy Day at the Jersey Shore

Have some energy to burn? Head to Pump It Up. Photo courtesy of the venue

Not every summer day can be a sunny beach day, even at the Jersey Shore—but there are plenty of indoor spots where families can find rainy day fun.

From Asbury Park to Cape May, we've put together a list of shore activities that will get you off the beach and out of your condo or hotel room. So whether the rain is spoiling your beach day, you need a day out of the sun, or just a change from the sand and surf, we have you covered.

For more entertaining activities this season, check our list of 70 Best Things To Do at the Shore all summer.

Toys 'R' Us Returns with 'Reimagined' Stores in Houston and New Jersey

Toys 'R' Us will be back in time for the holiday season!

If you mourned a piece of your childhood when Toys 'R' Us closed its doors in 2018, take heart: the gone-but-not-forgotten toy store is about to make a small-scale comeback just in time for Black Friday. Two Toys 'R' Us stores, coming to The Galleria in Houston, Texas, a Simon Mall, and in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, are slated to open in November. 

Weekend Fun: Midsummer PowWow, Poetry Fest, City of Science, Storytelling Fest

Jump into the biggest world's biggest inflatable at Big Bounce America in Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of Big Bounce America

It's another jam-packed summer weekend in NYC, and after last weekend's deep-fried weather we're hoping to venture out into more temperate temperatures. The spectacular Thunderbird Mid-Summer Powwow brings over 40 Native nations together for a weekend of dance and celebration in Queens, Brooklyn is staking a claim to hosting the world's biggest bounce house, Lehman College in the Bronx is cooking up tons of City of Science fun, Biennial artist Robert Bittenbender is helping kids create a giant velcro installation at the Whitney, and, as usual, there's MUCH more happening around all five boroughs.

At the 9th Annual New York Poetry Festival on Governors Island, kids can go on a word-themed scavenger hunt, speak their minds at the afternoon open mic sessions, and listen to some of America's best poets recite. Meanwhile, the High Line Young Storytellers Fest helps kids build their own tales, Stories at the Statue in Central Park has two classic Hans Christian Andersen tales on the docket this Saturday, and authors read kids' books at Books of Wonder's UWS locale on Saturday and Chelsea store on Sunday. You can always find more story events by searching our calendar.

On Sunday, head over to the Brooklyn Roots Fest at Lefferts Historic House, check out the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano's Guelaguetza Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park, explore Central Park's North Woods on a Discovery Walk specifically designed for families, or boogie with Rolie Polie Guacamolie in Fort Greene.

Keep an eye on our packed Summer Fun Guide and our NYC Event Calendar for a non-stop panoply of fun things to do with the family as we head into August!

Weekend Fun for Chicago Kids: Free Shows, Summer Festivals, Touch a Truck, Harry Potter's Birthday

At Navy Pier, an abridged version of The Wizard of Oz brings the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, Dorothy and the Cowardly together for an adventure down the Yellow Brick Road. Photo by Liz Lauren

July hits the finish line at top speed with a full roster of culture and food festivals, free outdoor performances, and splashy water fun.

On Saturday, celebrate Harry Potter's birthday at The Party That Shall Not Be Named, a FREE bash for young witches and wizards in Naperville, or climb aboard a big rig at the DuPage Children's Museum Transportation Celebration and Touch-a-Truck. Families with older kids can pack up the picnic blankets for FREE alfresco family-friendly performances this weekend: Monty Python's Spamalot at the Wallace Bowl in Wilmette, and a lightning-round highlight reel of the Bard's greatest hits at Shakespeare in the Park, also in Wilmette. 

This weekend's street fairs and cultural festivals include the DuPage County Fair at the fairgrounds in Wheaton, the Fiesta Del Sol in support of the Pilsen community, Wicker Park Fest with a special Kids Fest both days, the Prairie Fest with carnival rides and concerts in west suburban Wood Dale, Family Fun Fest in Lombard, Chicago Ridge Fest in the south suburbs with a Family Fun Day (plus fireworks) on Sunday, all the pizza and pasta you can eat at Little Italy Fest West in Addison, and bites of just about every tasty food Chicagoland has to offer at the 36th annual Taste of Lincoln Avenue. Plus, two special cultural fairs this weekend honor Chicago's African diaspora communities: the Bantu Fest in Hyde Park with concerts, delicious food, and a children's village, and Ghana Fest in Washington Park with spectacular parades, dancing, art, and food.

Ready to hit the water? Two fun riffs on your standard day at the beach or the neighborhood pool are happening this weekend: Swim with Santa and his reindeer at Christmas in July in the East End Pool in Elmhurst, or blow bedtime for the light-up party that is the Bensenville Water Park Glow Crazy Night

See our Chicago family event calendar for more ideas, or our list of 50+ FREE Things to Do With Kids This Summer.

Bronx Birthday Party Places for NYC Kids

The party area at Turtle Cove is a special place for birthday parties in the Bronx.

As a Bronx mom with three kids, I find myself in a perpetual state of birthday party planning. And while we've had many a house party, once I factor in food, decorations, favors, and more, it often costs just as much as a destination bash. Besides, destination parties bring a change of scenery and fun perks such as slides, sports, live animals, spa days, and more to make the celebration memorable. Best of all, I don't have to deal with the cleanup.

The Boogie Down borough has a growing list of cool birthday party spots for kids, from old favorites such as the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, to more recent additions tailored to kids' interests—with a decidedly local flair. We've rounded up a dozen birthday party places in the Bronx, with options for kids of all ages and interests.

5 Free New Spraygrounds and Splash Pads to Visit with Boston Kids this Summer

A recently renovated spray deck abuts a beloved free pool in Somerville's Foss Park. Photo courtesy of  Willene Ticianeli

During our short, humid summers, Boston kids are always on the hunt for ways to cool off in the summertime. While free swimming pools are a great affordable option, spraygrounds are sublime for toddlers, preschoolers, or big kids looking for a quick way to cool off. Even if you've scouted out the these popular splash parks and splash pads, you might not know about these new spots in the Boston area. So throw on your suits, slather on the sunscreen, and head to one of these five fun (and free!) spraygrounds.

WowMoms World Play & Wellness Center Coming to Paramus

There will be large above-ground pools where children ages 1 to 4 can work on water-safety skills.

Have you ever dreamed about a place that includes opportunities for exercise, enrichment classes, and socialization for kids AND moms, all under one roof? WowMoms World, coming to Paramus in late 2019 or early 2020, strives to be that coveted one-stop spot where growing families can relax and enjoy everything from parent-child classes and swim lessons to arts and crafts and an organic lunch or snack. 

Canada-based WowMoms opened its first U.S. location on Long Island in January, and other spots have since opened in Florida and Texas. The 6,200-square-foot Paramus space will be WowMoms' first New Jersey location.

18 Places to Take Parent-Child Swim Classes in Boston

Photo courtesy of Goldfish Swim School

Swimming ability and water safety are so important for little ones, but it can be difficult to imagine letting your baby or toddler plunge into the pool without you. Luckily, you don’t have to because there are a plethora of places in or near Boston that offer parent-child swim lessons so you can get in the water together. If you’re looking for other ways to be active with your child, check out our post on yoga classes for Boston moms and babies.

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