Visiting the Central Park Zoo is one of the best ways to spend a day in Central Park with kids. From carriage rides to carousels, Central Park is full of possibilities for children of all ages, but you can't miss taking a walk around the Central Park Zoo, where children under 3 are always FREE.

Nestled on the east side of the park near 64th Street and 5th Avenue, the Central Park Zoo feels like a natural extension of the tranquil green space. Limestone carvings of animals adorn the brick buildings and are reminders of the history of this iconic spot. Here are our kid-tested (and parent-approved) highlights for visiting the Central Park Zoo, including where to see sea lions and how to find bathrooms.

For more things to do in the city with kids, check out our guide on the best things to see and do with kids in NYC and our list of the best zoos and aquariums in NYC, too.

Miami beaches are vacation destinations for tourists all year long—perfect spots for relaxing beach days with kids; staying active with fun outdoor games and sports; and enjoying nightly concerts nearby. We have compiled a list of some of the best Miami beaches and South Florida beaches in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties for families of all shapes and sizes.

Need more ideas to do this summer? Check out our Summer Activities Guide for South Florida Kids to stay busy, as well as features about Frost Science Museum, Free Summer Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals in Miami, and a Visitor's Guide to Naples, Florida.

Hikes in San Francisco are plentiful, with an assortment of stunning and iconic landscapes. With Redwood forests and coastal trails to deep valleys, big mountains, small creeks, and colorful wildflowers—family-friendly hikes in San Francisco and the Bay Area are as beautiful as they are enjoyable. And they’re not just for grown-ups! With tots in tow, lace up those sneakers, pack lots of snacks, and explore the natural beauty of the Bay Area.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite kid-friendly hikes in San Francisco to help families enjoy weekend urban adventures. From hiking in Golden Gate Park with little ones to scaling rocks in Glen Canyon, strolling along the bay at Crissy Field, or walking to the beach in Tennessee Valley—exploring the great outdoors with loved ones is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. 

For more excursions in San Francisco, check out free museum days in the Bay Area, the best day trips from San Francisco with loads more hiking options, plus explore our Weekend Getaway and Day Trips for San Francisco Guide. 

Dollywood, the Dolly Parton-inspired theme park in Pigeon Forge, TN, has become one of the top amusement parks in the US for families. Set in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains, the park has over 50 rides, daily musical shows, and an iconic coal-fired steam train that runs along its periphery.

Located next door is Dollywood Splash Country, a 35-acre water park. And with a new Dollywood resort set to open in fall 2023 (HeartSong, which joins Dollywood's DreamMore Resort), families can plan a full vacation at Dollywood.

My family recently visited Dollywood, and wow—what a trip! Read on for details from our adventure and answers to your biggest questions, like: What are the best rides at Dollywood? What ages is Dollywood for? Is Dollywood little-kid-friendly? And if you're looking for even more family-friendly theme parks, check out our Family Amusement Parks & Water Parks Guide.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the public school schedule, too. The New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is below, and you'll want to bookmark it now for reference—and to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school during the 2025-2026 school year.

Splash pads in Orlando help kids cool down while burning off some energy. We've listed our favorite sprinkler parks around Orlando, and several are adjacent to some of the best playgrounds in the area. These Orlando spraygrounds and splash parks make for a cheap— or even FREE— day of entertainment, especially for little ones. Grab your swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen and enjoy fun on hot summer days!

For more ways to cool off this summer, consider visiting one of these Best Florida Beaches or Orlando Pools with Day Passes . Many of Orlando's theme parks and other attractions (such as Gatorland and the Central Florida Zoo) also feature fun splash pads, so be prepared with a swimsuit for little ones when you visit!

It can be tough to find things to do in New York City for teens. They're too old to want parents to accompany them everywhere, but many teen activities require adult supervision. If your high schooler's social life has been reduced to online gaming or scrolling TikTok clips, help them mix it up by sharing this roundup of 15 things to do in NYC with teens that they can do on their own, a few of which were even created by NYC teens.

Many of these teen activities are FREE or inexpensive, so you won't have to raise their allowance. Find more things to do in NYC with teens in our Teen and Tweens Guide to NYC and our jam-packed Family Activity Calendar.

To help you get summer started, we've come up with the ultimate summer bucket list of 100 (mostly) FREE ways you can pack more play into your day with (mostly) outdoor games and activities for kids. These summer bucket list ideas aren't just for kids—they're fun and engaging activities for the whole family. After all, grown-ups need time to play, too.

Check out our roundup of outdoor games for kids, crafts, experiments, and other activities below. If you make your way through all of these, try our list of childhood outdoor games, our 25 water games for kids, our favorite bounce houses and kiddie pools, and 15 backyard science experiments for messy outdoor fun. Not to boast, but summer really is our forte.

Now, set aside school, work, and stress; it's time to focus on this summer bucket list of 100+ ways to play with kids this summer. For even more ideas, check out our Ultimate Kids Summer Vacation Guide!