Summer is on the horizon, and that means parents are scurrying to finalize summer camp placements. While we've got plenty of options in our Summer Camp Guide and Directory, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better full-summer deal than the one offered by the New York City Parks Department. Its popular annual summer camp lottery is open through Sunday, May 30, and an entire summer of camp will cost you just $25!

Read on for more details on this summer camp option that's budget-friendly but full of over-the-top fun for kids.

Looking for a change of scenery? Want to get away from it all? Well, the adventure that you seek may be no farther away than pitching a tent in your own backyard. A backyard camping trip is a perfect activity for the whole family or as a special occasion sleepover for kids' friends. Unplug those devices and recharge with a healthy dose of outdoor fun with the kids. 

If you're spending the summer out east, you'll be happy to hear that registration is open for Ross Summer, the much-loved Hamptons camp known for serving up immersive week-long specialized programs, for-credit academic courses, high-level athletic training, and even early childhood options. Built on the foundation of Ross School—an innovative PreK-12 day and boarding school located in East Hampton—Ross Summer offers three enriching summer programs for kids ages 2 to 18. Read on to find out which one is the best fit for your family.

Six Flags Great Adventure is getting a Jurassic upgrade with the brand new Xpedition Dino, an immersive attraction that lets kids walk or ride among 30 life-like dinosaurs, built to move and roar just like the real ones did millennia ago.

Read on for details on the new larger-than-life experience, and find more great attractions in our Guide to Theme Parks and Water Parks.

Beach is what SoCal is all about, but with so much sea and sand around it can actually be hard to choose which is the best beach for kids and the whole family. In the years when sand-filled diapers and tired little legs feel challenging, you want to be sure you've chosen a beach that will pay off with great summer memories. 

You could head for a beach with a playground (we know some good ones), but for just enjoying the wonderful Pacific Ocean with easy parking, bathrooms, snacks, or other amenities, we love to return to the dozen beaches below. Gather the shovels, sandwiches, and sunscreen, and go west, young families!

We’re lucky here in Massachusetts to have so many beautiful beaches to choose from when the temperature soars. With lots of room to dig, play, and swim, a stretch of sand on the edge of the salty surf might be the perfect place to take kids in the summer. But with so many Boston area beaches to choose from, it can be tough to know which ones are really right for families. So we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite sandy spots to visit each summer—all within an hour of Boston! For more things to do in and around the city, check out our Boston Summer fun guide. 

In the Midwest, there's nothing like summer on a lake. From kayaking to jumping off the swim pier, kids make memories that last a lifetime. To help plan a relaxed, sandy, summer vacation, we've rounded up our favorite family-friendly lake resorts. These resorts near Chicago range from lake resorts on nearby Geneva Lake or Green Lake to northern lake resorts in Door County, Wisconsin and Northern Michigan.

Each of these resorts features outdoor and indoor swimming options, water recreation, quaint nearby towns, and family-friendly suites, cottages, and accommodations. Parents can also enjoy nearby or on-site spas, golf, and plenty of lakeside sunsets.

Seeking even more inspiration for summer travel? Check out our Family Travel Guide for loads of family travel destinations, whether you're looking for day trip inspiration or you are ready to book a longer holiday at a family-friendly resort.

If 2020 was the year of the park, with New Yorkers flocking to green spaces in record numbers, park-going in 2021 is next-level thanks to Little Island, aka the floating park, which opens to the public today. The 2.4-acre park far out-punches its tiny footprint, thanks to the uber-creative use of space and a robust programming calendar to match.

One of our most anticipated openings of 2021, Little Island is set on tulip-shaped platforms adjacent to 13th Street in the Hudson River. Its structure is meant to look like a floating leaf, and crossing the bridge from the mainland to the park transports you to an entirely different world, with winding paths, stunning landscaping, and plenty to explore, see, and do.

Read on for all the details on this cool new west side addition, which will make a splash on New Yorkers' plans for summer fun. Find more destination parks in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds.