Queens hosts one of the city’s largest parks, amazing beachfronts and, of course, its own botanical garden. The garden plays host to myriad family festivals and programming for kids year-round. It even offers one of the city's few "forest" or nature-based outdoor preschool programs.

It's a hike to get to if you're not right there in the Flushing neighborhood, though. So is it worth it? We've visited many times and wanted to highlight some of our favorite sights at this top NYC garden when visiting with kids.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at the People's Light in Malvern is a life-affirming, rollicking adventure that both kids and parents will love. Dancing, live music, shadow puppetry, and a much-loved toy rabbit invite kids’ interest, while the superb acting and heart-touching life lessons make the story one the whole family won’t soon forget.

Some kids like arts and crafts and some kids like to collect things. Other kids prefer soccer or perhaps horseback riding. And then there are the kids who want to strap on a helmet and fling themselves high into the air off dirt mounds and wheelie around asphalt track walls. I've got one of those.

When he was five, he arrived home one day and announced that he would like to try BMX thank you very much. I was pretty skeptical at first, I knew next to nothing about the sport and had visions of broken bones and concussions. I began asking around and soon found that the BMX scene in Connecticut is thriving. Not only that, it is one of the most inclusive sports I've ever seen.

A holiday is pretty much the least we can do to recognize just how uh-mazing moms really are. And that’s why, with Mother's Day coming up fast, DiamondWish.com and DiamondStuds.com aren't just reminding us exactly why moms deserve the moon and more on their big day, but they’re making it easier to spoil ‘em with serious savings on fancy fine jewelry. Just use the code “mommypoppins” to get $50 off $499, $100 off $999, $500 off $4,999, and $1,000 off $9,999 when you shop the largest selection of diamond earrings on DiamondStuds.com, or 25% off the handcrafted custom diamond jewelry on DiamondWish.com. Plus, order by Wednesday, May 10th at 9:00am PDT and get FREE expedited 2-day shipping on either site when you select “free standard shipping.”

So, here's just a subtle reminder of why moms deserve it all on Mother’s Day:

After three trips to Buy Buy Baby, six separate email chains with your sister-in-law, and a plea to your local parents group, you still can't decide which stroller to buy. From one-handed folds to fixed wheels and car seat adapters, it can feel as if you need an engineering degree to understand the endless options, and then a panel of experts to pick the right model.

Here's the thing: Whether planning for your first baby or adding another little one to your crew, the key to finding the perfect fit for your growing family is to focus on your lifestyle. So, forget about the stroller your best friend swears by or the new release you just read about in that parenting magazine and start thinking about things like the size of your NYC apartment and the number of stairs you climb in a day. From there, read on to find recommendations based on your everyday needs.

Lincoln Center is making headlines in the New York City special needs community. The iconic cultural institution is launching the "Big Umbrella Festival," a month of arts programming dedicated to autistic kids and their families. The inaugural festival is set to take over stages on the cultural campus and at local schools in April 2018, Autism Awareness Month.

The stated mission is to "enrich the lives of children on the autism spectrum through inclusive art that engages, educates, and inspires." While still a year away, the monthlong festival is surely a welcome addition to city's existing cultural programs for kids with autism.

What little girl doesn't fantasize about one day owning her own pony? Let us not forget little boys dreaming about riding a horse like the cowboys and Native Americans did. This summer you can give your child, sometimes as young as age three, a week long experience riding, taking care of and enjoying everything about horses. We've rounded up some great stables that offer summer camps in Litchfield County. We can't think of a more beautiful environment to enjoy spending time with horses this summer.