When it comes to sunny day activities, a playground trip tops the list. Essex County kids now have two new great options, thanks to the recently renovated playgrounds in Verona Park in Verona and Grover Cleveland Park in Caldwell.

Music-loving teens in New York City are in luck. All the big musicians come through the city, and there are plenty of quirky, off-the-radar music venues, too.

Yet, not everything is open to the under-18 crowd. Many shows, especially if held at a bar, and a number of clubs, ban those under the legal drinking age of 21. Luckily, there are a handful of places that open up their doors to teens for dancing, concerts, and club nights, so NYC teenagers don't have to miss a beat. 

Read on for a list of clubs where they won't have to worry about getting carded—and you won't have to worry about them sneaking into someplace they shouldn't be.

You've signed your last permission slip, figured out teacher's gifts, and even fished the flip-flops out from the dark reaches of the closet. You give yourself a pat on the back—before suddenly realizing that you haven't figured out summer camp yet. Whether you have a preschooler or a teenager, signing kids up for summer camp is key to surviving those long, hot summer days. But, don't panic; you can still find a spot.

We've sussed out several of our partner camps with availability all over the Boston area. It's amazing what kids can do too! Think specialty camps where kids can learn to sail, act, sing, code, build robots, drones, or debate...or good old traditional camps where they do a bit of everything. There's a perfect summer out there for your kid. Don't see what you like here? Check our Boston Summer Camp Guide and Directory for more options and call for availability. Once you figure out camp, hit our summer fun guide to help you out the rest of the time. 

Summer is just about here and there’s no better time to get outside with the kids than right now. Whether you’re headed to the beach or going on a hike, outdoor fun abounds during this season. And one of the best ways to soak it up is at Boston’s many summertime festivals. The 10 listed here are all super kid-friendly and will make for a memorable summer day.

Summer has arrived, and although the season holds promise in many ways, one of our favorite features is the abundance of family-friendly summer festivals and fairs. We’ve rounded up 15 of our favorites in Westchester and the Hudson Valley—from strawberry festivals to county fairs—all of which include fun activities for kids. Although plans were still being finalized for some of this season’s festivities, we’ll be sure to keep this roster updated as summer progresses.

Looking for even more family-friendly activities? Consult our Event Calendar and sign up for our FREE newsletters!

Father's Day can be more than golfing and barbecues this year, with such a great variety of family-friendly activities happening across the state. Whether Dad prefers baseball or fishing, airplanes or amusement parks, our list of Father's Day happenings has something for everyone. Read on for our top picks for celebrating Dad this June. 

For more ways to have fun with fathers throughout the month, check out our playground guide, roundup of family festivals, and Event Calendar. And if Dad really has his heart set on golfing, there's always (mini) golf! 

Sure, you've probably visited your fair share of pumpkin, apple, and strawberry festivals. But have you been to a Podunk Bluegrass festival? Or a Sailfest? Or perhaps a Potato and Corn fest? Summer may be short here in Connecticut but it sure is jammin' with festivals from June through Labor Day. Whether you're planning to indulge in some strawberry shortcake piled high with whipped cream, check out some really cool cars at an antique car show, or groove to some reggae, there are so many family-friendly festivals happening all summer long. Grab a picnic basket and a blanket, pack your camera, and have some fun at one of these Connecticut festivals. And, be sure to check out our Connecticut Summer Fun Guide to help plan some pretty epic adventures with the whole crew this summer. 

These outdoor games and toys keep kids running, crawling, jumping, and more. Whether trying to keep them entertained at the beach, the backyard, or just at the park, parents everywhere know that an engaging outdoor toy for toddlers to teens can be the perfect antidote to the inevitable "We’re bored" summer refrain with which we’re all so familiar.

Unfortunately, just walking into your nearest retailer and grabbing the most interesting looking outdoor game off the shelf doesn’t always work out. It could end up overly complicated, not age-appropriate, break upon contact—or even worse: not hold their attention! So we at Mommy Poppins rounded up our favorite summer toys for kids from over the years, including water games, and even tested out new ones, to bring you this list of more than a dozen, inexpensive options to play with your kids this summer.