Beginning in May, the New York City Department of Transportation is sponsoring its sixth season of Weekend Walks, fun neighborhood gatherings that take place right in the middle of New York City streets. These aren't vendor-packed street fairs, massive festivals or the bike-filled Summer Streets; instead, they're casual community celebrations where local businesses, organizations and residents come together to dance, make art, eat, party and play in closed-to-traffic streets.

Activities vary by location, but Weekend Walks usually include live music, arts and crafts, classes and workshops, and kids' programming hosted by cultural institutions and businesses along the route. Since these events are low-key and neighborhood specific, it's probably not worth traveling a long distance to attend one. However, since there will be more than 60 different Weekend Walks throughout the five boroughs between May and September, there very well may be one near you.

I'm going to confess—and date myself—right up front: I grew up on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman (how she resisted him was beyond me), and that inspired a fascination with Ojai, CA, birthplace of the super-70s superheroes. And while there isn't really a sign welcoming visitors to the "home of astronaut Steve Austin" as TV once led me to believe, everything else this charming town had going for it 40 years ago still holds true today, from irresistible cafés to horseback rides in the hills. Ojai is SoCal at its best; it's where vegans and cowboys make a chillaxing home together.

Taking the subway, a.k.a. the T, is a great way to navigate Boston with kids. Each subway line—Green, Red, Orange and Blue—has its own unique vibe and transports riders to some of the coolest places in Boston. (One might even argue that if you can’t get to it on the T, it isn’t worth doing.) Whether you’re visiting the city or raising your kids here, it’s always handy to know which T stops have wonderful family attractions nearby.

The Green Line, Boston’s oldest and most iconic subway line, stops at many of Beantown's most legendary destinations. My top ten picks for Green Line-accessible outings should be on every family’s list of things to do with kids in Boston at least once. If your family is like mine, you’ll visit them too many times to count and still find something new to love each time.

The prevalence of autism has increased over the years and while the cause is still unknown we have amazing resources and support to help families. There are many businesses in the Hartford County area that offer quality programs for autistic children.

Our city may be known for its star maps, but LA's light pollution makes it hard to sit outside and identify actual shooting stars, planets, and constellations. Whether your kids love staring at the stars when they're out of the city or have never taken a good look at the Milky Way, planetarium shows and observatories can be a great way to examine the wonders of the night sky.

Planetariums offer a virtual sky experience, generally following a specific theme; shows may give an overview of the current sky, take a trip through the solar system, or focus on a phenomenon like the Northern Lights. Observatories offer a chance to look straight at the universe via someone else's (often superpowered) telescope. We are lucky to have a few observatories in town, as well as a good selection of planetariums (or planetaria, if you prefer) for spotting the biggest Los Angeles stars. Some locations, like Griffith Observatory, even do it all in one place: high-tech shows, enormous telescopes, and public star parties (no red carpet involved).

My 9-year-old may not have a big backyard like her suburban peers, but she does have Central Park. The northeastern corner of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's 843-acre masterpiece is literally across the street from our apartment. But while it's got some amazing attractions, like the recently renovated East 110th Street Playground, the Lasker Rink and Pool, the Harlem Meer for catch-and-release fishing and the gorgeous Conservatory Garden, this part of the park isn't as well known as the rest. That's why the Central Park Conservancy decided to make it the setting for Drifting in Daylight, a new immersive pubic art installation celebrating the nonprofit's 35th anniversary.

The Conservancy collaborated with Creative Time to curate eight site-specific works of art, including special performances and experiences, that complement this serene section of Central Park. Some are so subtle, you and your kids may not even notice them! And that's exactly the point. Drifting in Daylight isn't about spectacle; it's about creating memories. From listening to soothing classical music, to watching recreations of famous movie scenes, to indulging in FREE ice cream (definitely the kid-friendliest piece of the bunch), Drifting in Daylight is a great reason to discover (or revisit) northern Central Park with kids.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer when many Long Islanders head out east to enjoy the area's beautiful beaches, and various kid-friendly events and activities. This weekend, families can learn about oyster farming, help transform the Childen's Museum of the East End's garden, sample some of the region's finest cuisine or watch a parade honoring our nation's veterans.

Whether you're planning to spend most of the summer on the East End or just a weekend here and there, be sure to check out our Hamptons & North Fork Guide for the best things to do and see in the area. And for what's happening on the rest of LI, take a look at our Event Calendar.