When my Brooklyn family needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of NYC, we don't leave town; we head straight for Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan, where we spend the day picnicking, hiking and bouldering. You name the outdoor activity and this awesome park probably offers it. You can even go camping here!

While exploring the park is a fun-filled activity at any time of year, the opportunity to sleep under the stars (in a tent, actually) is only offered in the summer. The Parks Department family camping lottery takes place today, Wednesday, June 17 (don't worry if you miss it—there will be other sessions this season), and my kids are teeming with excitement at the thought of being selected. If overnight camping is a little more adventure than you're ready to take on, Inwood Hill Park offers lots of other activities for all ages, including family drumming and capoeira, a Brazilian art form fusing dance, martial arts and music.

How often do I find myself at a loss for what to do with my child between dance and soccer? I only have a little over an hour, but that 60 minutes can be tough for my little one if I don't make the right plans. Sometimes, a simple trip to the library will suffice, but other times I opt for a children's show at the 49-seat Little Theater in West LA, a destination we have previously spotlighted as a great place to capture your youngster's attention.

The two plays currently playing at The Little Theater are Snow White and Three Bully Goats Gruff, and each one runs a little less than an hour.

Do, re, mi, fa…so your years spent singing the alphabet song and twinkle twinkle has instilled a love for music in your child? If they aspire to be the next Justin Bieber then signing your child up for singing or dancing classes might be a good idea. Lucky for you, there are many voice and dance instructors in the Hartford County area that can help  your talented performer progress.

It’s Father’s Day weekend, and on the East End of Long Island that means it’s time for... strawberries! This weekend, all eyes turn to the big daddy of outdoor fests: the Mattituck Lions Club’s annual Strawberry Festival. Carnival rides, live music and, of course, shortcake herald the return of the strawberry in a way that has delighted families for 61 years. This is the North Fork’s largest fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting Lions Club charities.

On the South Fork this weekend, Southampton celebrates its 375th anniversary, and a Father’s Day craft fair offers kids a chance to pick up a present for dad. With Sunday dedicated to daddy bonding, most of our picks take place on Friday and Saturday.

For more fun options, check out our Hamptons & North Fork Family Guide.

Truth be told, I miss the days when a nicely wrapped tie did the trick for Father’s Day. But it's been years since my husband wore a tie to his job—a decade, in fact. (Just last weekend, my 4-year-old burst into tears when she saw my husband in his blue jeans; she thought he put on his "work suit" to head into the office!)

Well, dad can spend Father's Day wearing whatever he likes. He can don his board shorts for a day trip to one of CT's great beaches, or put on his workout clothes for a day of biking, hiking or climbing. But if he just wants to throw on those comfy old jeans, there are lots of casual but fun-filled ways to celebrate Father's Day in Fairfield County with the whole family:

One of the things I love most about living in upper Manhattan is the abundance of green spaces. But while we've got amphitheaters and ball fields galore, we've had a lack of renovated, state-of-the-art destination playgrounds. However, that's starting to change. I noticed a handful of local parks on the city's list for revitalization, but those projects are still in the works and I have three energetic kids to entertain, pronto. That's why I was thrilled when friends raved to me about the overhauled Nature Discovery Playground in Fort Washington Park. My kids and I checked it out, and it did not disappoint! From a cool tree house to an exciting zip line, there are lots of exceptional attractions for kids, along with the usual fun play stuff.

Father's Day is supposed to be all about dad, and yet, every year when I ask my husband how he wants to mark the occasion, he replies, "Whatever you want, honey." Agreeable, sure, but helpful? Nope. So this year I decided to turn to the experts for advice: all the other dads I know.

I gave them two rules for their Father's Day wish lists—keep it PG and include the whole family. The result was an eclectic list of fantastic (and many FREE) ways to celebrate Father's Day in New York City that both parents and kids can enjoy. Even better, many of these ideas aren't unique to this Sunday—you can try most of them anytime. So whether you're a partner left to plan the big day or a father looking for inspiration, here are 10 things real-life dads would love to do on Father's Day in NYC.