When you're looking for something cool to do with the kids in NYC, who do you ask? Other local parents of course!

That's why we asked our readers to tell us about their favorite summer day trips in and around New York City. The answers ran the gamut from famous favorites (Coney, Coney, Coney!) to lesser-known destinations (Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island) to creative city itineraries (a DIY walking tour based on Food Network shows. Yum!).

So in addition to all of our other roundups of summer fun, including 100 free things to do this summer and 40 staycation destinations, we're happy to share the 42 top summer outings for NYC families as chosen by our fellow moms and dads.

Going out to eat with kids can be a daunting task. No one wants to be the family with that child, the one who doesn’t want to sit in a seat, makes loud noises or keeps asking, "When will the food be ready?" (In other words, a normal kid.) We've put together a list of restaurants in the Hartford area that feature fun themes, children's meals and activities sure to occupy your little one so you can relax and enjoy a night out with the family. We've also rounded up some of our favorite family-friendly restaurants in New Haven County here. Bon appétit!

As the mom of two boys, I often turn to the ultimate experts when I need parenting advice on raising kids on Long Island: other moms. And aside from the women I know personally, I also enjoy reading blogs by local moms willing to share their words of wisdom and insider tips on everything from saving money and where to find the best deals to product reviews and how to raise healthy kids. Here are eight sites definitey worth checking out. And if you have your own personal favorite, feel free to share it in the comment section below.

What a festive week it's been in NYC, with the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Midtown painting the town green on Tuesday. My family marked the occasion with a traditional meal of corned beef, cabbage, and, of course, Irish soda bread.

Easter is the next holiday up and there are plenty of ways to celebrate such as egg hunts, Easter Bunny brunches and even fun-filled Easter Bunny train rides in nearby New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It's also the first weekend of spring which means school break is near. Our Travel site has some great tips for planning a family vacation as well as awesome spring break travel deals. If you can't take the time off from work to be with the kids, we also have a roundup of spring break camps for all ages and interests.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Experts (I am not one of them!) agree that horticulture is great for kids: it allows them to design, plant, and maintain a garden, while teaching them about nutrition, teamwork, cooking, and food sharing.

The expert who propelled our family gardening endeavor about five years ago was Curious George. Yeah. The cartoon monkey. After watching an episode about gardens, my daughter begged for one of her own, and with a little help from good neighbors at The Pickin’ Patch in Avon and Home Depot, a little girl’s dreams of becoming a farmer came true.

Spring, sprang, sprung! Spring is here, though honestly it seems like it never left (and frankly we've been feeling more like the dead of summer this past week anyway). Those reliable harbingers of the season, the Capistrano swallows, come flying in, the grunion are wriggling their way up SoCal beaches, and the cherries are blossoming.

It's time for a little spring cleaning (Bonus: cleaning out your closet means you have room for new stuff!). It's time to get out and explore your neighborhood. (Who are the people in your neighborhood, anyway?)

And just to alert you, Easter is on the early side this year: April 5 to be exact. Which means you'll barely have finished cleaning up the leprechaun foot prints before it's time to make discover bunny tracks throughout your house. Better get hoppin'!

Keep reading for our most springy picks for this weekend...