Washington Heights & Inwood with Kids: Top 35 Things to Do for Families

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While Washington Heights and Inwood are constantly lumped together, they are really two distinct neighborhoods that happen to share a lot of incredible history. The Heights is primarily Hispanic, though it's getting more diverse every day as young artists and families move in, attracted by reasonable rents in prewar apartment buildings and lovely parks. The area overflows with colorful Latino restaurants, shops and cultural groups, and boasts multiple riverfront green spaces, notably Fort Washington Park, home to the famed Little Red Lighthouse, and Fort Tryon Park, where you'll find the Metropolitan Museum's medieval art mecca the Cloisters. Families can keep on top of what's going on in the nabe by joining the Washington Heights Parents Group, which was founded by a local mom.

The Hall at Patriot Place in Foxboro: 25 Fun Things to Do with Kids

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I’m going to be completely honest with you: I'm not a football fan. In fact, I’ve never really been into any sport, unless you count gymnastics (and I know many people don’t). That said, I truly enjoyed my family's visit to The Hall at Patriot Place. Maybe it’s because I like museums, especially ones that are highly interactive. Or maybe it’s that the whole place is so visually stunning,   the way they've struck just the right balance between being educational and entertaining, or because they found ways to celebrate women in some of their exhibits.

I’m guessing the biggest reason is this: It was really fun to watch my kids having a great time – blocking players, trying on helmets, and kicking field goals – and getting in on the action myself. Read on for 25 fun things to do with your kids in The Hall at Patriot Place. Then, after a couple of hours of celebrating all things New England football at The Hall, you could round out your day with a 5 Wits adventure.

Midsummer Getaway Deals: Orlando, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Georgia, New Hampshire, Yosemite and More

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Summer is here, and vacation deals are plentiful for those looking to score a discount.  Hotel chains like Embassy Suites and Millennium are featuring excellent rates and bonus giveaways at popular locations.  Consider an exclusive resort in Vermont, back-to-nature yurt camping at Yosemite, a family-friendly town in Georgia, a Florida beach resort and more options for your next family holiday.

Jersey Shore Beach Update

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Summer is in full-swing and, as the governor announced live on the Today show the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, the Jersey Shore is back and open for business! This is generally true, however there are a few areas that were hit the hardest that aren't bouncing back as quickly as others (including Mantoloking and Sea Bright). Things may still be on the mend, but there is a lot of fun to be had at the shore this year. Keep reading for a 2013 update to my previous post to get you in the know about the beaches at the Jersey Shore! Here's a list of some of the spots that are open now and how much they will cost you. Let's all continue to help "restore the shore" and get down there with our NJ kids and families this summer!

This Week: 4th of July Fireworks in NYC & Beyond, Free Things to Do All Summer, Vintage Carnival Rides on Governors Island

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It was a week of happy endings and exciting beginnings! Our kids finished up at school and are all now enjoying summer break and camp. (My daughter sang and danced all week at TADA! Youth Theater which, coincidentally, is doing a great giveaway with us this week.) Public pools opened for the season and—thanks to supportive readers like you—our Mommy Poppins App IndieGoGo campaign was fully funded! We're putting the finishing touches on the app as I type, and we'll have more info about the rollout later this season.

Right now all of our sites are in full-on July 4th mode. We've got posts about explosive Independence Day celebrations on Long Island, in Westchester, New Jersey and, of course, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks right here in NYC, which you can watch for FREE from land or, if you're feeling flush, on a Hudson River cruise. Whatever you do over the holiday, there are lots of NYC staycation activities in our Summer Guide and ways to keep cool in our Water Fun Guide.

Meanwhile, if you're looking to get away for the holiday or anytime this season, be sure to check our Travel Guide for vacation inspiration near and far. We just added a roundup of six spectacular family resorts in Virginia, and the site has lots of other posts about family travel in the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe.

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

Fun and Free Things to Do in Boston with Kids: Pirate Faire, Frog Pond and More, June 29-30

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Boston families will find plenty of fun and free things to do in and around town this weekend. Take advantage of the great outdoors and head to the Sand and Sea Festival in Salisbury, the New England Pirate Faire in Salem and the Frog Pond Spray Pool opening in Boston. Other events include a family matinee and toy theater workshop at Puppet Showplace Theatre, the Boston JerkFest, and Birds of Prey at Gore Place.

Independence Day is just around the corner, and we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite Boston Harborfest events, including "America's Biggest July 4th Celebration" on the Esplanade. There are also plenty of smaller-scale alternatives around Boston, just right for families. You can even plan to watch fireworks almost every night for the next week!

With summer in full swing, Tara is on a mission to find ways to have fun indoors as the days heat up. She and her family checked out the two 5 Wits shows at Patriot Place in Foxboro and discovered that they are enormously fun for parents and kids alike. Likewise, Einstein's Workshop, Boston's newest makerspace in Burlington, is a mecca for kids and parents who love STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). And if you've thought how nice it might be to skip cooking dinner sometimes this summer, Rachel has the perfect plan (and a couple of recipes).

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

STEM Fun: Boston’s New Makerspace for Kids, Einstein’s Workshop

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Picture this scenario: The kids are climbing the walls on a scorching summer day and you absolutely must get them out of the house. Or you desperately need to do some shopping, and dread the idea of dragging the kids along. (Maybe you don’t need to picture either of these scenarios, maybe you’re living one of them right now.)

Enter Einstein’s Workshop, a Boston-area mecca for kids and parents who love Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). You can take your kids to the creative play space for drop-in time, sign up them for summer camp, plan a birthday party, or even pick up a gift for your favorite nerd. The thing is, Einstein’s Workshop isn’t just for the geek chic. It’s for toddlers, families who love games and puzzles, young builders, artistic kids – anyone, really. Keep reading for the 411 on cultivating your child’s inner scientist at Boston’s family-friendly makerspace.

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