The long, slow days of summer are when we finally get a chance to do all of those fun things we just couldn't get to during the school year. We start every summer by making a bucket list of places we want to check out, and then my family and I work through them.

This year we're sharing our Hot List with you. There's a wide range of activities: playing indoors, getting active outside, exploring nature, eating summer foods, and, of course, getting wet. There are even a few day and weekend trips.

As we were planning this Hot List of the best things to do in and near NYC this summer, we thought it would be super-cool if we could get some of these places to offer discounts to our readers. And many agreed!

These deals are too good to make available to everyone on the Internet. So for the first time, we're offering a downloadable, printable version of this blog post.

What will you find in our printable Hot List book?

• Extended listings with addresses, contact info and hours for every venue, so you have all of the info you need to plan right at your fingertips.
   
• Coupons that can save you more than $1,000 in total. These discounts are only available in our Hot List book.

We're selling the Hot List book via Poppins Perks and giving 100% of the profits to NYC public schools. You can buy the Hot List now for the special price of just $4.99, or read on to see what's on our list.

Summer is in full swing: Temperatures keep hitting 90, playground sprinklers are always on and campers seem to be taking over the city. (Central Park is full of them chanting at the top of their lungs!)

If you have the luxury of spending the entire season with your family, there are plenty of ways to have fun. We've compiled 100 free things to do this summer with ideas for every single day, as well as some anytime activities.

If you only get to hang out on Saturdays and Sundays, there's still a lot to do. This weekend you've got SummerStage's Family Day in Central Park and a big Bastille Day bash, both free.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

New Jersey is humming with summer activity this weekend, so choose your fest or ‘stock wisely. Do your festival tastes run more toward a giant sloppy barbecue contest or a much more dignified music and art offering? Are you up for Beachstock or Maplewoodstock? Or maybe you’d rather see T-Bone Stankus' hilarious one-man show or just eat ice cream all day. Choices, choices. That’s what summer is all about.

New York's State Parks have got it going on this weekend. From afternoon shows, to learning about the animals living on Long Island, even some great night activities. Let summer time take over your usual schedule, let the kids stay up late so you can all have fun as a family at a kid's concert, or go out looking for bats. Perhaps they'll even sleep in a bit in the morning. And if you are inspired, make note of our post on free outdoor movies on Long Island, fun for the whole family. Have a great weekend.

If your kids are anything like mine, they are not falling asleep so easily, despite days of swimming and summer activity. Don't fight it, take charge and take advantage of what your summer parks have to offer. Grab a blanket or some chairs, pack the bug spray and some snacks and head to one of these free outdoor movies. You can create some great family memories, enjoy the sunsets and entertainment, and you never know, the kids might even fall asleep in the car on the way home. Here's our summer 2011 list of outdoor movie screenings at a park near you.

One good thing about 3 day weekends is that the following weekend comes that much quicker. The summer celebrations still continue and we've listed tons for you to do this weekend. Maybe a visit to the Beardsley Zoo is in your near future? If so, check out this Fairfield mom's insider tips for your visit. Blueberry pie eating contests, wagon rides and live music are just a few of the activities planned at Berry Fest! at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield this Saturday.  Stop by and learn how honey is taken out of the hive for harvest during the annual Honey Harvest at Greenwich Audubon. Blueberries are ripe and ready for picking so make sure to check out our Pick-your-own Blueberry Farms in CT Guide. Thinking of taking a day trip to Litchfield County (or just looking for ideas of things to do)? Check out our list of 20 family friendly summer day activities.

In Danbury the free weekend concert series continues and it's the last day of the Danbury City Fair on Saturday.  An old-fashioned Independence Day Festival is happening in Enfield all weekend long at the town green complete with parades, concerts and fireworks. On Saturday, Hartford and East Hartford celebrate Independence Day at Riverfest. Live bands, kids' activities and fireworks will mark the celebration.

In Canaan, you can take the family for a railroad ride and then to the carnival all weekend long at Railroad Days. For race car enthusiasts check out American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville. And in New Haven, bring the kids to see a rendition of Peter & the Wolf and Carnival of Animals.

What? We only have a two-day weekend this time? (Holiday weekends really mess us up.) There are so many fantastic and mostly free things to do, you're going to wish you had three days (or more).

The Children's Museum of the Arts celebrates its upcoming move with an outdoor family art festival in its new neighborhood. French culture takes over 60th Street in honor of Bastille Day. SummerStage hosts its annual Family Day in Central Park. The '80s classic The Goonies screens on Roosevelt Island. And of course you can get wet at outdoor pools, local beaches and water playgrounds.

If you can't even bear the thought of being out and about in this heat, there are plenty of places to cool off indoors. Plus you can check out an amazing exhibit, like Curious George: Let’s Get Curious at the Children's Museum of Manhattan or the New York Hall of Science's Circus: Science Under the Big Top, or one-off weekend events like Family Day at the Center for Architecture or Second Sunday at the Queens Museum of Art.

You can find more seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and additional weekend options in our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar.