When I mentioned to a fellow uptown Manhattan mom that I was planning on writing about Riverbank State Park, she begged me to keep this Harlem gem a secret. Although well known in our area, this elevated 28-acre park is worth traveling to, but right now it’s mostly frequented by locals.

In truth, the playgrounds aren’t all that: There are two small ones with the standard equipment, plus a separate sprinkler area. What makes Riverbank so special are its stunning Hudson River views and amazing facilities, including two pools, a skating rink, tennis and basketball courts, running track, theaters, shady picnic tables, 150-seat restaurant and kid-designed carousel.

Since Riverbank is built on top of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, some of the area has a rather bleak industrial look. Even the buildings that house the various attractions aren’t much to gaze at. But don’t let that deter you: There’s so much to do at Riverbank, you can spend the whole day here.

Unfortunately, Emily's Sugar Rush closed in October 2014. We're big fans of old-fashioned candy stores piled high with colorful, high-calorie treats. Every time a new one pops up, we drop by to savor the items and the atmosphere.

We were particularly excited to check out Emily's Sugar Rush, a retro sweet spot that opened in Forest Hills, Queens in May. While our neighborhood has several bakeries and a few ice cream shops, drugstore candy was the only option for those of us with a hardcore sweet tooth until Emily's came along.

Owners and longtime Forest Hills residents Ingrid and David Broderick named their corner candy shop after their eight-year-old daughter. All three of them love sugary treats, and they offer plenty of that at Emily's, which is a veritable jar- and barrel-filled candy heaven, sprinkled with plenty of quirky newfangled treats and small gifts to boot.

All year round, the Bronx Zoo offers awesome, animal-themed activities that enhance an already fun trip to the wildlife sanctuary. Its current offering is particularly eye-catching—the Great Summer Zoofari: A Lego Wildlife Expedition.

Throughout the grounds, there are huge, amazingly realistic Lego sculptures of the zoo's residents. Families can track them all down using the map included in their Zoofari passport. Even if your children have been to the zoo a hundred times (like mine), it makes your visit feel new and exciting—especially if your kids are really into Legos (like mine!).

Although many of the sculptures are out in the open, some are difficult to find, so it feels like a scavenger hunt. The zoo is also hosting special activities in conjunction with the display, including hands-on Lego Activity Stations, Lego Master Builder workshops, live music and Wildlife Theater performances.

Plus, Mommy Poppins is hosting an exclusive Zoofari giveaway: Fifteen lucky families will get to visit the Bronx Zoo, go on the Zoofari and enjoy breakfast with a Lego Master Builder. Read on for info on how to enter, and to hear all about our Lego animal adventure. We've even got a cool (and quick) video so you can see all the fun to be had.