When it comes time to find a perfect, all-weather birthday party place in NYC there's really just one answer: the mega play space.

From bounce houses and trampolines to arcade-packed game venues, these wide-open indoor playgrounds give all your pint-sized birthday party guests a chance to run free. Check out our top picks for the best indoor play spaces to throw your next birthday party below—and find more party planning tips in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC.

New Jersey offers many venues perfect for a Sweet 16–lucky for those of us who have a 15-year-old at home and understand the pressure to throw a successful Sweet 16 party. Nowadays, the bar is set high!

We’ve rounded up options in North, Central, and South Jersey, ranging from classic catering halls to unique party locations. If you're casting a wider net, consider hosting your party at one of these Best Venues for Sweet 16 Parties in NYC. 

Looking for a great place to celebrate your teenage daughter or son? South Florida has a host of venues for the perfect teen birthday experience.

Pensacola, Florida has it all. Pensacola is over 40 miles of wildlife-protected sugar sand beaches, incredible food, welcoming locals, a historical village to rival Plimoth Plantation or Colonial Williamsburg, and a booming foodie and local brews scene to rival Seattle or Portland.

It’s a fabulous family vacation spot where you can visit wildlife, take part in all kinds of water sports, see the Blue Angels or Blue Wahoos, and spend time on Pensacola Beach—one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen.

Read on for an itinerary of things to do in Pensacola that will appeal to kids of all ages and interests, and parents, too! For more places to visit along the Gulf Coast, check out our guide to the best things to do in Panama City Beach; Destin; Orange Beach, Alabama; and more fabulous Florida family vacations.

Our list of fun indoor activities for your bored teen.

Even though ice cream stands, shops, and chains are plentiful throughout the lower Hudson Valley, there are a few local spots that stand out. 

All of our picks below are destination-worthy, using handmade or locally sourced ice cream for creative concoctions and traditional favorites–perfect if you're like me and my kids, who don't need much of an excuse to indulge in ice cream on a hot summer day!

For more frozen treats, be sure to check out our top picks for local ice cream shops in Westchester County!

Visiting a Long Island batting cage is a great way for little sluggers to get some practice in. Kids can spend a few hours hitting balls and couple it with another activity, as many batting cage facilities also offer go-cart racing and mini-golf.

For more sports-themed fun, be sure to check out our Indoor Play Spaces, Sports Centers & Fun Zones Guide for Long Island.

Raising kids in NYC comes with crazy rent, stressful school searches, and closets for apartments—but it also brings easy access to enriching cultural activities, and NYC is equally rich in good old-fashioned outdoor activities, too. The city offers a range of bucolic parks and outdoor adventures where kids can get busy playing outside, all without leaving the five boroughs.

From fishing to hiking to exploring to off-the-beaten-path parks, here are 25 outdoor activities in NYC for the whole family. Some are FREE, most are accessible by public transportation, and we guarantee all these things to do outdoors are tons of fun.