If you haven't made it to Coney Island yet this summer, the beach should be extra fun on Saturday thanks to its annual Sand Sculpting Contest, one of our top family event picks of the month. Other weekend highlights include innovative family theater at the Fringe Festival, a kite festival in Riverside Park South and the final installment of Summer Streets.

Read on for all of our best bets for the weekend. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

With water all around us, New Yorkers have no shortage of boating, rafting and canoeing opportunities, including hundreds of miles along the Hudson River.

Westchester offers a number of great places to try kayaking, canoeing and rafting, but going just a bit further into Lower Hudson Valley will make the family feel worlds away from its busy urban schedule while you take in those gorgeous mountain views perched atop a canoe gliding across a tranquil lake.

So prepare to launch your small craft for a little outdoor fun! We've rounded up our best bets for boating in Hudson Valley with kids, from canoeing and kayaking to tubing and paddleboarding.

If you have a paleontologist-to-be in your family, help transport them to the Jurassic era with these dinosaur-themed birthday parties on Long Island. From unearthing dino bones to making your own fossils, these party places offer engaging and educational experiences. They'll be roaring with laughter and fun--and you'll be pleased they're learning something in the process. And for even more ideas, check out our Long Island Birthday Party Guide.

This weekend’s events will be music to your ears with summer concerts popping up all over the state. Enjoy free performances from  Kids Rock Featuring Big Jeff & the StarFish Band, And the Beat Goes on Summer Concert Series and Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. Food festivals are also on the menu this weekend with Oasis Farms’ Watermelon Festival and Truckerton Food Truck & Beer Fest. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Eat, play, explore. Those would seem to be themes for the third weekend of August on the East End of Long Island. With just three weeks remaining before the unofficial end of the summer season, there’s still plenty of kid-friendly activity on both forks, especially for community-minded families with an appreciation of the natural world.

This weekend, kids can explore the maritime ecosystem, go on a butterfly hunt and pitch in on essential community projects. Afterward, gather at one of the three community barbecues in the area to share fun, games and, of course, chicken.

What a great weekend to explore East End culture. And as you do, be sure to check out our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for other inspiring things to do on the East East.

Long Island's southern shore boasts plenty of beaches, but if you're looking for a true "get away from it all" shore, consider the five-mile stretch of picturesque oceanfront at Robert Moses State Park.

This Fire Island gem, just 90-minutes from Midtown by car, offers four "Fields," or beaches, for visitors to choose from, each with its own character, crowd and various amenities. Two are "radio-free," making your quest for a peaceful family daycation a bit more attainable. Check out our insider info and tips, including how to get there via public transportation.

The Jersey Shore is made up of many distinct towns, each with its own vibe. Everyone has their favorite. Some folks love the eclectic Asbury Park while others prefer the family-friendly Victorian beauty of Cape May. I thought I'd seen every stretch of sand the state had to offer, but recently, I discovered the charming, seaside town of Bay Head. This quaint destination features tree-lined streets, uncrowded beaches, gorgeous homes and independently owned shops and restaurants. Just one mile south of Point Pleasant, Bay Head is the perfect spot for a relaxing shore getaway. And for more great little NJ towns, check out our Guide to Great Small Towns in New Jersey.

Since camping in NYC parks is prohibited unless you're doing it with the Urban Park Rangers, most local families head out of town for their overnight alfresco adventures. But there are actually two under-the-radar campgrounds right here in NYC, both located in the National Park Service's Gateway National Recreation Area, where families can pitch their own tents. We've got the scoop on where they are, how to snag a site and everything else you need to know about camping with kids right here in New York City.