Travel with the family to the African grasslands without leaving Long Island with a visit to the all-new giraffe encounter experience at White Post Farms in Melville. Pose for selfies, pet the giraffes, and maybe even get a kiss from a long-necked cutie. Read on for details about how to get to know one of the tallest animals in the world. 

For more fun with animals, check out our Guide to Long Island Zoos and Gardens, which includes our list of Long Island's best petting zoos.

Bowling is a classic game that the whole family can enjoy. In Houston, Texas, you'll find a variety of bowling alleys that cater to families, providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all ages. Ramps and lane-side bumpers help younger bowlers who struggle with lifting heavy bowls or keeping their bowls on track. Many of the bowling spots also have arcades or other entertainment. Whether you're a seasoned bowler or a beginner, these family-friendly bowling alleys in Houston are sure to provide a fantastic experience for everyone. Just don't forget socks!

Santa Barbara offers a lovely coastal getaway with the promises of balmy breezes and swaying palm trees. An easy day trip from Los Angeles at a hundred or so miles away, this picturesque seaside community offers equally glorious ocean and mountain views in every direction. 

While Santa Barbara provides endless serenity, it's also a marvelous place to take the kids. Home to one of America's best small zoos, a plethora of enticing museums, and playgrounds with ocean views and castles to climb through, it's a perfect family destination. Keep reading below for the not-to-miss kid-friendly local attractions in Santa Barbara. 

Combine your Santa Barbara excursion with things to do in Ventura with kids or an adventure to the Channel Islands, and check out other nearby destinations to pack the car for in our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families. 

Orlando, known for theme parks and attractions, also offers a unique and invigorating indoor experience for kids: indoor rock climbing! Orlando indoor rock climbing facilities provide a safe and controlled environment for children to scale vertical walls (insert Spidey senses!) and conquer challenging routes. With a range of climbing options catering to different age groups and skill levels, indoor rock climbing gyms in Central Florida offer an excellent opportunity for kids to develop physical strength, problem-solving skills, and self-confidence.

Water safety and swimming are critical skills, which is exactly why British Swim School uses a gentle survival-first approach to effectively teach kids and infants from 3 months and up how to swim.

Between busy school schedules and jam-packed weekends, I recently found myself staring down another summer with a 4-year-old and 7-year-old who still hadn’t learned the first thing about swimming. So, when I heard my kids had an opportunity to take a couple of lessons with British Swim School, I jumped at the chance to enroll them at a nearby pool.

The best all-inclusive resorts for families feature more than just great food, fun activities, and beautiful beaches. They also have amazing kids clubs, where parents can drop kids off for supervised fun while they relax by the pool or hit the spa.

But not all kids clubs are created equal. While some have basic toys and games, others offer a full program of arts and crafts, sports, themed parties, and more, as well as cool spaces with playgrounds, video game hubs, and even water parks.

Here are 12 resorts with incredible kids clubs in the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. While most of them are all-inclusive resorts, we've also added a couple that are not all-inclusive but have spectacular free kids clubs. Check out our Guide to Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels for even more great places to stay.

The lavender fields are bursting in Los Angeles! I took my kids on a trip to 123 Farm just as the lavender was in the beginning stages of blossoming, and it's promising to be a bountiful and beautiful summer. 123 Farm is the largest organic lavender farm in California, growing over 90 varieties of lavender; on a visit to the farm you can see, taste, and discover all things lavender. (You can also meet a few adorable farm animals.) While the lavender is not to be picked, it is most certainly to be posed in, so come with a camera in hand because these fields are family photo and Instagram-worthy.

For more flower adventures in the summer in Los Angeles, when the spring wildflower blooms have finished for the year, visit Tanaka Farm's Hana Field for stunning sunflowers.

How much can you bring home when you go berry picking and peach picking in Connecticut? And how many berries will sneak their way into your little ones mouths? There are several types of delicious berries and fruit on farms all over Connecticut. Bring your kids and strap a bucket around their necks so they can "help." Peaches, rasperries, blueberries, and even nectarines and plums are ripening right now. So pull out your favorite recipe and hop in the car!

In, July blueberries and blackberries are ready for eating. Late July and August are perfect for peaches. If you decide to make jam with your pounds of pickin's, try this Homemade Pop Tart Recipe. And for more great summertime ideas, browse out Connecticut Summer Fun Guide.

Note: Due to a freeze, 2023 is not a great year for peaches; some farms lost their pick-your-own crops.