There's never a bad time to enjoy a creamy serving of ice cream and there are tons of ice cream parlors in Long Island where local families can enjoy a scoop—or two—of the sweet stuff.

We’ve rounded up some the best ice cream parlors in Long Island for a family-friendly treat. These destinations create yummy flavors from scratch and have a nostalgic feel that makes the experience extra special.

If ice cream is not your thing, check out our roundup of other decadent desserts on Long Island, and bookmark our Guide to Family-Friendly Restaurants on Long Island for more dining inspiration.

Families now have another great place in Brooklyn to go bouldering with kids: The Cliffs at Gowanus is open, offering tons of action-packed, family-friendly fun, including rope climbing, yoga classes, a gym, and more.

My 11 year old and I recently went on a tour of The Cliffs Gowanus and tried rope climbing. Read on for all the details of this new gym, where you can go bouldering with kids, and what you need to know about NYC's newest and largest kid-friendly rock climbing gym.

Discover the best openings and attractions for kids this spring: these are perfect ideas for family summer travel!

Is the world getting back to normal? Is there a normal anymore? These questions are frankly too much to contemplate as school wraps up and parents are desperately trying to finalize non-refundable summer camp and family travel plans. But one thing we can say for sure is that big things are opening again, and there's probably something new and exciting wherever you happen to live or plan to travel to this summer. From a new amusement park for tots in San Diego to a new way to go skating at Rockefeller Center in NYC, here are the highlights of the best things that have opened recently for kids and families.

If you are planning a family trip this summer, we've got plenty of reviews, resources, and ideas in our Family Travel Guide. And if you're staying home, we rounded up a cool 100 fun activities on our Ultimate Summer Bucket List.

As a parent, I’ve spent a good chunk of my life searching for kid-friendly recipes. There are three meals every single day and I need easy recipes for kids—that they will actually eat—for all of them. And while I don’t mind making toast for one kid while pouring a bowl of cereal for another, I’m only cooking one family dinner, which means easy kid-friendly dinner recipes are like gold.

You know where I find the best recipes? Right here. The kid-friendly recipes on Mommy Poppins are all parent-tested and kid-approved. These 100 kid-friendly recipes are the most popular, both among readers and our staff. So if you need to add to your repertoire with some new easy recipes for kids, look no further. All of these recipes, and so many more, can be found in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.

Of course you can go cherry picking near Los Angeles—SoCal is the fruit basket of the country!

You've been strawberry picking with your kids, and everyone has visited a local farm to pick a pumpkin from the patch in person. But have you ever gone cherry picking? Cherries do best in the high desert, and there are several pick-your-own cherry orchards in the Leona Valley, near Palmdale. It's a pretty ride into high desert horse country, and when you get there, kids can not only go cherry picking, but also pick other stone fruits and enjoy some time on the farm.

A visit to the High Line with kids is a treat for both residents and tourists alike. Like many native New Yorkers, I sometimes get caught up in my daily routine and forget all that this amazing city has to offer families, from unexpected museums to our mega-popular tourist-worthy top attractions that are always crowded, but for good reason. The High Line, a formerly-abandoned track of elevated railway on Manhattan's west side that's found new life as a public park, is one prime example.

Owned by the city, but maintained by the nonprofit Friends of the High Line in coordination with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the High Line has developed a bit of a reputation as a tourist zone. But a visit to the High Line is well worth braving the crowds. It's both an amazing public art site and a community hub, with wonderful year-round programs for locals—and it's FREE. Plus, its proximity to the Chelsea Market, Hudson Yards, and Little island makes the High Line a perfect spot for a daycation—foodie-worthy snacks included

Here are all the must-see spots for children at this unique outdoor park, plus the kid-friendly High Line events you'll want to add to your family's calendar.

Long Island boasts more than a dozen New York State parks that are exciting places to explore no matter the season.

Whether you and your family are looking for hiking trails to hit in the fall, snowshoeing spots in the winter, bird-watching destinations in the spring, or campgrounds where you can pitch a tent in the summer, these gorgeous state parks have something special to offer Long Island families year-round.

An Empire Pass gives you access to any New York State park for the year, but be sure to look at each park’s website for additional vehicle or entry fees and restrictions. 

For more family-friendly fun, explore our lists of the best Suffolk and Nassau county parks, or check out our Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways Guide.

You know the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The first things that probably come to mind are paper, plastic, and cans. Or maybe your kids recently had a cool Earth Day-themed school project that involved recycled crafts like bubble wrap printing. Either way, you're no doubt doing something at home to help the environment and teach the youngest family members about recycling. You can also show them how to help their local community with clothing donations near Boston.

But what about clothes? Shoes? Even toys? Do you have stacks of well-loved books or some that are propping up the corner table because you ran out of room on your bookshelves? Ok… maybe you’re not Marie Kondo, yet. Never fear–Massachusetts has you covered! Did you know there are hundreds of roadside donation bins that offer 24/7 drop-off access? Get ready to explore all the different ways you can donate your unwanted items and help the community and environment at the same time.

Check out our Earth Kids Guide for more ways to live sustainably.