Memphis, Tennessee is a city known for its rich musical history, civil rights heritage, and amazing BBQ. This town on the Mississippi River beats with a distinctly American heart. Many people regard it as the birthplace of rock n' roll: Legendary artists like Johnny Cash, Otis Redding, and Elvis Presley all recorded hit songs in Memphis. But you don't have to be a music aficionado or history buff to love the "Bluff City." Like the city of Nashville, there are so many things to do in Memphis, TN with kids, such as great museums, gorgeous parks and gardens, and delicious food. (Did I mention BBQ?)

Here are 25 things to do in Memphis with kids, including Memphis restaurants kids will love and the best family-friendly hotels in Memphis, TN. For more awesome family vacation ideas, check out our Family Travel Guide.

Playland in Rye, New York has been a go-to amusement park for NYC families since 1928. Now operating under new ownership, the picturesque 280-acre park has preserved its rich early 20th century history and charm while serving up modern-day attractions and amenities. From exhilarating new rides great for teens and tweens to fun kiddie rides and new amenities like fancy family-friendly restrooms, it was time to revisit the renovated and restored Westchester gem.

My family headed out to Playland to see what was new and whether it still held the nostalgic fun I remembered. We arrived to sweet picket fences, brightly blooming flowers, lush lawns, and Art Deco buildings really set the scene, and loads of thrilling rides, carnival games, and concession stands made it a day to remember. Below, I’m breaking down some of our favorite attractions, and sharing tips for visiting the park.

Think the dog days of summer are a cultural wasteland? That's not the case when it comes to the theater for kids—New York City's family theater scene is hotter than an unshaded sandbox during the summer, and this year is no exception.

There are shows for kids of all ages, interests, and budgets throughout the summer season, including FREE theater for kids options such as outdoor Shakespeare, a bilingual take on The Wizard of Oz, and a puppet show touring to parks throughout the five boroughs. And the theater for kids shows that do cost money are typically less than $25 per person.

Is your family daring enough to take on one of the fastest, highest, twistiest roller coasters or other thrilling rides at these amusement parks near NYC? From amusement parks on Long Island to New Jersey's top amusement parks, and Pennsylvania-area amusement parks, we've found 10 of the most scream-inducing, white-knuckle-causing roller coasters and thrill rides for your crew to try. So take a deep breath, hold on tight, and get ready to experience the ride of your life.

Every year, my family takes a two-hour drive east of LA, past the windmills and a couple of giant neon dinosaurs, to spend a blissful weekend tackling all the things to do in Palm Springs with kids. Several bathroom breaks and a date shake or three later, we arrive and there's a whole vibe change. Palm Springs is a land of purple mountains, bougainvillea, succulents, rolling green golf courses, and desert air. It smells like vacation. The water parks at resorts that await us certainly add to that vacation feel, as does the anticipation rolling off my kids. We come back year after year (in the 100-degree summer heat) because this oasis gives us everything we need in a family vacation, without having to hop on an airplane. 

For more SoCal family vacations, check out our list of best family road trips from Los Angeles, California family vacation ideas kids love, and more in our Weekend Getaway and Day Trips from Los Angeles Guide.

There's certainly no shortage of wonderful playgrounds and parks in New York City. But when you add a child with special needs into the mix, the selection of truly great playgrounds suddenly seems much smaller. As a mom of a special needs child, I've explored quite a few of the city's playgrounds in search of the best accessible playgrounds for all children.

Happily, many of these accessible playgrounds in NYC meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and there are literally hundreds of special needs-friendly playgrounds throughout NYC. Some also include accessible JennSwings, those big plastic swings that offer full-body positioning support for kids up to 125 pounds. Because the adaptive swing doesn't always appeal to my son, there need to be other attractions for a playground to be cool in his book.

I'm spotlighting 17 playgrounds I feel truly are the best for special needs kids. Not only are they accessible playgrounds (half the battle), they're fun for all ages, with and without special needs. Grab some sunblock, towels, sand toys, and running shoes and get exploring. Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in NYC for more picks no matter your child's age or interest.

These easy summer desserts, snacks, and drinks will keep kids fueled up for a summer filled with adventure. Whether you are rushing home from camp, lounging poolside, or just trying to satisfy the seemingly endless requests for snacks, this list is for you! From salty to sweet, this list has all the ingredients for perfect summer snacking that will keep kids full and your kitchen cool. While every one of these recipes are tried and tested, you really must try the magic of Jell-O grapes, Sun Butter soft serve, and Oreo sushi this summer. Your kids will think you're a genius.

For more kid-pleasing easy recipes, check out 100 Favorite Kid-Friendly Recipes for Every Meal and more family favorites in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.

If your family’s looking for a little adventure this summer, WildPlay at Jones Beach delivers with enough thrilling oceanside obstacle courses and ziplines to make for a great day trip! With four levels of adventure courses, featuring tight ropes, cargo nets, rope swings, wobbly bridges, swinging buoys, and more, WildPlay has something for every age group. And I can vouch because I recently took my three brave kids–ranging from 5 to 14–to visit, and they all had a fantastic time.

We headed out to Jones Beach on a beautiful Friday afternoon and, after filling out a few waivers, WildPlay’s friendly instructors strapped on our harnesses and walked us through a safety demo so we could get right to climbing. After learning how to maneuver the pulleys over the “lifeline cables” and getting a tutorial on how to ride the ziplines, all three kids had gotten the hang of it and we set off to have some fun.

Read on for a rundown of the courses, what to know before you go, and a WildPlay coupon code for Mommy Poppins readers!