The weather is finally starting to warm up, and it’s time to kick the winter blues to the curb and start planning those spring and summer birthday parties. Party planning can be a hassle, but there are so many options in the area for great outdoor fun. A fine weather birthday is the perfect excuse to do something exciting and new outside. We’ve rounded up some really fun (and easy) spots to host a birthday party for active kids who love the outdoors.

There's a new hike in town! OK, maybe it's not completely new—but, for the first time since the winter storms of 2005, the entire Lake Hollywood perimeter trail is open. And, with the exception of the northern section (which is partly packed dirt sidewalk and partly concrete sidewalk along a fairly quiet road), the trail is paved and so wide it's more a street than a trail. That means more than three miles of car-free walking, running, or biking—with a touch of Los Angeles history and amazing views of the Hollywood sign thrown in.

(For more hike ideas, check out our family hiking guide!)

Time travel is indeed possible, at least on specific weekends at the New-York Historical Society this spring. Families will journey back to Manhattan circa 1915 and a deadly typhoid outbreak thanks to the creative theater troupe, Live In Theater. This Drama-Desk-nominated acting company known for its interactive, historical whodunits, mounted The Pinkertonian Mysteries last year and returns to the museum with another fascinating slice of NYC's storied history—a look at the mystery behind the infamous "Typhoid Mary."

After The Pinkertonian Mysteries, I was expecting The Trial of Typhoid Mary to be a high-quality, interactive, historical adventure—and I wasn't disappointed. The just-opened show will play three more times through May 1, so don't miss out.

When it comes to technology, I am quick to play the "I made it through college with a typewriter and Wite-Out" card when talking with my kids. This inevitably garners an eyeroll and probably rightly so: our children were practically born with devices in their hands. And since statistics predict that by 2020 over 1 million computing jobs will be unfilled in the US due to lack of candidates with the right skills and experience, perhaps it's time for me to embrace the need for my kids to have some mad computer skillz. So I was thrilled when my 10-year old son was offered a coding class at CodeAdvantage, and a Minecraft one to boot, which is just about his favorite thing on earth. Read on to hear about our CodeAdvantage experience.

Spring is here, which means the days of being stuck inside the house because of cold temps and snow will soon be a thing of the past. Instead, the warmer weather will bring a slew of opportunities for fun activities that the entire family can enjoy together. So get your sunglasses and sunscreen ready because we’ve come up with 15 things we can’t wait to do this season. And for more ideas, be sure to check out our Spring Fun Guide.

April Fools' Day is a great holiday for parents. When I was in high school and college, I often egged on my friends to pull pranks. Now, as a dad of three boys, one my great joys is being able to gag my own kids. 

With that in mind, I reached back into my memories for the following list of old-school April Fools' jokes that buddies or family members played on me at one time or another. These high jinx, with a little prep work, can turn into funny moments.

An interesting, eclectic community parents might not immediately think about swinging through is Chelsea, a 1.8-square-mile location abounding with people from many cultures. Located northeast of Boston, just over the Tobin Bridge, Chelsea offers several spots for family fun and good food. 

Kids love playing outside, and if you live in the city, you probably don't have a ton of outdoor space. Visiting a park or a playground is a great way to get kids outside to run around and play. Of course the city still has plenty of awesome parks, splash pads, and outdoor activities for families, but these Chester County playgrounds are definitely unique. These parks are filled with nature trails, playgrounds, fields to run around on and some even offer pools and lakes for swimming in the summer months! These playgrounds are worth the trip from wherever you live, so hop in the car and get ready for a day of adventure.