A popular Poconos resort's water park, Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, opened a new toddler and preschooler outdoor attraction this summer, Mummy’s Oasis. It's a fun-themed kids zone for those 48 inches and under and definitely a great place to park your family to cool off. It's one of the reasons we added this Poconos attraction to our list of best water parks near NYC for toddlers.

We visited earlier this summer and have the scoop on the dumping buckets, mini water slides, and more. Check out the NYC Beaches, Pools and Water Parks Guide for more splashing fun or our roundup on 15 Awesome New Jersey Water Parks.

One of the best places to beat the summer heat is on the water and it just happens that Connecticut lakes and rivers also offer some spectacular autumn views. What's a great way to enjoy both seasons? Gather the family, pack a lunch, and go canoeing or kayaking. Below are a few suggestions for destinations to explore throughout the state. For other "aqualicious" activities, check out the Connecticut Beaches and Water Fun Guide. 

There are two things that every child needs to thrive: fresh air and food. Sure, they also need unconditional love, education, support, etc, etc, etc, but lucky for us, fresh air and food are pretty easy to come by in Fairfield County.  

Some of our first family dining experiences were at outdoor restaurants - the atmosphere just seemed a little bit more relaxed than being stuck inside with a screaming infant. Take advantage of the extra hours of light this summer by enjoying these outdoor dining experiences. From the traditional lobster roll, to the not-so-traditional walking nachos, to lakefront, to beachfront, Fairfield County has a little bit of everything.  Make sure you check out the Facebook and Instagram accounts of these restaurants to take advantage of special events and menus. And read our post on fun restaurants across the state where kids can play while you eat and relax.

With all of the beautiful beaches in New England, spending a day on the sand by the ocean is a popular summer activity. But parking can be really difficult to come by—not to mention very expensive. Luckily there’s a better way: Take the T (or the commuter rail) to the beach! It'll add to the adventure and ensure a day of fun in the sun.

Walking tours are a great way for families, both native and tourists, to explore NYC. Whether you tour a neighborhood or borough you don't know well or one you've known forever, you are bound to learn something new while having plenty of fun. In a city as chock-full of life as New York, tour options are available for seemingly every sort of interest. You can take eating tours, check out movie and TV locations, explore nature, get a deeper understanding of Big Apple history and even learn which local wild plants are safe to eat.  

My son and I are big fans of walking tours, particularly ghost tours. We loved the spooky history tour we took in Montreal, and the Colonial-themed ghost tour of Williamsburg, Virginia. But until last summer, we hadn't tried a walking tour in NYC. We fixed that by tramping around the West Village with a Ghost Tour of NYC guide and fellow Mommy Poppins contributor Raven and her daughter. We had a blast and so did our almost-tween kids: We learned which Greenwich Village apartment buildings may be haunted and by what; gleaned some interesting historical tidbits; unearthed the macabre history of Washington Square Park; and discovered you don't have to be a tourist to enjoy a good walking tour.

Looking for more ways to see the city? Check out our Visitors' Guide, which includes reviews of all the city's best sights, places to eat, and stay.

With screen time, lessons, daycare, and school it doesn’t seem like there’s much time to explore nature and discover new places, but tell kids that there’s a special house built in a tree for them to discover, and watch their curiosity take over. Tyler Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, Morris Arboretum, and Treehouse World are perfect for kids of all ages because there's plenty of places to explore. Parents who have dreamed of building a tree house in the backyard will find plenty of inspiration, too.

I will not lie. When I heard a permanent cereal bar opened earlier this month near Times Square, I thought it would just be a trap for tourists. But after visiting, I found Kellogg's NYC to be an adorable cafe appealing to many diverse visitors (even us proud New Yorkers) with a fondness for breakfast; it will take you right back to your mother’s kitchen, filling everyone’s bowl with a whole lot more than just Rice Krispies.

We ran into Rob Nieporent, general manager of Kellogg's NYC, who told us that the inspiration behind the cafe was not merely to enhance Kellogg's bottom line or reinvent a tried-and-true brand name. Instead, Nieporent explained that the masterminds behind the restaurant wanted consumers to think about cereal in a new light. Beyond a staple breakfast food, the cereal bar demonstrates how the Kellogg's cereals we grew up with pair with a number of other ingredients, including blueberry jam, mint, and lemon zest. After trying three scrumptious concoctions inspired by pastry chef Christina Tosi (the founder behind the cereal-studded Momofuku Milk Bar), they sure had us convinced. 

UPDATE: This cafe moved to Union Square on December 7, 2017. The new address is 31 E. 17th Street, New York, NY.

Many Nutmeggers plan their family vacations for August, but it's actually a fabulous time for a staycation with so many outdoor movies, concerts, and festivals that you can have a brand new adventure almost every day--from evening movies in Mill River Park to lunchtime concerts on Sherman Green.

We've collected some of our favorite events in Fairfield County this August. All events are family friendly, but some movies and concerts may be more appealing to kids than others. Most of these events are free, but some--especially those on the beach--charge for parking if you do not have a resident sticker. In the event of rain, check individual websites for information regarding rescheduling or changes in venue. We have listed many more great events happening this August across our state in our August GoList.

Have fun!