Whether you’re looking to give your child a head start on local history studies, or refresh lessons already learned, a visit to the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford is an informative and enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours immersed in our state's legacy. Because the museum is located only 1 mile from the gorgeous Elizabeth Park (where you can dine at Pond House Cafe), and less than 4 miles from Westmoor Park, an outing to CHS can easily turn into a great day spent in the West Hartford area. 

Pop culture fans in New York City should have a great summer thanks to two interactive exhibits debuting this month: Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum and the Ghostbusters Experience at Madame Tussauds. We're excited about these, too and highlighted both in our July GoList.   

My 11-year-old son and I went ghost-busting on opening weekend at Madame Tussauds, already big fans of the classic 1984 sci-fi comedy. We're looking forward to the film's reboot with an all-women crew that will hit theaters July 15, and this immersive, movie-themed experience was a great prequel. Walking into the museum's lobby you just know you are in for something fun, with the classic Ghostbusters theme song blaring and staff dressed in replica uniforms. The thrill factor is enhanced as you strap on a proton pack to get ready to blast at ghosts in the Ghostbusters: Dimension hyper-reality, multisensory adventure.

It’s full-fledged summer and we know you’re looking for ways to cool off. We’ve already directed our Westchester-residing residents to the swimming options at the county parks, but what about the rest of the Lower Hudson Valley? Fear not because we’ve got those areas covered as well. 

We’ve gathered up a list of great swimming pools and splash pads in Rockland, Orange and Dutchess counties. While some town pools are open to residents only, the ones on this list offer daily passes (at a minimum) to everyone—so pack a lunch and take a day trip somewhere new! 

School is out and, for some, summer boredom may have already set in. Volunteering and giving back to the local community is a rewarding and enriching way to keep teens busy and fulfilled all summer. Community service keeps kids active, and it's always free. It also looks great on a college application. Summer is a perfect time for kids to log some great community service hours instead of lounging around on the couch. And, of course, volunteering isn't limited to summertime; many of these opportunities are available during the school year on weekends and evenings as well. We've compiled a list of a few great opportunities in the area.

On the East End of Long Island, few summer traditions are as time-honored (and tasty) as the community barbecue. From the Fourth of July through Labor Day, villages on the North and South Forks gather for evenings of chicken, corn and low-cost, family-friendly bonding. The cooking begins early in the morning, but planning for these fundraisers begins months in advance. Tickets, often $25 or less, are prized commodities for families looking for an authentic East End night out. Community-minded residents love these neighborhood tailgate parties, and for kids, what’s better than a night of fried chicken and ice cream?

We've rounded up our favorite East End community barbecues; be sure to call for ticket information. And for more activities in the area this summer, check out our Hamptons & North Fork Guide.

For those of you with train-loving kids, an afternoon at Whippany Railway Museum will float their boats (or kick their cabooses, maybe?). We spent Father's Day riding the rails, looking at cool old train stuff in a tiny, wonderfully packed-to-the-gills museum, and generally stepping back in time, sans electronic devices.

Read on for the highlights of our fun day spent in the company of Southern Railway steam locomotive No. 385 and friends.

City kids hadn't even had a chance to dive into the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation's 55 pools before the Parks commissioner graced them with a special announcement: For the first time, many of the city's favorite swimming pools will remain open beyond Labor Day, closing the 2016 season on Sunday, September 11, and giving all New Yorkers an extra week to cool off.

The good news didn't end there, though, in addition to more time to enjoy the city's FREE pools, local beaches will again remain open past the traditional end-of-summer holiday. After last year's first successful extension of the beach season in 2015, the city's public beaches, specifically Rockaway Beach in Queens, Coney Island and Brighton Beaches in Brooklyn, Midland and South Beaches in Staten Island, and Orchard Beach in the Bronx, will also close for the season on September 11.

Mommy Poppins has been covering the best of kids in NYC for just about ten years—and so have our kids, who have grown up helping us review it all. In honor of the 20th anniversary of The New Victory Theater in Times Square, we wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful theater that has been a big part of our kids' lives. Opened in 1995, The New Victory Theater is a non-profit performing arts venue that provides high-quality performances in a stunning theater for kids of all ages—seriously, you'll find shows for your baby and your teen and every age in between—at affordable prices. Its diverse lineup includes circus performances, dance shows, and theater productions from around the world, as well as workshops, camps, and theater engagement activities—and our kids have done it all.

So here's what the theater-going kids (and moms) of Mommy Poppins have to say about the New Victory Theater on its 20th birthday: