How stressful is the end of the school year? Let me count the ways. Oh sure, there's the silver lining coming of not having to drive to school or argue about homework for 10 blissful weeks; but blissful loses its luster pretty quickly in the face of, "What are we going to do today?"—particularly if you already know that what YOU need to do doesn't involve sprinklers or beaches. We know we should have figured out summer camp by now, really we do. We have a stack of flyers for neat-o programs that are probably filled up already with kids whose parents got on this weeks ago.

Summer vacation may be staring you in the face, but there's no need to panic; all of the camps listed below still have availability as of this publish date. Some of the programs even allow families to book by the day, for ultimate spontaneity. After all, you have to leave some time to bum around doing the fun things in our Summer Guide.

It’s a basic law of summer that a dip in a cool pool, or a splash in the ocean, makes everything right in the world. With many families gearing up for ocean and pool trips, or lake vacations, we talked to swim instructors and water safety experts around the country to gather the most important tips for keeping water-loving kids safe this summer. 

Can you beat the clock to escape from a locked room? That's the challenge at escape rooms, the latest craze in youth entertainment. Escape rooms are interactive, physical puzzles where players are locked in a room for 60 minutes with nothing but their wits. They must decipher clues and interact with everyday elements to find their way out. These fun games have been popping up around NYC for the past decade but are still a mystery to many families. Hoodwinked Escape opened in Harlem this past winter and we decided to check it out. 

 My son and I had already tried a zombie-themed room escape during a kid birthday party several years ago. While we all became the ghoul's dinner, we enjoyed working together against the clock to free ourselves.  From corporate team-building to a night out for twentysomethings, these adventure games also make for great family and friend bonding time, especially for tweens and teens in need of something new to do. 

Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro at these challenging adventure games you are in for a treat: Hoodwinked is so well thought-out, you just might linger to enjoy the experience rather than trying to break out in less than the required 60 minutes.

It's almost summer, which means it is time to celebrate some of the coolest spots in town - the amazing network of trails and paths that the greater Philadelphia area has to offer. With National Trails Day coming up on June 4, you can mark you calendar for a great way to catch some shade (and also note some amazing trails or parks you may not have already known about). National Trails Day events highlight the importance of the outdoors, healthy activity and supporting your local resources. Whether you are an avid hiker, or just looking for an opportunity to share some nature loving with your kids, National Trails Day has tons of events that you can access, no matter where you live in the region. Here is our roundup of some of the best. 

How do we love LA? Help us count the ways! We know that Los Angeles is the best place to raise kids, but even the best has its best. So we're counting on you, our Mommy Poppins readers and the most savvy parents we know, to help us pick the Best of LA. The best play spaces? We've got 'em. Family restaurants? We've got those, too. Swim classes, dance classes, and baby 'n' me? The greatest ones are all in sunny SoCal, along with the coolest theaters, museums, kindie bands, camps—heck, even our dentists are the best. But only you can tell us which is the best of the best, so we're asking you to vote for your favorites in all of these categories and more.

Of course, we know you're busy parents, so we've got some fantastic prizes lined up to thank you for sharing your expertise: how does a free bowling party at Lucky Strike sound? Or what about a family glamping trip at El Capitan Canyon? Or a year's worth of STEM activities delivered to your door? Or an Ojai Getaway? Give us 5 minutes and your expert opinions, then let us know which prize you'd prefer—it's a win-win for everyone!

Start voting now!

Live animal exhibits always get a spot on my family's New York City summer bucket list, so there was no way we would miss the new reptile exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.

The museum often features exhibits with small live animals like frogs and spiders, and of course it's popular but seasonal live butterfly atrium. This year, the museum is upping the wow factor with a live crocodile and alligator exhibit, Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World. That's right, live crocodiles! We've got the details on the museum's newest exhibit, opening this Memorial Day weekend.

Quick, hit the brakes—there's a three-day weekend just ahead! Memorial Day, the holiday generally considered the first harbinger of summer, is on the horizon, and the forecast is for one of those LA Story, 70s-and-sunny weekends. There's only one problem: you were so busy looking for summer camps that you forgot to book a campsite or a beach getaway, right? No worries—when your kids ask why you're not going anywhere this weekend, just tell them you're staying in town to catch some of the great Memorial Day festivals and parades that only happen once a year.