If you’re planning a family vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona, there are plenty of wonderful resorts with large pool complexes for plenty of fun in the sun—and there’s lots of sun. But, don’t go all the way to Arizona just to jump in a pool. Scottsdale offers loads of cultural and natural attractions to explore the unique Southwest. We visited to experience it for ourselves so we could share the best things to do with kids in Scottsdale.

The salty sea air, the sweet smell of pizza, and the giggles of children.  This is what awaited us in Mystic, Connecticut last week.
Mystic is a charming New England village nestled on Long Island sound, 1 hour southeast of Hartford, 3 hours east of New York City, and 2 hours south of Boston.

If your child’s birthday falls during the summer months you have hit the jackpot in terms of party options. Let’s face it, keeping 20 little munchkins, or your entire extended family, happy outside is a much more appealing option than in your living room, right? If your own backyard isn’t suitable there are a plethora of choices for hosting an outdoor event such as a birthday party or family reunion in the Hartford area.

Shaun the Sheep Movie, the latest feature from Britain's Oscar-winning Aardman Animation team behind Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and The Pirates!, opens nationwide this week. The film is mostly charming, frequently hilarious, and likely to be a great choice for many families to see together. We got an early peek, so we can help you decide if it's right for your flock.

Every year around this time of summer, I start to wonder if my family and I are the only New Yorkers left in town. Judging from my social media feeds, everyone I know is away! If you too are suffering from vacation envy, there's an easy cure: take a family day trip. Hit a nearby beach, explore a quaint upstate town, go peach picking, get doused at a recently expanded New Jersey water park or see how many rides you can stomach at a Pennsylvania amusement park. Don't worry if you're car-challenged, many of these destinations are accessible via public transportation.

Can't get it together to get out of the city? Go on a virtual vacation to Kiawah Island, South Carolina courtesy of our Travel site. Once you click through our slide show of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort Sanctuary Hotel, you may be inspired to put in for some real time off, not just a weekend.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is set to embark on a $25 million expansion that will add another building with gallery spaces and a cafe, as well as upgrades like new balcony seating in the Harvey Theater. The former president of the Fort Greene cultural institution and performing arts center told The New York Times the plan is "the last piece of the BAM campus." Construction could begin as soon as this summer, with financing coming from a combination of public and private sources, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In other Brooklyn news, renovations at Prospect Park continue in anticipation of its 150th anniversary in 2016. Six projects are underway by the Prospect Park Alliance, which manages the park, including a restoration of the rose garden and several footpaths such as the one that leads from the zoo to the Zucker Natural Exploration Area (aka, kid play zone), according to DNAinfo.  

And so it begins. (Or ends, depending on how you look at it.) As early as this week, the school year begins anew for some. Beverly Hills, Glendale, La Cañada – all of them are getting ready to say adios to summer and aloha, new semester.

Except of course that it is totally still summer. Have you looked at all the sun-kissed fun that awaits you this weekend?  Open streets from the beach to Culver City (where you can soak in the sun and free theater at the same time), the county fair (in your choice of counties),  and you can look at the stars and watch a movie at the same time. And, oh my goodness, how many outdoor concerts are there this weekend?  (Many. There are many.)

If you want to go back to school, there are a few events to help you get in the mode. But I prefer a la mode (nom nom, free ice cream, dudes).

Keep reading to get schooled in our favorite picks for this weekend...

As the weeks of August begin to slip away, reality sets in that there isn't much time left to complete those Summer Bucket Lists. Whether it is visiting a farm for a Pick Your Own event or listening to an outdoor musical performance, Philly families can turn to our Events Calendar and its line-up of fun to help complete every last activity on the checklist.

Peaches are in season and no matter where you live in the Delaware Valley, there is an orchard celebrating this sweet summer fruit. After picking peaches and eating peach cobbler or peach pie, find a spot to listen to some summertime music. There are concerts, picnics and festivals that all feature live musical entertainment this weekend. And, if that isn't enough, the Academy of Natural Sciences hosts Bug Fest and Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed features its Butterfly Festival.

Keep up with the latest Philly fun by following us on Twitter and Pinterest, liking us on Facebook and signing up for our weekly newsletter which is delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning. Have a great weekend!