While summer is the season of outdoor fun in NYC, sometimes you need a break from the parks, beaches, sun and sweltering heat. Going to a kid-friendly museum exhibit is an engaging and enriching way to spend a humid afternoon soaking up some culture along with cool air-conditioning.

Not only are most of the spring exhibits we highlighted still on view, there's also a fresh batch of kid-pleasing installations opening as well as a few new permanent attractions. We've got the scoop on where kids can get up close and personal with live spiders, learn American history, party like a rock star and make like Katniss from The Hunger Games. Plus, One World Observatory is finally open and a must-see.

Anglophile Angelenos have much to celebrate this week. The Discovery Cube in Orange County debuts The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes, a special installation dedicated to the art and science of deduction. Young sleuths work with a detective’s notebook and other hands-on crime-solving activities. Britain's most famous detective follows on the trail of Britain's most famous bard: For a user-friendly introduction to classic theater this week, take the family to the Rogue Artists Ensemble's Shakespeare(ish).

If you prefer to embrace our American heritage, specifically here in the West, this is the week for the Autry's free day. And with summer here (or nearly, depending on your school schedule), music and movies are all over the place. Read on for our top picks for the week.

June is proving to be a busy month with lots of cultural events and delicious eats. This week, activities for little ones include the Montclair Art Museum’s Park Bench and the Morris Museum’s Tot Tours. For food-centric fun, bring your appetites to the New Jersey Seafood Festival and Dollar Dog Night. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

With just a few more weeks of school left, things are getting really busy on Long Island. This week, kids can explore different cultures at Hofstra, enjoy a popular story and make a craft at Book Revue's Toddler Time, and enjoy rides and treats at a local festival.

For even more activities going on around LI, be sure to check our Event Calendar. Spending some time on the East End? Take a look at our Hamptons & North Fork Guide.

This is a great week for young music fans, especially those who like to participate! In fact, participation is the theme for most of our picks this week. Kids can exercise their vocal chords, try out instruments, or don hats and masks as part of a show.

The first of several outdoor movie series also starts this week. With many more free flicks to come at different venues this summer, I'm already starting to pencil in my top choices. Read on for our picks of the week, and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!

This is my kids' last full week of school, and our days are chock-full of picnics and field days and end-of-year celebrations. So if we're going to do something extra this week, it better be great! Luckily (or is it unluckily?), there are lots of fabulous things going on this time of year, whether it's family Zumba classes or beach-side concerts or pizza-tossing lessons.

We only highlight one event per day in this post, but there are many other options in our Event Calendar. For additional activity ideas, check out our Summer Fun Guide.

June is bursting with activities for Westchester families, and the coming week is no exception. In addition to straight-up fun, like the Greek Food Festival and a FREE SummerFest Kids' Concert, there are great opportunities for skills development, such as cooking with herbs for the younger set.

Read on for all of our top picks and remember, our Event Calendar has many more options to choose from in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

One of our all-time favorite free family fests, the Museum Mile Festival, is coming up this Tuesday evening. My kid and I go every year! This week, families can also enjoy free alfresco performances by the hilarious Story Pirates in Hudson River Park and kindie rock songstress AudraRox in Madison Square Park.

Although we only highlight one activity per day in this post, you can find plenty of other options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.