Last month we told you about great places to play and learn tennis in lower Westchester. Now, we're back again with a round up of the best tennis centers in the upper part of the county! With the US Open quickly approaching, tennis is in the air and families and kids of all ages are getting out there and enjoying the game.

Westchester is home to some of the finest tennis establishments for private and group instruction, camps, parties and more. Read on for our picks of the top tennis facilities in upper Westchester. Looking for more ideas for fun this month? Check our our August Go List and SUMMER OF PLAY Guide. 

Are the dog days of August starting to wear you down? As much I love summery outdoor fun, there are days when I need a break from chasing sweaty kids, globbing on lotion and cleaning sand from the car. If you need an escape from the August heat or rain, chill out indoors at these fun, air-conditioned events and activities. If your budget’s tight after camp and summer vacation, don’t sweat it. Everything on this list is free! And for more ideas to finish off the summer, check out the New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide.

Some of us are heading back to school, and some of us still have a few more weeks to enjoy the Summer of Play. As the rush to get school supplies, clothes, and backpacks heats up, don’t forget the simple pleasures of our city. Leave the madness of the mall behind and take those kids for a hike, a picnic in the park, or just let them stretch their little bodies on the monkey bars. If the need for an activity hits, head to a museum or a concert. Or try one of our five picks from this week's family events calendar.

Fall is upon us, which means soccer season is about to begin. And the recent World Cup has caused kids of all ages to become obsessed with the sport. If you have a child who wants to learn to bend it like Beckham, there are plenty of programs on Long Island, from parent and child classes, development clinics, traveling teams and more. And for other after-school activities, check out our Classes and Activities Guide.

Whether you’re trying to expand your children’s cultural horizons, connect them to their roots, or just looking for something different, Boston is the place to be. We have language classes for multilingual kids, international playgroups, and world music classes. We also have classes for kids to learn dance traditions from distant lands. Boston kids can learn Flamenco, Bollywood, Irish Step Dance, Mexican Folk Dance – even the Lion Dance you see performed at the Lunar New Year celebration every year. I’ve rounded up dance classes from all over the world, from Armenia to West Africa, offered to children right here in the Boston area.

It was a big week in my household as we celebrated my daughter's ninth birthday—twice (and we have one more party coming up at my mother-in-law's this Saturday. Remember when kids just got one bash?). Of course, summer birthdays can be a bit of a drag since so many friends are away. But we've been making up for it by getting the most out of the waning season, and we've got some fun trips planned to water theme parks, Coney Island and even Martha's Vineyard.

Speaking of isles off Massachusetts, our Boston site just published posts about the best things to do with kids on Georges Island and Spectacle Island, two historic Governors Island-like spots that are worth exploring if you're visiting Beantown. Want to go even further? On our Travel site you'll find a roundup of the best summer activities for kids in Burlington, Vermont and reviews of two VT resorts offering cool summer getaway packages. We've got closer day trip ideas, too: Our Long Island site recently spotlighted seven spots to get face time with animals in the Hamptons and Westchester profiled historic mansions with interactive activities for families.

While you're having all this fun, don't forget to share photos of your family on social media to be entered to win our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE grand prize: All the fixings to host the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash, including a $200 gift card for Imagine Toys, a $100 gift card for Big Dot of Happiness for custom party tableware, banners and favors, and delicious organic snacks from Kind, Ella's Kitchen and Earth's Best. We're picking our big winner next week so it's your last chance!

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

There's something for every taste this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, with a variety of offerings--culture, nature, entertainment and a good cause. For starters, and adding to the numerous events this summer that expose Westchester residents to international culture, the Annual Moonviewing Concert allows visitors to experience Japanese culture and arts.

Get in touch with nature at the Wildlife Adventure or the hands-on workshop Preserving the Harvest: Canning. Additionally, the Art & Science Workshops continues with a nature theme.

Also on tap this weekend, there’s Family Fun Night, the South Salem Fire Department's Carnival, Worldfest: Free Performing Arts Series and the final installment of Arts in the Amphitheater: Movie Nights, which presents a twist on the traditional movie under the stars. Additionally, the New York Renaissance Faire continues this weekend.

To support a good cause—and quench your thirst—patronize Annual Lemonade for Leukemia, which offers more than just lemonade!

Read on for more on these events and be sure to click through to the event listing to get full details. Also, our August Go List highlights our top picks for the month! And be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed about area events every weekend. Don't forget: our event calendar includes suggestions for every day of the week, so check back often to keep your kids engaged and having fun this summer!

The summer is whizzing by, but there's still a few weeks left in August to make it a good one. Take in some live children's theater in Garden City, Smithtown or Port Jefferson. Explore the great outdoors with Seatuck's free Family Nature Club on Sunday. Smell, eat, see and play with all things potato at the Long Island Potato Festival in Cutchogue (kids under age 12 are free).

And for those of you out on the East End, be sure to check out CMEE's Summer Concert Series every Tuesday this month. Mommy Poppins Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide is a proud sponsor and we'll be on hand each week with a new prize to give away!

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