Getting away before the hectic routines of the school year start is an excellent way to end summer.  If a Labor Day or late summer vacation is in your plans, there are deals to be had.  Orlando and its theme parks are relatively quiet this time of year and visitors benefit with lower prices.  Consider a trip that will immerse your family with small town charm in Cooperstown or Vermont.  If you prefer the action of a big city, there are discount hotel deals in New York City and Washington, D.C.  If you are craving a beach getaway, consider Hilton Head, Turks and Caicos and Fort Lauderdale.

I've written posts about many special needs organizations that have provided wonderful assistance to my tween with special needs and our family, like Advocates for Children of New York, AHRC New York City and YAI NYC. But the Child Mind Institute has a special place in my heart because it has helped me with all four of my children.

Founded by Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz and Brooke Garber Neidich, the Child Mind Institute is a national organization headquartered in NYC dedicated to connecting children and families with mental health care information and quality care. Even though I only have one “official” special needs child, my other kids have occasionally struggled with issues like anxiety and tantrums. So the Child Mind Institute has been an invaluable resource for all of my children. Best of all, often I can get the information I need just by visiting the nonprofit's free website—no need to pile on the subway!

Greenport is a quiet harbor town near the end of the North Fork of Long Island. There are a variety of dining options that are perfect for families. The views are beautiful and the atmosphere is relaxed. Take some time to stroll through town and browse through the shops before or after grabbing a bite to eat. There are plenty of places with outdoor seating and the breeze from the water makes it pleasant, even on a hot day. When heading out to Greenport, make a day out of it and stop by one of the family friendly vineyards along the way. Here are a few restaurants that are standouts when it comes to kid-friendly food and atmosphere.

School doesn't start for weeks, and yet I'm compelled to shop for all things back to school RIGHT NOW!  I blame it on the cool August weather streak we're in and those last few weeks of summer where I see the light at the end of the vacation tunnel!  Both factors have put me into list making overdrive and revisiting our favorite spots in Eastern Connecticut for stocking up on all our back to school supplies, clothes, and finishing those imperative back to school errands to ensure we start off this school year right!

Summer Sounds concerts offer younger kids an introduction to music at the Hollywood Bowl in a lively and engaging format without the logistical challenges of evening shows. The concerts have an international flare, introducing little ears to sounds from around the world.

The Hollywood Bowl has always been one of my favorite venues in LA: the finest music offered in an open air, festive environment.  But as a parent, I began to see the scope of the Bowl in a different way. The size of the crowds could be overwhelming, the hour past little ones’ bedtimes, the length of the show beyond little ones’ attention spans. How then to instill in my child the same excitement I feel for this most beloved institution?

Summer is the season when most people are on the prowl for fresh seafood, so enjoy these last few weeks donning a plastic lobster bib with your shell cracker in hand. The Jersey Shore offers everything from upscale seafood dining (places you may not want to bring an unruly toddler) to place with newspaper on the table. There are a lot of family-friendly places to get a great seafood feast. So, avoid Red Lobster and check out my picks for the best places for the whole family to enjoy a fresh seafood meal.

#familytravel

Traveling with a family can be hard. You have to negotiate everyone's needs, children don't always adjust to new surroundings or schedules easily and have frequent and sometimes finicky eating and other needs, and it's just plain expensive. The easiest way to solve many of these problems is to rent a home rather than staying in a hotel. While hotels are lovely, houses give you a lot more room and comfort and amenities that families really need, like a kitchen and possibly laundry, toys, and other kid-friendly gear. Renting a home can be less expensive than a nice hotel, but it could also be costly. One way to get all the comforts of a home without the expense is house swapping. I'm a big fan of house swapping and have done several vacations this way. House swapping is more than a form of accommodation, it's a way of life. Here's what I love about traveling this way:

My family and I are making the most of these last few weeks of summer break and we hope you are, too. On our agenda this weekend: a FringeJr. show, a trip to Rockaway Beach and dressing up for the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island. We're the family that never sleeps.

In anticipation of the back-to-school season, we updated our Classes Guide this week. We've got the scoop on some of the coolest kids' programs around, from sports (basketball, tennis) to enrichment (Spanish and Chinese language, animal care) to the offbeat (trapeze, DJing), and even FREE classes. If you're looking for extracurricular activities this fall, the guide gives you a multitude of quality options.

We're also gearing up for our next Mommy Poppins Family Cruise next Tuesday, August 20 and if your kids are pirate-obsessed you won't want to miss it. In addition to enjoying incredible views of New York Harbor on Manhattan by Sail's Clipper City Tall Ship, families will be treated to David Engel's uproarious interactive show Pirate School!, where he teaches kids how to walk, talk and act like buccaneers. We have two sails from South Street Seaport on Tuesday and we hope you can join us. Click here to book tickets.

Our regional sites are full day trip inspiration like the best places to get wet in Westchester, great places to camp in central Connecticut and the top parks on Long Island. Much as we're addicted to NYC, there's nothing wrong with going out of town for a day or two.

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