Summer is here, and vacation deals are plentiful for those looking to score a discount.  Hotel chains like Embassy Suites and Millennium are featuring excellent rates and bonus giveaways at popular locations.  Consider an exclusive resort in Vermont, back-to-nature yurt camping at Yosemite, a family-friendly town in Georgia, a Florida beach resort and more options for your next family holiday.

Summer is in full-swing and, as the governor announced live on the Today show the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, the Jersey Shore is back and open for business! This is generally true, however there are a few areas that were hit the hardest that aren't bouncing back as quickly as others (including Mantoloking and Sea Bright). Things may still be on the mend, but there is a lot of fun to be had at the shore this year. Keep reading for a 2013 update to my previous post to get you in the know about the beaches at the Jersey Shore! Here's a list of some of the spots that are open now and how much they will cost you. Let's all continue to help "restore the shore" and get down there with our NJ kids and families this summer!

It was a week of happy endings and exciting beginnings! Our kids finished up at school and are all now enjoying summer break and camp. (My daughter sang and danced all week at TADA! Youth Theater which, coincidentally, is doing a great giveaway with us this week.) Public pools opened for the season and—thanks to supportive readers like you—our Mommy Poppins App IndieGoGo campaign was fully funded! We're putting the finishing touches on the app as I type, and we'll have more info about the rollout later this season.

Right now all of our sites are in full-on July 4th mode. We've got posts about explosive Independence Day celebrations on Long Island, in Westchester, New Jersey and, of course, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks right here in NYC, which you can watch for FREE from land or, if you're feeling flush, on a Hudson River cruise. Whatever you do over the holiday, there are lots of NYC staycation activities in our Summer Guide and ways to keep cool in our Water Fun Guide.

Meanwhile, if you're looking to get away for the holiday or anytime this season, be sure to check our Travel Guide for vacation inspiration near and far. We just added a roundup of six spectacular family resorts in Virginia, and the site has lots of other posts about family travel in the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe.

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

Boston families will find plenty of fun and free things to do in and around town this weekend. Take advantage of the great outdoors and head to the Sand and Sea Festival in Salisbury, the New England Pirate Faire in Salem and the Frog Pond Spray Pool opening in Boston. Other events include a family matinee and toy theater workshop at Puppet Showplace Theatre, the Boston JerkFest, and Birds of Prey at Gore Place.

Independence Day is just around the corner, and we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite Boston Harborfest events, including "America's Biggest July 4th Celebration" on the Esplanade. There are also plenty of smaller-scale alternatives around Boston, just right for families. You can even plan to watch fireworks almost every night for the next week!

With summer in full swing, Tara is on a mission to find ways to have fun indoors as the days heat up. She and her family checked out the two 5 Wits shows at Patriot Place in Foxboro and discovered that they are enormously fun for parents and kids alike. Likewise, Einstein's Workshop, Boston's newest makerspace in Burlington, is a mecca for kids and parents who love STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). And if you've thought how nice it might be to skip cooking dinner sometimes this summer, Rachel has the perfect plan (and a couple of recipes).

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

First, let me reassure you that there is plenty going on this weekend. Bug Fair at Kidspace (creepy crawlies!) Dora and friends taking on the Pirate Piggies (no swiping, Swiper!) Superman's 75th birthday, (he's still every inch the man of steel!). We close the lid on the season of Sanitation Open Houses, and say good morrow! to free Shakespeare in Griffith Park. This weekend you can shake your hips with Elvis*, the Beatles** and Weird Al***, and take in free movies galore.

But that having been said, this is one of those neither/nor weekends. It doesn't quite stand on its own, as it marks the beginning of what is for many a vacation week, but it's too far removed from the actual event to truly merit the "holiday" moniker. (Unless you're in Santa Monica, where June 29 is the new July 4th). No one's going to ask you "what are you doing this weekend?" The question is "what are you doing for the 4th?"

So we're here to help. We've compiled a crackling list of the hottest fireworks displays to keep you in the red, white and boom spirit.  (You know what's better than watching fireworks? Watching fireworks on a boat.)

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for the weekend ....

Welcome warm weather and the start of summer vacation! There's lots of indoor and outdoor fun to be had on Long Island this weekend. In the mood for a magic show or two? Then head on over to The Dolphin Bookshop in Port Washington to see Magic With Evan: Teen Magician. The Do Magic: David Oliver Benefit Show at the Bellmore Movie Theatre in Bellmore is not only a magic show, but a fundraiser to help a fellow magician. Got two hours of time to help remove trash from the beach? Then head on over to the Target Rock Beach Clean Up in Huntington. Family Adventures: Butterfly Safari at the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown is the perfect place to get up close and personal with these beautiful winged creatures. Also on tap: Kids & Family Program: Crayon Tour at Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, and When Is A Crab Not A Crab at the Sands Point Preserve in Port Washington. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family.