We've had a really explosive week. Not only did summer break arrive, we also rounded up spectacular fireworks displays— in New York City and beyond. Although Macy's spectacular takes place on the Fourth of July, many towns in New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island celebrate Independence Day this weekend with their own awesome fireworks shows. If you're out of town over the holiday, don't worry: We've also rounded up free fireworks displays throughout the summer so you can still get a bang for no bucks.

Speaking of no-cost fun, we also posted a list of 100 free things to do this summer so you can have a fun-filled but budget conscious staycation. If you're looking for vacation inspiration, try browsing our Travel site. We just shared a slide show of our trip to Beaches Negril Jamaica, an all-inclusive Caribbean resort.

Here's what else we shared this week on our NYC site.

There’s nothing that kicks off the start of summer like a good Independence Day celebration. July 4th is a Wednesday this year, so the festivities begin this weekend and run all the way through to next weekend. I love a good fireworks show, but my favorite thing to do as those rockets blast off is to look down at the awestruck faces of my children as they light up with each burst of color. Check out our list of Firework Celebrations in CT or our specific links for  Fairfield County and Hartford County displays that are sure to dazzle your entire family.

Fourth of July activities overtake the city this week, as Boston Harborfest celebrations run from June 28-July 4. The War of 1812 Bicentennial is also underway, bringing visiting ships from around the globe to Boston Harbor on June 30 that are available for public viewing this week. Running in conjunction with the Bicentennial is Boston Navy Week, a series of events that includes ship visits, Navy Band concerts, Blue Angels shows, and more.

Boston’s Fireworks on the Esplanade have long set the standard for Fourth of July celebrations across the country, but if the prospect of the crowds seems a bit overwhelming to your family, there are plenty of other options - we’ve rounded up some of our favorites in towns around Boston. And if Harborfest events aren’t enough “history” for you and your family, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum opened this week and is an interactive experience about the events that started the whole Revolution.

Read on for Harborfest highlights and other special happenings this week, and be sure to check our events calendar for more ideas. And thanks to those who are helping build our list of free things to do this summer in Boston with kids - we'd love to hear what else you're planning!

Enjoy, and have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Please visit our Boston Harborfest post for updated information.

Hard to believe, but it's been twenty years since Jack and Annie first rode their Magic Treehouse to adventure. In this case, it was some dinosaurs before dark, but our young friends have traveled everywhere from outer space to Hawaii to the deck of the Titanic. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the beloved and award-winning book series, author Mary Pope Osborne, recently made a wonderful donation to Newark-area schoolchildren.

You can’t blame this weekend for feeling insignificant: it’s being overshadowed by a Wednesday of all things. A Wednesday! Well, in its defense, it is a rather big deal Wednesday. Birth of our country and all that. Fireworks, festivals, parades, Barry Manilow, and more fireworks.  It’s hard for simple weekend to measure up, even if it's got movies under the stars, a super-sized rock and Shakespeare in the park. Maybe a free blowout would help boost its self-esteem. 

But let's keep it real. Independence Day is the main event; you're gonna want to see fireworks. That's why you come to us. Not only do we have well over a dozen fireworks displays listed on our daily events calendar,  we've even compiled them for you in a single handy-dandy post. You're welcome. Guess we've earned that free blowout, too bad it doesn't start until after the 4th...

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend, and to find out about that free blowout...

Long Island is beginning its Fourth of July celebrations this weekend. (According to the people outside my window, who've been setting off their amateur fireworks every night for the last week or so, much to my dog's chagrin, the official celebrations are late!) Eisenhower Park's got its world-class fireworks show Saturday night, and check out our Fourth of July Fireworks guide for more fireworks displays going on this weekend. There's also the North Sea Fireman's Carnival, a Water Fest at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, and a great show for the little ones at the Long Island Children's Museum. Happy weekend!

From the time my first son was born, I have spent many days at my local library having fun with him and enjoying watching him grow and learn. As the years went on, and I expanded my family by two more children, we have continued to discover and enjoy all the resources the library offers.