Visiting the Long Island Aquarium with kids will give your family access to more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences, ensuring a fun day admiring majestic sea life. Formerly Atlantis Aquarium, the Long Island Aquarium allows you to embark on an adventure to the lost city of Atlantis, where you'll be greeted by stingrays, sharks, seahorses, and even mermaids. 

With different events and experiences throughout the year, it's always a good time to say hello to Poseidon and his friends. 

For more entertainment inspiration, check out our Guide to Amusement Parks and Water Parks Near Long Island, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar. 

If you have a little historian on your hands, plan a visit to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, where guests immerse themselves in rich American history in Historic Richmond Town's living history village and historical museum that springs to life with seasonal programs, workshops, and year-round special events.

Read on for details on our visit to this Staten Island gem and learn about more living history day trips nearby. We've got more picks for great local museums in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for Kids.

Teens and tweens are in that - interesting, shall we say - stage of life between being a go-with-the-flow kid and an independent adult. Sometimes they love anything and everything you do for them, and other times, they absolutely can't stand the sight of you. Parenting teens and tweens can be hard, but planning their birthday party doesn't have to be, because there are plenty of birthday party places near Houston.

With growing independence, the occasional energy for days, and the ability to safely participate in activities that may be just a bit too extreme for younger children (i.e., go-karts and paintball), teens and tweens are at the perfect age to venture out from indoor play spaces and parties at parks and plan a party at a Houston venue that offers a bit more adventure.

Here is a list of birthday party ideas for teens in Houston. For more Houston-area birthday party ideas for kids of all ages, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Houston families.

With more than 900 animals, a water park, and carnival rides, Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee is a must-see attraction for visitors and locals in south Florida. Located 90 minutes north of Miami (30 minutes outside West Palm Beach), Lion Country is the kind of place where a family can spend the entire day and still not see everything this park has to offer. Its drive-through wildlife preserve is one of our favorite drive-through zoo experiences. Visitors can expect to see rhinos, giraffes, and lions up close. And I mean close. Last time my family visited, an ostrich approached our car and started pecking at a parking pass in the window (much to my daughters' delight!)  Even more animals are on display in the park's walk-through zoo. And if you visit on a warm day, which is likely in south Florida, be sure to pack swimsuits; the splash pad and water slides here are some of the best in the area.

Here's more on what to do at Lion Country Safari—and for more ideas on Miami family activities, check out our South Florida and Miami guide.

Long Island has some great beaches and beach communities beyond the ever-popular Hamptons options.

On both coasts of Nassau and western Suffolk counties, many communities boast gorgeous seashores and so much more. Attractions include bustling boardwalks, picture-perfect marinas, tons of shopping options, excellent dining spots, playgrounds and parks, and free outdoor music and events.

Read on for a rundown of a dozen Long Island beach towns not on the East End–plus a quickie guide to Fire Island. These communities are so charming you could check out a different one each week and still have a few left over to visit come fall. For more fun things to do this season, check out our Summer Fun Guide, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Family Activity Calendar.

Judy Garland once crooned, “Meet me in St. Louis”—and understandably so. The second largest city in Missouri, St. Louis boasts beautiful Mississippi and Missouri River views and a fascinating history dating back to French fur traders in the 1760s. Plus, there are so many fun things to do in St. Louis with kids, making it a perfect family destination. Whether it's outdoor adventures, museums, theater, or sports, St. Louis has something that will pique any family's interests.

Here are 35 great things to do in St. Louis, MO with kids, including the best food and restaurants St. Louis has to offer and some unique St. Louis hotels. As a St. Louis local, I can also vouch that our city has plenty of free and affordable activities for families to enjoy.

For more Midwest family vacation ideas, check out our Midwest Family Travel Guide.

Boston is alive with history and proud of its patriotic past. But few of the city's museums and monuments can dazzle kids like the three-masted frigate docked in Charlestown Navy Yard. The USS Constitution is a floating museum. Known as "Old Ironsides" since the War of 1812, it is the oldest commissioned ship in the United States Navy. Today, Old Ironsides serves as a tribute to–and connection with–our shared history and tradition of freedom. And it has some pretty awesom hands-on activities too! Read on for our guide to visiting the USS Constitution with kids.

The USS Constitution is just one of our picks for the Top Attractions in Boston: Best Things To See and Do with Kids. For more hands-on history that's just a stroll away, check out 15 Coolest Spots for Kids on the Freedom Trail. And always check out our Boston Events Calendar for the latest exhibits, presentations, and activities in and around the city.

Who's ready for a FREE outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by kids and adults together? Grab a pole and head to one of these fabulous fishing lakes near Houston, where the fish are plentiful and families can enjoy being outdoors together. Fishing can foster a sense of achievement and accomplishment in kids, is a great way to teach patience and persistence while enjoying nature. Most of the fishing lakes listed below are at local parks near Houston, so you can pack a picnic, let the kids burn off steam at some awesome playgrounds, and spend the day with a fishing pole in hand.