There's no better time to experience the thrills of your favorite amusement park time than Summer 2021. Many parks are helping friends and family make up for lost time with special summer rates that you won't want to miss. Here's how to score ticket deals at area theme parks and water parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, all of which are an easy day trip for NYC-area families.

With deals this hot, you might be able to check out more than one of these new-in-2021 rides.

Riverside Park is our family’s backyard and home to some of the best playgrounds in the city, but what's the best of the best in this four-mile stretch of nature that spans Manhattan's west side from 72nd Street to 158th Street? We set out to find out, and our parent-tested results are here. We've ranked the playgrounds of Riverside Park based on their amenities, accessibility, and how much family-friendly fun they inspire.

Once you've had your share of romping in Riverside, be sure to check out our rankings of the best playgrounds in Central Park, Prospect Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park, too.

Sherman Oaks is one of the most popular family-friendly neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley. It combines the best of city living (with easy freeway access to both the 405 and the 101) and small town charm with boutique shopping, cute cafés, and plenty of places for kids and families to hang out together. If you've only visited Sherman Oaks to play mini golf, it's time to plan a day trip to one of the best little towns for families in the Valley. Here are 20 places to experience and create fun memories with your kids in Sherman Oaks.

After a year-long hiatus, the award-winning Children’s Museum of Houston has thrown open its doors to welcome back Houston families. The aptly nicknamed “Playground of the Mind” has reopened with a number of new exhibits and attractions like Sights Unseen and Heart and Seoul. Some family favorites have been updated as well, just in time for summer break!

You can also save with the top attractions in Houston with Go City - Houston card. By purchasing this ticket, you receive admission to several Houston attractions at half the regular price: Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo or the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Kemah Boardwalk or the Children’s Museum Houston.

Everything is back! There are so many things we all missed last summer that it seemed time to look ahead to this summer and check out all the activities Angelenos can finally do (again). From Shakespeare in the Park & Hamilton in the dark (of a theater) to books on the shelves & music under the stars, these are the outings we are already eagerly anticipating.

Since these are just the activities that had closed down last year, it's not even taking into account some other summer favorites, like going to the beach, swimming in lakes and pools, hitting a water park, or picking fruit at a local farm. Summer is just too darn short to fit in all the fun...

It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to go to a museum or enjoy an art exhibit. Part of that is due to the pandemic, but the other part is, well, kids. But now museums are opening and art experiences like Immersive Van Gogh Chicago, are popping up across the city and suburbs (check them out on our calendar), giving parents the perfect opportunity to enjoy something for themselves while also giving kids a unique artistic experience. My family decided to "Gogh" check it out, and I've got all the tips for making sure the whole family has a great time.

Natural beauty, charming downtowns, and a seemingly endless amount of open space make it is easy to fall in love with Vermont. But camping in Vermont is maybe even more charming of a family getaway!

We recently stayed at a KOA campground in southern Vermont, right next to Brattleboro. This little corner of the Green Mountain State is known for its arts, outdoor adventures, artisanal foods, and tons of Vermont-style fun. Read on for our full campground review, and don't miss our Camping Travel Guide filled with great campgrounds all around the country, or explore our Vermont Family Travel Guide for more New England adventures.

Nothing spoils a fun family outing like sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic or desperately searching for parking once you finally reach your destination. That's why we're big fans of car-free getaways! And with a recent weekend service expansion on Southern California's Metrolink rail system, plus the new “Kids Ride Free Weekends,” there's never been a better time to plan a day trip to one of the many awesome spots easily accessed by train.

Since 1988, Metrolink has been taking pressure off the freeways and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while providing SoCal locals with safe, efficient, and reliable rides to work, school, family, and fun. Now, just in time for summer—and for the first time in its history—Metrolink has launched a new Saturday service on the Ventura County Line, which connects Ventura County residents in Moorpark and Simi Valley through the San Fernando Valley stations at Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank Airport and Burbank Downtown and Glendale with Los Angeles Union Station. All Metrolink lines except Riverside now also have a weekend service that can take families to popular destinations across Southern California.

And, to make your car-free day trips even easier, kids ride free every weekend on Metrolink. For just $10 per adult, kids ages 17 and under can actually ride for free with no ticket required.

Of course, all this news has had us thinking about all of the family-friendly Southern California day trip destinations that are a hop, skip, and jump from Metrolink stations. Here are some of our favorite family outings convenient to Metrolink.