While Philadelphia is a worthy destination–there are hundreds of family-friendly things to see and do, events to check out, and beautiful historic sites—sometimes you need a change of pace. And the truly great thing about living here is that whenever we need an excuse to get away, there are wonderful things to see and do across dozens of cute towns and boroughs in the area.

With school out, and hours to kill, it’s the perfect time to take a quick day trip or perhaps even a weekend getaway. Looking to slow things down and indulge in tasty treats? Visit Lancaster. Want to experience a quaint small town vibe? Drive to New Hope! Or would you rather take in some historic sites and nature walks? No matter your ideal out-of-town destination, these 12 suburbs are our favorites, and sure to make for an awesome excursion for you and your family

It was a sad day for Angelenos when the Bob Baker Marionette Theater recently closed its doors after 55 years in its Downtown LA location. But the show must go on, and the puppet troupe has now found a new home in Highland Park that is even better than the original. The theater is planning an official grand opening in November, but this summer you can catch a show during Bob Baker's 'preview season.' Here is why now is a great time to experience this local treasure—and what's new and different at the new venue.

Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to live by the schedule of open swim hours at your local NYC pool. Sometimes you just want to tire your kids out so they sleep until 6 (or even 7) in the morning. And sometimes you just want to relax outdoors with iced coffee and a book, but your children aren’t as into that idea as you are. This is why water playgrounds were invented...we're pretty sure, anyway.

While we already have profiled some of the top water playgrounds in other parts of the city as well as some of the top fountains for splashing, we can't forget our Queens families. So in the interest of parenting solidarity we’ve put together a list of eleven spraygrounds and water playgrounds in Queens. They’re all FREE, and as an added bonus most usually have an ice cream truck in the area—for the children, of course, totally for the children. 

Check out our NYC Beaches, Pools, and Water Parks Guide for more summer splashing, or our Summer Fun Guide for more seasonal activities for the kids.

It's no secret that the New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx Zoo, and Wave Hill are all cultural gems and year-round destinations for families, all located in our city's northernmost borough. The real question on many parents' minds, however, might actually be, “but where do we eat?” As a mother of three in the Bronx, that question is easy to answer. The hard part is narrowing down the plentiful options.

The surrounding neighborhoods of Riverdale and the Bronx Park area are just as picturesque and wonderful, with a wide variety of spots to stop off for a bite. So we've rounded up several dining options near each destination where families can fill up before or after a fun-filled day.

Find more great eats in our guide to Family-Friendly NYC Restaurants, including more near uptown city hot spots like the American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center.

Huge, colorful, hot-air balloons will take to the skies above Rhinebeck next weekend for the Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival. This summertime family favorite features synchronized launches that decorate the sky with festive colors and eye-popping designs. Whether you choose to take a ride (tethered or otherwise), or watch with your feet firmly planted on the ground, the experience is well worth a day trip.

The 28th annual festival will continue to be held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck—from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14, 2019. Read on for details about this Insta-worthy festival, and consult our Summer Activity Guide for more fun all season long. If you haven't already, stay in the know about family attractions like this by signing up for our newsletters and following us on Facebook.

Boston's neighboring Seaport District and Fort Point neighborhoods are bursting with cool new spots to play, learn, and eat, and families are flocking to live here. So it's no surprise that this waterfront district just across the channel from Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail is becoming a day-trip hot spot with young kids. Between awesome playgrounds, kid-friendly art installations, world-class museums, and drool-worthy restaurants, these 25 ideas for enjoying the Seaport and Fort Point area with kids will keep your family plenty busy when exploring the area. Warning: If you don't already live here, you may find yourself thinking about a move after reading this list!

STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) is taking off, with public schools adding STEM to their curriculum, and after-school classes and STEAM camps sprouting up throughout Westchester. For those looking to expand their kids’ exposure, we've rounded up STEAM programs throughout Westchester for kids of various ages.

Even if your child isn’t destined to become an engineer or mathematician, STEAM education is increasingly valued by educators for its ability to foster creative approaches to problem-solving and skill-building. Best of all, these enrichment classes emphasize fun, so kids needn’t worry that a class in, say, robotics or coding is just “more school.”

Looking for more ways to emphasize the A in STEAM? Check out our supplemental roundup of Westchester art classes. And find even more kids' classes and enrichment programs in our Classes Guide for Westchester Kids. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.