If anything redeems the humidity and heat of a NYC summer it’s got to be all the great summer eats. Our family can’t get enough of seafood boils, barbecue, tacos, lobster rolls, and frozen treats. Add a beachy outdoor dining vibe, and dinner out becomes a mini vacation.

New York City has so many great kid-friendly outdoor dining spots, it's hard to choose the best, but this summer foods must-eat bucket list will help you pack in some serious seasonal outdoor dining before sweater weather sets in. Read on to find my picks for the best kid-friendly restaurants in NYC to get your summer vibes on. 

Finding new and unique ways to engage your autistic child can be a challenge, but several venues throughout Greater Philly promote activities specially designed for children on the spectrum. We've combed the area and found ten locations and upcoming events that offer enriching programs to support the special needs of autistic children, from toddlers to teenagers.

If you're lucky, you might find Coke-bottle aqua or Milk-of-Magnesia Blue. Maybe once in a lifetime you'll unearth rare ruby red. Most often you'll find beer-bottle-brown and wine-bottle-green. But if you ask my kids--it's all treasure no matter what color or size. My very favorite memories of summer were made walking the beach with my kids gathering up every glittering shard of beach glass we could find like a magical treasure hunt. Ground smooth by the ocean and transformed from transparent to translucent by the sand, these tiny bits of sea glass are found scattered (scarcely) on the beaches throughout the state. Here's our roundup of the best beaches to hunt for these precious pieces of treasure washed ashore. 

Corn mazes are a favorite fall adventure for many families: the scent of autumn, the wind swooshing through golden stalks, and the opportunity to safely hand over the reigns to your children and let them be in charge of where to go and how to find the way out. What better way to bond than to band together and head straight into a place where you know you can get lost and the only way out is to concentrate on the map, read the clues, and work together to get to the other side. Combine your trip with a pumpkin patch and cider mill and you've got yourself a pretty excellent fall day to make lifelong family memories. For more fall fun, check out our CT Fall Fun and Halloween Guide. These corn-y masterpieces are only around for a few weeks each fall, so don't miss your chance. For even more ideas in your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter. 

Most American Potter fans know that Universal Studios has created a little piece of Hogwarts heaven in two locations—The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood and at Universal Studios Orlando—but it should come as no surprise that the true center of the Potter universe is in London, England, where all of Harry’s adventures began. Apart from all of the real life British places a muggle might want to snap a photo (e.g. Kings Cross Station for platform 9 3/4, which British Rail good naturedly erected a few years back), the true wizard Mecca is Warner Brothers Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, housed at the film studio that was Harry's world for the decade or so that the films were in production. Fans of wizardry and magic can walk in the very footsteps of their heroes at the Warner Bros Tour.

No one grooves on the magic of a hotel stay more than kids. The swimming-pool smell, the room-service abandon, and the I-must-have-done-something-right feeling sparks through them the minute the swoosh open the lobby doors.

With that in mind, we've put together our list of the best kid-friendly hotels in Nassau and Suffolk, and even added a few on the East End. So whether you’re frequenting local attractions or hosting out-of-town guests, these destinations are sure to delight teeny travelers and discerning grown-ups alike. Happy travels.

Looking for a kid-approved way to spend an afternoon in the OC? The iconic Balboa Fun Zone has been serving up family fun SoCal-style for more than 80 years—and now with an educational twist. In addition to the delicious food, eclectic shopping, and famous Balboa Ferris Wheel that have made this destination a Newport Beach favorite for ages, Discovery Cube’s Ocean Quest Museum is now bringing exciting learning opportunities to the revitalized boardwalk.

Looking for ways to reboot kids' brains as the school year approaches? Consider a makerspace visit. For parents not familiar with makerspaces (also known as hackerspaces), think of them as similar to art classes—with an engineering twist. People go to create something through free expression with tools they otherwise don't have, but instead of oil-based paints and canvases, makerspaces provide 3D printers, computer-aided design software, and other technology.

Although folks of all ages can participate in makerspaces, the best ones for kids have an emphasis on youth-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning. Here is a rundown of fun and kid-centric makerspace options in the Boston area.