Island Living at Sherwood Island State Park

Your Connecticut license plate gets you more than the privilege to drive on our roads - it is also your FREE ticket to Connecticut’s State Parks as part of the “Passport to Parks” program. Located in Westport, Sherwood Island is Fairfield County’s only coastal state operated facility. With over 238 acres of shoreline to explore, swim, fish, hike, or relax in, it is no wonder that Sherwood Island is a gem of Fairfield County.

Six Flags NJ: An Amusement Park with Big and Little Thrills

The NITRO, a "hypercoaster," takes you on an 80-mile-per-hour thrill ride. Photo courtesy of the park

Braving the thrill rides at Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari in Jackson, NJ, is practically a rite of passage for kids who live in and around the Garden State. Perhaps for this reason, I wasn't 100-percent sure my young children (ages 2, 5, and 7) were old enough to fully enjoy it—but we decided to test the waters. And as I did my planning, I realized, "Holy cow! There's a ton of things to do at Six Flags!"

New Jersey's largest theme park, Six Flags is known for heart-dropping roller coasters like Nitro and Kingda Ka (the world's tallest coaster)—but there are also plenty of attractions geared toward the smaller set and those who enjoy tamer thrills. You can see zebras, giraffes, and other cool creatures on the Safari Off-Road Adventure; ride the Porky Pig Ferris Wheel in Bugs Bunny National Park; make a splash on the Saw Mill Log Flume; and much, much more. You also might want to set aside another day for Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags' massive water park.

Read on for details of our visit, along with tips for making your trip super-fun for kids of all ages. 

Learn Spanish: Language Classes for NYC Kids

At the Language Workshop for Children, kids learn language through enriched play. Photo courtesy of the Language Workshop

Many New York City public schools offer wonderful dual-language Spanish programs, as well as other languages. But if your child's school doesn't offer a language program, there are lots of Spanish language programs around the city that teach young kids to habla Español. We've rounded up some of our favorite Spanish language learning centers for New York City kids. And best of all: Thanks to the wonderful diversity of New York City culture, your kids will certainly get to practice what they learn in the classroom!

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings, and check out our guide to Foreign Language Camps for NYC Kids.

New York Transit Museum: An Amazing Underground Museum

Riding the subway is a major part of the magic of being a city kid. In fact, my daughter has taken to begging for F train rides each sweltering afternoon, which isn't quite my idea of summer fun. Luckily, we found a favorite museum to scratch the itch.

Since 1976, the New York Transit Museum has been capturing the evolution of mass transportation in our city. Housed underground in an actual subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the train museum has a rotating collection of 20 vintage subway cars for the entire family to board, explore, and imagine a city life of the past.

School Start & End Dates: 2018-19 Academic Year Calendars for LA County Schools

Photo via Bigstock

Summer vacation ain't what it used to be. The majority of SoCal school districts now opt for an August start date, with only a few South Bay stragglers sticking with the old-school, post-Labor Day start. And beware assuming that school starts and finishes roughly when it did last year, because schedules seem to change all the time. This year Alhambra is first out of the gate, leading the back-to-school race with a pool-party-pooper start date of August 10; Torrance kids still get the most out of summer with their September 6 first day.

Wondering where your district fits in, and how much time you have left for these 50 Free Things To Do in Summer? Bookmark our list below with start and finish dates for the 2018-2019 school year all over LA County. And if what you read makes you wonder about what other school options are available to you, maybe our school guide can help.

25 Free Things to Do In August

It's the last month before summer break ends and all your kiddos head back to school. You want to have fun, but you don't want to go broke! After all, that school shopping list is looming over your head. Mommy Poppins has put together a fun list of FREE events happening in Connecticut - there's something for everyone. And of course, don't forget to close out your fun summer with our CT Summer Guide!

Top Picks for Houston Restaurant Weeks With Kids

Houston Restaurant Weeks 2018 is here. Are your taste buds ready? From Aug. 1-Sept. 30, dozens of Houston's best eateries offer specialty menus at a set price with proceeds benefiting the Houston Food Bank. While all of the participating spots make for great date nights, there are plenty of kid-friendly spots as well! Here are our favorites. All still offer regular menus throughout the month as well as staple kids' menus.

Restaurant week menu prices are the same no matter where you go, with brunch and lunch at $20 and dinner for $35-$45, depending on the establishment. Make sure to ask for the special Restaurant Weeks menu! So, what are you waiting for? Get to eating! 

20+ August Fairs and Festivals for New Jersey Families

Meet lots of sweet animals at the New Jersey State Fair: Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. Courtesy of Sussex County Fairgrounds

When it comes to fairs and festivals, August in New Jersey is like one big party! Flutter over to Pennington for a Butterfly Festival, indulge in sweet summer peaches at Princeton's Just Peachy Festival, or enjoy classic fair fun like carnival rides and games at a county fair. With so many options, the family calendar will be packed all month long.

Read on for our top picks, and find more ways to make the most of August with our Summer Fun Guide.

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