Kids thrive on cool. And let's face it, "cool" and "learning" don't often go together. During the summer lull, this is even tougher to come by. And while fun on occasion, there are only so many times you can go to the library, a book store, or a museum. And if you have a tween like I do, you know that trying to pull your youngster from a favorite electronic or video game console is like trying to pull a cat off its scratching post. So, "cool"  definitely has to accompany any instructional activity, particularly when school's out.

With this in mind, here are five top programs in the Greater Philly area that'll keep your youngsters entertained and intellectually stimulated.

In the heart of Texas, you’ll find a waterpark like none other. Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort at New Braunfels was designed by a family for families and around the beautiful Comal River. Instead of vistas filled with brightly-colored plastic and umbrellas, this waterpark embraces its natural surroundings, and it’s why you need to add this park to your family travel bucket list.

How is a theme park like your kids? Because just when you think you know everything about them, they up and change on you. And just like with your kid, those changes are (mostly) good. Sure, we may have to say good-bye to a couple of old favorites, but look at all we get in their place. Sit back, buckle up, keep your arms inside the ride at all times, and see what our local theme parks have in store for you this summer.  

One of our favorite things about living in Fairfield County is our direct access to the Long Island Sound. On warm summer days, you can often find us with our toes in the water, staring longingly at the horizon, thinking “if only I had a boat.” Well, that is where the Maritime Aquarium’s “TGIF Cruises” come in. 

The best cures for a summer heat wave: a spectacular splash pad, a dip in the local pool, and best of all, ice cream. Just in time for this sweltering summer, the folks behind the popular DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections have opened a summer-camp themed pop-up shop in Soho to serve up indulgent, nostalgic, super-cool treats.

On June 30, the New York Aquarium in Coney Island welcomed some sharp-toothed new residents to NYC, with the much-anticipated opening of the Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit. The exhibit, which includes a learning lab, nine interactive galleries, and beautiful, immersive habitats that are home to over 115 species of marine animals, is a powerful reminder that New York is a coastal city, with thriving marine ecosystems right in our own (watery) backyard that deserve our respect and protection.

After the aquarium was pummeled by Hurricane Sandy, much of the complex had to close down for repairs. But with the opening of the shark exhibit, housed in a brand-new, three-story building with 57,000 square feet of visiting space, the New York Aquarium is better and more inspiring than ever. Gather up the kids and get ready for a day of close encounters with an incredible variety of ocean life. 

Imagine a 65-foot-long ark and more than 400 animals that you must rescue before an epic flood engulfs the world. Yes, you’re Noah and your mission is to save everyone, but also have fun doing it. And there's no need to go all the way to Mount Ararat to relive the tale; just head up the Santa Monica Mountains to the Skirball Cultural Center, a few miles away from the Getty Center, at the highest point on the 405.

Think the dog days of summer are a cultural wasteland and that all the cool new openings won't start again until fall? That's not the case when it comes to the stage—New York City's family theater scene is hotter than a heat wave.

There are shows for all ages, interests, and budgets throughout the summer season, including a number of FREE options such as no-cost high-quality Shakespeare, and alfresco shows for tots inspired by Peter Pan and Little Red Riding Hood. Plus enjoy eye-popping indoor spectacles for the whole family like MOMIX and Mummenschanz. Best of all, many of our picks cost less than $25 per ticket, and six are 100 percent FREE!