Summer nights are long and lazy. And I don't know how it goes in your house, but in mine bedtime gets a little bit fuzzy around the edges. There are few things better than a movie for the whole family on a balmy summer night (or, in some cases on a hot summer morning or afternoon), and when that movie is free (or nearly free), well, I say bring it on! There are loads of summer movie series in Connecticut; most of them are outdoors, a lot of them are free, and even the ones that aren't are so very inexpensive you will be loading up the car as soon as you're done reading this. Pop the corn, grab a blanket, and head to one of these fun family movie series this summer. 

If your kid is fascinated by dinosaurs, chances are everything in your home revolves around the prehistoric creatures, including your family vacations. Your nearby natural history or kids' science museum is a great bet for a quick trip to study major fossil displays. For an even bigger thrill, families might want to check out one of the many outdoor dinosaur parks, from full amusement parks to nature walks and mini fossil digs.

We've rounded up a list of 10 great places for dinosaur lovers across the country. These dinosaur-themed attractions offer up-close encounters with lifelike creatures, thrilling rides, impressive fossils, and more fun things to do and see for kids, including dino-theater.

For more family vacation ideas—that may, or may not, involve dinosaurs—check out our United States Family Travel Guide.

Thanks to the residential boom in Lower Manhattan, the borough's southernmost point is more family-friendly than ever. Streets that once were the domain of Financial District workers running for their offices are now just as likely to be full of strollers and newly-walking tots. The many new playgrounds that have been constructed or renovated in this area make downtown Manhattan a part of the city you don't want to miss for family fun.

The playgrounds on this list offer fun things to do for all ages but are especially great for toddlers—because as all parents of toddlers know, finding a playground where your little one won't get run over by bigger kids is no small feat. Fun equipment, appropriate climbing structures, infant swings, thoughtful layouts, and a bevy of sandboxes await you at these downtown playgrounds, all located south of Washington Square Park. Time to get swinging!

What was Philadelphia like 250 years ago in the time of the Revolutionary War? That’s the question "Revolution Place,” the new discovery center at the Museum of the American Revolution hopes to answer for kids, especially those aged 5-12 years old. This new exhibit has been a goal of the Museum since it opened a year ago, and the space creates a next level hands-on museum for kids who are interested in playing dress up and learning about history. I had a chance to check out the new feature with my two little ones (aged 1 and 5 respectively). Read on for our review, and be sure to check out other great museums for families in Philadelphia!

Enjoying a film on the big screen in the great outdoors is as much a summertime tradition in Boston as taking in music at an outdoor festival. Bring a picnic dinner and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show at one of these outdoor summer movie series in and around Boston. Movies usually begin at dusk, but you'll want to arrive early for the best viewing spots and to take advantage of pre-movie entertainment when offered.

Rainy, steamy, and sticky summer days in New York City have met their match. If you’re in desperate need of indoor activities that will engage and inspire the whole family (in the air conditioning!), check out ColorLab, a new family art studio at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) in Crown Heights.

The just-opened studio space within this top NYC kid museum encourages kids and adults to create collages, sculptures, drawings, and other artworks, through independent exploration, hands-on collaboration, and experimentation—and you get to take your creations home.

The NYC summer just got a little sweeter with the news that Domino Park on Williamsburg’s waterfront will be open to the public on Sunday, June 10.

With a sugar-factory-inspired playground, kid-friendly water feature, open lawn, urban beach, taqueria from Danny Meyer, and so much more, we suspect this new Brooklyn park is about to become one of the top fun things to do with kids this season.

Summer vacation may be staring you in the face, but there's no need to panic—several camps in and around New Jersey still have space. As of this publish date, all of the camps listed below are actually open for enrollment.

Whether you're looking for a day camp for your preschooler or a sleepaway camp for your tween, you'll find it here! Sign up for the whole summer, or just one week, depending on the camp and your needs. (After all, you might want to leave time to try some of our 100 things to do with kids in New Jersey before they grow up.)

You can find even more camps in our NJ Summer Camp Guide, or in our NJ Summer Camp Directory.