Here in chilly Boston, we're grateful for the inside playgrounds and indoor water parks that allow kids to replicate outdoor fun all year long. But when you really want to take four-seasons adventure to the next level, point the family cruiser toward the Granite State: At SkyVenture, located just over the New Hampshire border (and less than an hour from Boston), kids as young as preschool-age can "fly," surf and slide under one roof—in a single, glorious afternoon. We got the scoop from parents and kids who've made the trip.

If you’re looking for an especially unique experience for you and your kids on a rainy day this spring in NYC, consider taking a journey through your dreams together. Dream Machine, an interactive pop-up experience is opening in Williamsburg on April 5 and will run through the end of May. Akin to other Instagram-friendly spots like the soon-to-launch Museum of Candy and the past Museum of Ice Cream, this new spot is ready for snaps.

Dream Machine visitors will take an hourlong, self-guided journey through 10 immersive rooms, each inspired by our sleep cycles. These elaborately decorated spaces encourage dreamers to get hands-on in the middle of the magical REM cycle.

We've always been fans of the San Jacinto Battleground and have spent plenty of time exploring the San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas, but the lack of play area on the grounds for our kids was somewhat of a drawback. Now, the newly renovated Juan Seguin Historic Park adjacent to the Battleground gives kids a fun new place to play, while also preserving the natural beauty of this historical site. It's filled with informative plaques, features multiple spots for picnicking, a large pavilion, and it has an amazing waterfront view.

The park even pays tribute to the history of the Lynchburg Ferry, which suffered damage during Hurricane Harvey, but is now back up and running. We recently visited the park, and I have to say, there is definitely more to this historical park than first meets the eye. 

Kids grow fast, and they need everything from swimsuits for the beach to (even just for a little while) snow gear for tubing. Having a few go-to consignment and second-hand stores for that next growth spurt is an absolute must. Bonus if you can sell or offload items, too! Here are our top picks for kids' consignment shops (plus a huge kid consignment event) around Los Angeles that are worth the trip. Just remember: inventory changes, so visit often.

Despite what Mother Nature thinks (snow? really?), spring is definitely here, and that means outdoor festivals will soon dot the landscape of Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley! That's great news for those of us suffering from the winter blues and daydreaming about warm, sunny days and budding flowers.

We’ve rounded up many fun fairs and festivals throughout Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Rockland counties. In addition to featuring kiddie favorites like rides, games and live entertainment, many of these fetes celebrate the local environment, with workshops and educational activities for the entire family. Read on for all the details, and be sure to check out our Event Calendar for even more options.

At last we made the trip out to Portland, CT to zip through the sky and jump off of cliffs into the water at the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park. This is a water adventure park like no other. Located in an old quarry, where you guessed it, they once mined brownstone, they have ziplines, trampolines, rock climbing, wakeboarding, scuba diving, and much more. We arrived in the morning without a hitch. They open at 10am during the week and close at 7pm. In order to save time we should have printed out our waivers and purchased our day passes online but thankfully the lines weren't too bad so it wasn't a big deal. Read on for the scoop and then check out our CT Water and Beach Fun Guide and the  Mommy Poppins Theme and Water Park Guide for more fun options.

Toys. Kids love ‘em; parents wish they would put them away. But in this the age of electronics, we can all agree that a good old-fashioned manipulative beats a device with a screen any day. With even big toy store chains like FAO Schwartz and Toys 'R' Us closing shop, it's time for us to rally and support the local toy stores we love if we want them to be here next year—particularly the ones where you find an unusual gift just when you need it.

New York City's spring outdoor festival season kicks off this April with more than a dozen fun and mostly FREE fairs, fetes, parades, and carnivals. Some annual Mommy Poppins favorites take place, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Blossom Festival, the Queens County Farm Museum's Children's Carnival, Staten Island's St. George Day celebration, and the annual Street Games in East Harlem.

These events aren't just fun, they also foster community spirit by bringing folks together for a common cause. Many include old-fashioned games, eco-activities, homemade treats, and live performances. Here are some awesome NYC fairs, carnivals, and festivals for families this April.