Tired of visiting the same old parks? If your local jungle gym has recently lost its luster, be grateful that you live in (or are visiting) Orange County, where you can take your tykes to explore one of the hidden gems below. From giant Legos to beachfront slides to fountains and duck ponds, there are plenty of captivating playgrounds to explore throughout Southern California, but it takes a real OC native to know all five of these boredom-busting tot lots. Pick any one of them for an outing the whole family can enjoy.

Whether you live in NYC or are just visiting, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is probably on your list of places to explore with kids. In addition to its engaging exhibits, the Met is known for its top-notch family programs and drop-in art-making opportunities for all ages.

Of course, all that walking, looking and sketching makes you tired and hungry. While the Met is located on the kid-friendly Upper East Side, many of the nearby restaurants are better suited to date night than a casual family meal. That's why we've rounded up a dozen spots within walking distance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that welcome families.

Attention pregnant and nursing mothers: It's about to get a little easier to find a clean spot to pump privately or breastfeed in peace in New York City. Mayor Bill de Blasio just signed legislation, which was passed unanimously by the City Council, requiring a host of city agencies to offer lactation rooms to nursing mothers across the five boroughs by July 1, 2017.

The bill, sponsored by Brooklyn City Councilman Robert Cornegy, doesn't change New Yorkers right to breastfeed in any public space. Instead, it acknowledges that sometimes finding a comfortable spot to nurse or pump milk is a serious challenge. Anything that offers an alternative to the dreaded bathroom stall is a win-win in our book. Read on for more details about this new law impacting NYC parents.

Indoor play spaces have a bunch of benefits – they provide fun out of the sun or rain or cold and offer a variety of activities, including those that wouldn’t be as safe or accessible outside like rock climbing. Take the kids to one of these great places to burn some energy whether they want to bounce, climb, or play sports. For play places specifically for toddlers and preschoolers, check here for Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is known for its rich history, and is the site of a turning point in the Civil War. History buffs can get lost for days wandering the battlefields, exploring the town, and immersing themselves in the life of the 1860s in carefully restored homes and museums. But there is more to Gettysburg than just the battlefields. Beautiful open spaces, rolling hills, quaint antique shops, a bustling college town, and fine dining make this an excellent destination for your next family trip. To help you make the most out of your vacation, we've compiled a detailed list of attractions and must-do activities to please everyone in your family.

For an easy day hike with the kids, New Jersey’s local “reservations,” essentially mini state forests and parks, are my family’s go-to. The 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation in Essex County is one of our favorites. The recreation complex includes hiking trails, but also a zoo, fairy trail, paddle boats, mini golf, and a fantastic playground.

Read on for our best family bets for this Jersey green space, or check out some of our other favorite NJ reservations like nearby Watchung, or day trip ideas.

On August 3rd, Longwood Gardens’ latest evening spectacular Nightscape opened to the public. The trippy, amazingly choreographed sound and light extravaganza is definitely not your run of the mill evening out with the family- especially not for my family, as my husband and I have a three-year old son. Starting off with the fact that we were out way past bedtime (the light show in August doesn’t start until 9 PM when it is well past dark), this experience was easily going to go one of two ways: amazement and giggles or...well, you’re parents, you know the rest.

Most preschools incorporate some aspect of nature exploration in its curriculum, but the schools in this list bring it right to the forefront. Hoping to encourage the natural scientists in its students, these schools teach how to be good eco-citizens by learning and caring for our environments. They also encourage plenty of hands-on outdoor fun and different types of STEAM-based activities.
 
Looking for other preschools in our area? Check out the Preschool Directory and our Preschool Guide, both of which are chock full of information. Those in our border towns may also be interested in our list of nature-based preschools in Connecticut.