My husband, who prides himself on his gift-giving, had quite a surprise for me this Mother's Day. While I had plans to meet close friends in Battery Park City, those plans were derailed when he made our family of five—toddler included—follow him to a bar in Midtown. My mood went from perplexed to pleasantly surprised when I learned the reason: He had booked a scavenger hunt for the day.

From beaches to amusements to water parks, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventure in New Jersey this summer. If you’re looking for something new and different to spice up your summer bucket list, you’re in luck. New and improved outdoor experiences are popping up throughout the state. Check out these five fun newcomers to the New Jersey summer scene.

For most Angelenos, the stretch of Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and La Brea evokes images of uber hip twenty-somethings being punctured by tattoo needles and pierced through any number of body parts—not necessarily a destination for tots. But an afternoon meandering Melrose with kids in mind can be both family friendly and super cool. Why not revisit one of the streets of your youth with your youths in tow, and up the style factor of your LA brood? For more ideas in the neighborhood check out 25 Things To Do in Hollywood with Kids.

NY Kids Club will open three new enrichment centers and three more of its accredited NY Preschools in January 2017, bringing to 15 the number of locations across NYC. These new tot learning spots will be situated in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Dumbo and Cobble Hill, as well as Greenwich Village in Manhattan. Each will be equipped with state-of-the-art gymnasiums for ongoing enrichment classes and open play for members, as well as classroom space for the preschoolers.

The Dumbo location at 135 Plymouth Street in Brooklyn will house five classrooms contained within an 8,400-square-foot floor plan, while the two-story Cobble Hill location at 299 Court Street comes in at 6,000-square-feet with five classrooms. Greenwich Village's 11 Fifth Avenue location will be cozier at less than half that size and three classrooms. 

The Coop in Bay Ridge goes beyond high chairs and French fries to deliver a truly kid-friendly cafe that families adore. This cozy cafe has a bar-like vibe and friendly staff, delectable food and drinks, and plenty of space to sit back and relax. What really sets it apart from other cafes, though, is the kid-friendly play area in the back. The Coop welcomes parents to relax and dine while their children play in a safe and fun space—all within arm's reach. Peace for the parents, fun and games for the kids.

It's that time of year again, Kidchella is back at Smith Memorial Playground! A kiddie play on Coachella, this 3 night concert series is fun for the whole family. Featuring live music from 2 bands each night in the lovely Smith Memorial Playground, kids will enjoy the music and will love to run and play. The weather is beautiful, so get out there and dance.

Every parent wants their child to have an extra special birthday, but it’s not always easy to figure out how to make that happen. The thought of entertaining and corralling your child’s friends and classmates for hours can be intimidating. Luckily, there are many professional birthday party entertainers in the Boston area that can help make the day magical and memorable.

Sure, taking the kids to a fireworks show for July 4th seems like a good idea—until you’re actually doing it. The little one (who refuses to wear earplugs) has his hands over his ears and a terrified look on his face, everyone is getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, and you know you'll be getting home well past the kids’ (and your) bedtimes.

Luckily, the city of Boston and the surrounding towns also mark Independence Day with parades, fairs, festivals, carnival rides, live music and food—no fireworks needed. There’s no better place to show the great ol’ U.S. of A. some love than right here in Boston, the cradle of the American Revolution. Do it in style at these kid-centric Independence Day celebrations, from the city's annual Harborfest to small-town festivities all around the Boston area.

Note: This article is being updated for 2017