Each summer as August rolls around I get a little panicky because my son and I haven’t done all the cool stuff  that we  planned to. I don’t know if I make my original list too long or if I get distracted with play dates, playground visits and other things -- but we still have a lot of fun yet to have and we are quickly running out of summer. 

How about you? Have you been running around having awesome days with the kids in tow?  If so, be sure to tell us about them!  You can win a Flip and see your day featured on our home page. (If you haven’t been having awesome days you may want to check out The Mommy Poppins Summer Fun Guide including our post on 100 Free Things To Do This Summer – and get cracking.)

This weekend has so much fun stuff it is hard to decide where to start.  The NY Botanic Garden is throwing a Garlic and Onion Festival, kids can join in on a super cool Yo-Yo spinning workshop, listen to a kiddie rock concert, the bard at the battery, walk through the Lower East Side in the footsteps of a classic children’s book or ride on an old subway car.  

And it is the first Saturday of the month so many area museums and cultural institutions are offering free admission and special programming. Looking for something a little less scheduled, why not visit the brand spanking new Imagination Playground or another destination playground around town for a change of pace?

Read on to plan your weekend and I hope you have a great one.

For years I have been sending my kids to great summer camp programs where they do awesome stuff all summer while I sweat it out, slaving away in the City. I think of summer as an opportunity for kids to experience all kinds of things they don't get to do over the school year, be outdoors more and try new things. But why should this only be for kids? Why can't adults get the same benefits from summer vacations?

Last summer we were invited to spend a few days at Club Getaway in Connecticut. Club Getaway offers family weeks in August and September where kids and adults can experience a summer camp-like vacation together. I was surprised that this mini-break turned out to be the highlight of my summer.

Read on about Club Getaway and find out how you can get $200 off a mini-vacation there this summer.

Situated on a picturesque harbor, Port Jefferson Village is an ideal option for a day trip, particularly in the summer months.  Wander the charming streets lined with specialty shops, restaurants, and cafes--many with outdoor seating. You can also take in an art exhibit, a concert or a children's show, and when you or your little one tire, you can regroup at the playground. Here is some of what you can expect to find at Port Jeff, and perhaps you'll discover your own favorites along the way.

The highly anticipated Imagination Playground opens today in Burling Slip.  This revolutionary new play space took five years and seven million (privately funded) dollars to create.  At this playground, there aren’t any jungle gyms, monkey bars or swings and it has only one measly slide, yet it is a “cutting edge playground for the 21st Century” according to David Rockwell, the designer of the play space and even Mayor Bloomberg calls it “a dynamic new way for children to play.” So what makes it so special?  Mommy Poppins was there for the ribbon cutting and has the scoop. Read on to find out what makes this playground different from any other playground and why you should go.

For some kids the dark is not dark enough, the waters are never too deep, and a trip to the zoo is bah-hum.  Well, we've rounded up some kid-friendly activities that will make even the most jaded kid on the block open their eyes wide with excitement!  Are you brave enough to swim with real sharks?  Do you have the spunk to feed penguins or communicate with seals?  Are you adventurous enough to ride a monster truck?  Do you dare brave the heights and go parasailing?  Perhaps you have always dreamed of being a sailor and sleeping aboard a battleship or being a submarine captain for a day.  This is your chance to do some daring, different activities with your thrill seeking child. Read on, we have a great list of adventures to choose from.

If you spend your days toddling around the city with a toddler, the Upper West Side is a perfect place to let them explore.  Sandwiched between two amazing parks are tons of places to enjoy with your little ones in this neighborhood that may just be as family-friendly as they come in NYC.  I’ve been touring the Upper West Side with my one-and-a-half-year old 10 fun-filled blocks at a time and sharing my recommended itineraries for parents and toddlers.  We’ve already tackled the 60s and 70s, so this time we’re toddling our way through the West 80s.   It seems everywhere you turn there is something fun for families in this corner of the city,  but these are our top 10 finds starting south and walking north.

Summer's almost half over? I've spent so many summers in an office where you barely know it's summer at all. But living in New York City, each weekend can be a mini-vacation. This weekend take advantage of the water all around us at the City of Water Festival, or head to the beach for a sand-sculpting contest. Not traveling the world this summer? In New York the world comes to you. Soak up some culture: Japanese, Chinese, Latin, Gospel, theater and art.

It's going to be crazy hot again so you might want to head to Chelsea Waterside Park for some sprinkler action, the new Pier 6 playground or another great sprinkler park. Or at least feel the gentle breeze of one the city's best carousels. If you're heading out of the city, stop at a local farm to pick your own produce in NJ or LI. This weekend NJ events include a couple of county fairs (love them) and even a hot air balloon festival.

We've picked out all the fun things to do, all you have to do is pick your activities, grab your kids and go!

Where in New York City can you find the perfect getaway full of sun, surf, sand not to mention great eats and lots of character? Look no further than Coney Island! Today, not only is the area actually a peninsula (since the Coney Island Creek was filled in to build the Belt Parkway) it is also a fantastic way to spend a summers day – one of my favorite day-long family excursions in the city.  It has everything that people travel to remote seaside towns to enjoy -- miles of Atlantic Ocean beach, a boardwalk, baseball, concerts, fireworks and amusements of every ilk.  Read on to find out what to do for a day of fun in the sun at Coney Island with the kids!

For years I have heard about this fantastic must-see “water playground” in Chelsea but I was never actually sure exactly where it was. With all this August like weather hitting us in July I decided to find out.  After a long trip on the M23 bus we found the playground in Chelsea Waterside Park.  Not only is this playground worth the schlep it is the perfect way to spend a hot and steamy summer day.  Read on to find out why.  

I know it is lame to write about having an awesome day in Central Park but the park has been host to just so many fun filled summer days for me and my son that I find it difficult to think of anyplace else.  Like any other day I still have a plan and an itinerary, because if you don’t, the park is so huge you could wind up wandering too far in one direction or another to get home easily. Read on for the deets on one of the many awesome days in and around Central Park, and then go have one for yourself.

We're sharing our awesome days of summer with you. We hope you'll share yours with us. Send in a description of an awesome day you had (with pictures) We'll post the best ones and you could even win an awesome Flip Video Camera.