Swimming Lakes Near Los Angeles You Need to Discover

Go swimming at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Meghan Rose

Los Angeles kids grow up swimming at some of the country's most iconic beaches, not to mention an array of flat-out awesome public swimming pools. But wait—there's more! Did you know that there are some wonderful swimming lakes near Los Angeles? And if you're willing to drive a little farther, lake options get even more plentiful. Whether you want to take a dip in a secluded swimming hole or join the masses at a lavish lake resort, here are some of the best spots to take a swim out in nature.

For more places to go swimming in Los Angeles, check out our Guide To Pools and Splash Pads in Los Angeles. Or keep it natural at one of these Surf-Free Beaches Where Toddlers Can Swim!

Disney on Ice, Arts & Literacy Festival, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

Celebrate the art of puppetry at The Skirball. Puppet Festival photo by Ben Gibbs, courtesy of the Skirball Cultural Center

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this weekend? Here are some of our favorite events and activities to add to your list this weekend

No need to search for your Disney favorites: they're skating up a storm in Disney on Ice: Mickey's Search Party. Monterey Park is positively pink with its Cherry Blossom Festival. Plus, there's no hiding from the glow of talent, which is on full display at The Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival Family Day

Best Things To Do with Kids this Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Pet farm animals and enjoy outdoor seasonal fun at the Hurds Farm Apple Blossom Festival in Modena. Photo courtesy of the farm

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Spring is in full swing this weekend with family festivals including the Apple Blossom Festival at Hurds Family Farm. Kids will also love interacting with horses at Help a Horse Day at Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue or meeting adoptable dogs and cats at the Family Festival and Adoption Fair at Germonds Park in Nyack. 

Families are also invited to experience A Day of Puppetry at Cornell Creative Arts Center, which features elaborate, interactive shows by local puppet theaters.

Arbor Day, Shark Sleepover, and More Things To Do on Long Island this Weekend with Kids

Scale some trees during the weekend-long Arbor Day Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Planting Fields

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

Celebrate Mother Earth this weekend at great events like the Arbor Day celebration at Planting Fields Arboretum. Or, enjoy an overnight adventure by sleeping with sharks at the Long Island Aquarium

Meanwhile, LEGO fans can check out more than a million bricks on display at the weekend-long Brick Fest Live at Nassau Coliseum.

Keep reading for more of the weekend's best kid-friendly events on Long Island. 

Earthfest, Black Comic Book Fest, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Th Gilder Center makes a stunning backdrop for the Earthfest activities at the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday. Photo by A. Keding/courtesy of AMNH

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

April bows out with a bang, with Earthfest festivities at the American Museum of Natural History and a Climate Arts Festival at the Queens Botanical Garden. Barbie is painting the town pink with a Barbie Family Day at The Paley Museum on Saturday, while superheroes abound at the 12th Annual Black Comic Book Fest at Harlem's Schomburg Center, and kid-lit authors come together for Books of Wonder's Indie Bookstore Day

Passover, Fountain Show, Gap-Con!, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

Spend Passover with local cantor and some Sesame Street friends! Photo courtesy of Sesame Place

Looking for the best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your must-do list.

Spring in Philadelphia is filled with family-friendly events that promise excitement and laughter for kids of all ages. From the Spring Food Truck Frenzy to the magical world of Sesame Place's Passover Event, there's something for everyone. Get ready for Drag Storytime with Mister John's Music or dive into the rich culture of Pennsylvania at the Maple Festival. Don't miss out on Flavors on the Avenue for delicious bites and free family activities, or PAFA's Spring Family Festival, where creativity knows no bounds. Join us as we explore the wonders of springtime in Philly, making memories that will last a lifetime.

All Aboard These Train Rides and Day Trips near NYC for Locomotive Lovers

Train-lovers of all ages love to explore the roundhouse at Steamtown.

All of my three children have gone through a train-loving phase around 2 years old, and while we are lucky enough to live on a train line where we can watch the trains zoom by all day long, I've been known to go out of my way to feed our kids’ love of choo-choos. From local train rides to seasonal Polar Express train rides, train museums, and model train displays, families in the tri-state area have plenty of options to entertain pint-sized train lovers.

Read on for our top picks for train-inspired day trips, including all the best things to do with train-obsessed kids in NYC and beyond.

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