When the weather is nice, there is no shortage of fun venues for outdoor kids' birthday parties in the DC area. Whether it's a fun park or playground, a hands-on zoo or animal park, a wet-and-wild water park, or a thrilling sports or activity center, there is a great outdoor birthday party spot for kids of all ages and interests.

Here are 15 great places for outdoor kids' birthday parties in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Check out our DC Kids' Birthday Party Places Guide for more great ideas for your child's special day, including our lists of the best parks and playgrounds for kids' birthday parties and fun indoor birthday party places for kids.

When school lets out for summer, families love to hit the road (or the skies) and travel to new places. But while summer journeys can be glorious, they also come with the downsides of peak travel season—higher prices, heavy traffic, larger crowds, and longer lines.

But it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of places across the US that offer many of the things families look for in a summer vacation—beautiful beaches, outdoor activities, engaging museums, and more—but aren't as well-known. That means families can make amazing summer memories with far less hassle.

Here are 10 underrated summer travel ideas for families across the US. Our Family Travel Guide includes even more great summer vacation ideas, including our massive list of the 100 best family vacation destinations.

Tasked with planning field day for your child's school? Our massive list of field day games for kids will help make the event truly epic. We've got fun ideas to delight all ages, including racing and tag games, water play, dance challenges, arts and crafts, and so much more.

Here are 100 fun field day games and activities for kids. For more ideas for outdoor fun, check out our Guide to Outdoor Activities for Kids, where you'll find everything from classic outdoor games to outdoor birthday party games.