Shandley McMurray

Wow! NYC is an amazing spot for kids' sports. Why not get your crew signed up? There are so many offerings everywhere you look, including hockey, swimming and soccer classes, just to name a few. There are also new venues opening all the time. Whether your kid's into ball sports like baseball or basketball, or more individual sports like skateboarding and rock climbing, you're sure to find something for everyone on this list. Looking for even more class opportunities? See our top mommy and me classes, coding for kids classes and kids' cooking classes.

As a busy CBS News correspondent, Kelly Wallace realized her BlackBerry shouted louder and more often than her two children, Hattie, 4, and Lily, 2. Tired of racing to the newsroom to cover breaking stories, Wallace decided in April that it was time to take a breather. Encouraged by her husband, Matt Saal, an executive producer for The Rachel Maddow Show, Wallace left her job to spend more time with her kids—and work on an online news and talk show for mothers that will be hitting the web in the next few months. How do the girls like having you at home more?KW They love it. I’ve been able to watch Hattie at soccer practice and pick up Lily from school. I even chaperoned my first school trip.MS And there’s less breakfast splattered on the walls. That’s a real plus. What’s harder, being a news correspondent or a stay-at-home mom? KW Being a mom. As I’ve spent more time handling child-care duties solo, I’ve thought, this is the hardest job on the planet. At the same time, I want to have a vibrant work life. I know that as long as I can make my work fit into my life, as opposed to my life fitting into my work, I will feel fulfilled. What can we expect from your new webshow?KW It’s going to be a look at the top news stories affecting moms. The plan is to cover everything from whether pesticides on fruit and veggies cause ADHD to increasing desire in the bedroom. If mothers are talking about it, so will we. I hope this show will be a place where they can join a conversation and lau

Maintaining a sense of humor while you’re living in a one-bedroom apartment with a spouse and two children is no easy feat, but husband and wife Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, both correspondents for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, pull it off with aplomb. The family of four lives in the West 60s, just a short walk from the Daily Show studio. When they’re not taping segments, you’ll find the couple writing books (Samantha’s memoir will be published in spring 2010) and filming movies. Jason’s in the Sandra Bullock comedy All About Steve, due out September 4, and they’ll both appear with Tina Fey and Steve Carell in Date Night, which will be released next year. Why the cozy living situation?SB The reason we have a one-bedroom apartment is because we have a spacious place in the Catskills that we go to on weekends. And we also enjoy hearing Piper shout out words in the night. They’re usually candy and cake related. “Chocolate...cake.” JJ It’s like a nightmare. A candymare. “Aaahhhhh cupcake.” Are your kids funny?SB I think so. We’re pretty sure Piper’s going to end up being a comedian. She’s very into potty humor. She thinks it’s so hysterical. Unfortunately, I also think it’s hysterical, so I encourage it. JJ That’s half the problem with our parenting. We laugh at the stuff that other parents are scolding their kids for. Like Fletcher will take a handful of eggs and whip them at the wall, and we’re like, “Sorry, but comedically, that was very funny. It came out of nowhere. It

My four-year-old daughter, Marley, loves to play pretend. She puts on a princess gown as soon as she gets home from school. Her brother, Pierce, 2, also enjoys costumes—as long as they aren't pink! We recently prowled the city in search of the best venues for G-rated role-playing. Brooklyn Children's MuseumMy son bolted for the giant Chinese dragon head as soon as we arrived, stepping inside and roaring with gusto. Number two on his list: the Caribbean Carnival parrot costume, complete with flapping wings. His sister preferred the Global Beats Theater, where she tried on costumes from around the world. 145 Brooklyn Ave at St. Marks Ave, Crown Heights, Brooklyn (718-735-4400, brooklynkids.org). $7.50, children under 1 free. Wed 2--5pm free. Children's Museum of ManhattanThe firefighter costume box at CMOM's Playworks exhibit earned a thumbs-up from both of my kids. Marley pulled on overalls and a coat, and Pierce grabbed a hat before settling into the driver's seat of a bright red truck. On the way out, they visited ancient Greece, where Pierce tried unsuccessfully to wrapa piece of fabric to look like a peplos (Greek cape). 212 W 83rd St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-721-1223, cmom.org). $10, children under 1 free. Eloise Shop at the Plaza HotelThis new midtown store stocks all of the precocious troublemaker's favorite things—jeweled tiaras, feather boas and plenty of girly ensembles. The mirrored, elevated space outside the changing room resembles a stage where M

It may not be Park Slope or the Upper West Side, but the city blocks that make up Turtle Bay, Sutton Place and Tudor City (40th to 59th Streets from the FDR to Third Avenue) have plenty to offer visiting families. Amid the spectacular architecture—wooden townhouses and Tudor-style apartment buildings—you'll find quaint parks, quality restaurants and places where your kids can soak up culture. Things to do Check out Peace Form One, a 50-foot stainless steel obelisk at the north end of Ralph Bunche Park (First Ave between 42nd and 43rd Sts, nycgovparks.org). Then, climb the granite steps at the northwest corner (think of it as your crew's workout for the day). At the top, you'll enter Tudor City, a self-contained neighborhood that hovers over First Avenue. Relax on one of the benches in the well-groomed garden. Sutton Place Park (East River Waterfront between 56th and 57th Sts, nycgovparks.org) is also a popular spot for families. Toddlers love playing in the sandbox and climbing on the wild boar statue. At the Japan Society (333 E 47th St between First and Second Aves; 212-832-1155, japansociety.org), join a family tour of artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi's exhibit "Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints" (through June 13). Where to eat Tots will enjoy the view of lunch baking in the wood oven at Angelo's Pizza (1043 Second Ave at 55th St, 212-521-3600, angelospizzany.com). Chow down on hamburgers, french fries and floats while listening to '60s tunes at Johnny Rockets (930 T

Yes, the throngs of uniformed officers parading around the city come Fleet Week (May 25--June 1) are a sight to behold (hello, sailor!), but there's a good chance your kids will be more enthralled with the U.S. Navy, Marine and Coast Guard ships docked off our shores. To get ready for the big celebration, we paddled the waters to find other nautical attractions around town. For detailed schedule and pricing information, visit the official websites. BargemusicMoored just under the Brooklyn Bridge, this 100-foot-long refurbished coffee barge has a small, wood-paneled concert hall that offers families an intimate musical setting. With luck, the classical chamber tunes will calm even the jumpiest toddler. And if she's actually lulled to sleep, so much the better. Fulton Ferry Landing, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-624-2083, bargemusic.org). $15-$35. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space MuseumKids can "pilot" a fighter jet, transmit Morse code and ride a 4D virtual-reality roller coaster—all on this 900-foot aircraft carrier. After your tykes have climbed around the USS Growler submarine and patrolled the flight deck, head to the Exploreum. There, they can launch a foam rocket, scale cargo nets and "fly" a helicopter. Special Fleet Week offerings include Broadway performances from Rain (Fri May 27) and Wicked (Sat May 28), a screening of Top Gun (Fri May 27), a parade of ships (Wed May 25), and a Memorial Day ceremony (Mon May 30). Pier 86, Twelfth Ave at 46th St (877-957-7447, intrepidmuseum.org).