There's no better place on the East Coast for a family to hit the slopes than Vermont. With dozens of downhill and cross country ski resorts, the state offers more options for skiers of every age and ability than anywhere else. But some are especially well suited for families, with ski and board lessons, special family activities just for kids, and child care options for parents.

Okemo, Stratton, Sugarbush, Smuggler's Notch, and Stowe are the big names in Vermont skiing, but there are some lesser known gems too. With a parent's eye to what families are looking for, we've reviewed the top ten best mountain resorts for family ski vacation in the Green Mountain State.  Find all our ski reviews in our Ski and Snow Sports Guide. 

It's hard to believe it, but here in the midst of all these snow days, it's time for Winter Vacation right here in Fairfield County. If you're like me and the snow days and delayed openings mean you're playing a little bit of catch up, you may be thinking about vacation camp options for winter break. Fortunately, there are a myriad of drop-off options for kids of all ages, whether you're looking for coverage for a whole day or just a couple of hours.

A word of warning: winter break can be a bit of a tricky thing, with each district taking a slightly different approach to scheduling. While everyone's closed on Monday, February 16th, for President's Day, Greenwich public schools, for example, are closed all of this week; Darien and Westport are closed all of next week; Stamford is closed Friday; etc. So, if you're exploring camp options, double check that the dates you need match the dates being offered.

All the talk in the schoolyard is about February break, which starts this Presidents' Day weekend. It's just about your last chance to book an enriching midwinter recess camp or plan a family vacation.

Of course, if you're sticking around NYC for a staycation like my family, you'll find plenty of fun things to do in our Winter Guide, which has a whole February break section filled with ideas for every day the kids are off from school, from Lunar New Year celebrations to warm indoor destinations to creative at-home activities. If you're looking for nearby seasonal getaways, our Snow Sports Guide is packed with great options like our just-posted review of Stowe, Vermont's awesome Stoweflake Resort and Spa along with nearer ski and snowtubing spots, including a few that don't require a car.

Want a kid-friendly way to celebrate Valentine's Day this Saturday? Then join us for a special performance of the percussive dance spectacle Cambuyón at the New Victory Theater, hosted by Mommy Poppins. Our readers enjoy a 20% discount on tickets and exclusive post-show cookie decorating with our friends at Cookie Party. I'll be there with my kid as will Stephanie so be sure to say hello.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

February always gives us a bit of a break, and we call it President's Day Weekend. This three (sometimes four) day rest allows us to spend time with our families. And, since this holiday coincides with Valentine's Day, what better way to spend the weekend with the ones you love than with activities found on the Mommy Poppins event calendar.

Create a sweetheart picture frame at Lowes Build and Grow Kids Workshop, design your own candy bar wrapper at Hagley Museum's Victorine's Valentine's Day or listen to the sweet classical sounds of Lansdowne Symphony's Valentine Concert at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. For history buffs, celebrate our First President's 283rd birthday at Washington's Birthday Party at Valley Forge National Historical Park or use a quill pen to write a letter to George Washington at the National Museum of American Jewish History's Family Day.

After all the family togetherness, parents looking for a grown-up night out have a few options. Valentine's Day Parents' Night Out at BounceU in Exton, Parents' Night Out at Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia and Valentine's Dinner Date at Delaware Museum of Natural History in Wilmington all provide kids with some fun while Mom and Dad can celebrate Valentine's Day without the children in tow.

Please look below for more recommendations for weekend fun. Don't see your event? Please feel free to submit your information to our calendar. Thanks!

Presidents Day weekend launches the February School Vacation Week with tons of great activities and performances for families. Unfortunately, the Model Train Weekend featuring Ntrak trains in Lexington has been canceled due to weather, but as long as the snow holds off, model train fans can see the Lego Train at the Wenham Museum. Other fun choices include the Bugs Bunny Film Festival in Cambridge or the unique opportunity to participate in a Family Service Day on a working farm in Methuen. 

In performances this weekend, families can catch Pinkalicious: The Musical in Cambridge, the Karen K & the Jitterbugs Lovefest concert on Valentine's Day in Wakefield, or The Boy Who Cried Wolf in West Concord. Familes with older kids are the perfect audience for The Wiz in Dorchester.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Celebrate the Chinese New Year with family-friendly events in and around Boston. 
• Keep busy indoors making these Celery Stamp Roses for Valentine's Day.
• A multitude of special activities and museum programs will keep the kids entertained during February Vacation Week.

Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to check out the full events calendar! Please check with the event venues for snow cancelations before heading out this weekend.

Let love in this Valentine's Day weekend! Celebrate with the family with a craft, outdoor exploration or party. Later on, drop the kids off at a parents' night out event. Live performances of Little Bo Peep, The Snow Queen, Little Mermaid Jr. and Shrek the Musical are also underway at various theaters across Long Island.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter, which now also includes a weekday roundup of activities for Long Island kids running Monday-Friday.

As the mom of two, I know it can be a challenge to find one summer camp to fit both of my kids' interests and needs. One kid wants to swim and play sports all day, while the other thinks arts and crafts and exploring nature sound like more fun. And I really don’t want to spend the entire summer schlepping them around from one class or activity to another. After all, kids shouldn’t be the only ones to enjoy the summer vacation!

There's no denying how important science is to a child's overall education. In fact, excelling in this subject has been proven to help kids excel in other subjects in school, including math, reading and language. So if you have a budding little scientist on your hands, this is an interest you definitely want to help them explore. Luckily, there happens to be a few places right here on Long Island that cater to students that want to stretch their scientific brain muscles outside of school. The entire family can even join in and experience hands-on experiments and science learning at these five places.

And for other enrichment programs, be sure to check out our Long Island Classes Guide.