Out-of-town friends often ask me if Boston is a kid-friendly city. I love this question, because there are endless reasons that make this city a great place for kids to grow up in. I know I'm not alone; Bostonians love their town and aren't afraid to tell you why. This passion gets passed down to each generation with gusto, and makes the top of my list of 25 reasons Boston (including the surrounding 'burbs) is the perfect place to raise children.

With Halloween less than a week away, New Yorkers are already making plans to celebrate, and now Governor Andrew Cuomo has released guidelines for safe Halloween celebrations.

True to his statements from earlier in the fall, trick-or-treating will not be banned, but it's not the safest Halloween activity during the pandemic. New York State's guidelines emphasize that "the best way to celebrate Halloween this year is to have fun with the people who live in your household," in many ways mirroring the rules put forth by the CDC in September.

Read on for the full details on the New York state Halloween guidelines, and bookmark this list of safe, socially distant trick-or-treating alternatives as you plan your holiday happenings.

New and old collide in the pretty Bucks County, Pennsylvania, countryside where young families can play the day away at Sesame Place and older kids can enjoy Revolutionary War history at Washington Crossing Historic Park. From real castles to playground castles, ice cream shops to kayaking, Bucks County is a sweet spot for a family weekend getaway. Just an hour north of Philadelphia and less than two hours from NYC, it’s easy to access.

Ready to plan a trip? Read on for our list of 25 must-do places to play and see, as well as eat and stay in Bucks County. We divided it into four family-friendly mini itineraries. Choose one or get some ideas to mix and match an adventure of your own. Explore popular towns like New Hope and Doylestown, or arrive during the holidays for a special treat.

Playgrounds are the perfect destination when you need a change of scenery and a change of pace. Your kids get fresh air and exercise for FREE! But what happens when your school-aged children decide they’re too cool for their once-favorite neighborhood parks? My 8-year-old former playground-enthusiasts have recently begun to turn their noses up at the local swing sets. And if I do talk them into a playground visit, we last about five minutes.

Playground parents—don’t give up yet. I haven’t! There are some destination playgrounds in New Jersey with features and contraptions novel enough to satisfy even the pickiest playground cynics. These play areas include zip lines, crazy slides, Spiderman-type climbers, and other structures that challenge the ages 7-and-up crowd. We've rounded up some of our top picks across the state, and take note: These playgrounds all feature plenty to entertain the younger siblings as well.

Find more romping spots in our Parks & Playgrounds Guide for Jersey Kids.

For the first time since 1861, Santa won't greet pint-sized visitors at Macy's flagship location in New York City this holiday season. The beloved Santaland instead transforms into a virtual experience. Santaland festivities have also been canceled at the chain's Chicago and San Francisco locations.

While Santa still plans to take his star turn in the reimagined Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the department store is keeping the safety of kids and Kris Kringle at heart by shifting his wish-collecting duties to virtual visits via Macy's Santaland at Home, which launches Friday, November 27, and runs through Thursday, December 24.

Who misses seeing a movie in a movie theater? Watching new releases on an iPhone got old really fast, and even if you have a great TV for family movie nights, there is something sooo much more special about going to a real live cinema, sitting in those indulgent movie theater seats, leaning back, and watching a new movie on an enormous screen with no interruptions (preferably with a snack you would never eat under any other circumstances). Well, good news: whether or not your state is allowing movie theaters to reopen, there is a way to have that big screen cinema experience again—and without having to sit next to anyone you don't know!

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland returns for a 2020 run, reimagined as a drive-thru holiday attraction to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines. The festive, glittering seasonal display runs for five weeks and features dazzling visuals, character appearances, and the promise of a socially distant encounter with Santa.

Read on to learn more about what to expect when Kensico Dam Plaza is transformed into Westchester's Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru, plus how to reserve your tickets.

First came animatronic dinosaurs; next, glowing reindeer! Following the success of the Jurassic Quest drive-thru experience this summer, Foxborough's Gillette Stadium will host Magic of Lights, a holiday-themed drive thru featuring hundreds of thousands of LED lights. From November 13, 2020 through January 2, 2021, Boston families can ride through and past a sparkling display featuring Christmas scenes and music—all in the safety of their own cars.

Learn more about Magic of Lights—including newly updated ticket information—here, and keep tabs on our Boston events calendar for other exciting area happenings this fall, winter, and beyond.