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.

When you're looking to grab a drink outside with the kids in tow, beer gardens are a great option, with plenty of space for little ones and menus packed with hearty fare that's sure to please picky palates. As it turns out, Brooklyn could give Bavaria a run for its money when it comes to kid-friendly beer gardens. So whether you have a special occasion to celebrate, or you're simply saluting the fact you've made it through another day of the pandemic, here are some of NYC's best beer gardens and halls where families can raise their glasses. We've even thrown in a couple of Queens spots, too.

For more dining options, check out our roundup of 20 restaurants in NYC offering outdoor dining and visit our Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide for even more picks.

Any parent cooped up with remote learners since March can attest to how difficult it is to get through a day of on-screen schooling. Gone are the favorite subjects—lunch and recess—replaced instead by tech problems and computer crashes. But it doesn't have to be this way. While you might not have time to supervise a 45-minute midday play session, it's much easier to work a 10-minute recess break (or multiple breaks!) into a child's day.

If you're looking for more active play ideas, be sure to see our post on indoor exercise games and explore our Homeschool and Remote Learning Resources Guide for more tips and tricks to get through these unusual school days.

Known for its white sand beaches, gentle waves, and breathtaking sunsets, Clearwater Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast is one of the top beaches in the United States and makes for a great family-friendly vacation destination.  This Florida beach has a variety of seaside hotels and beach resorts for families to choose from and plenty of activities for all ages. We've listed some of our favorite things to do in Clearwater Beach below.

Fall is a great time for a Hudson Valley day trip, yet with so many great stops in the area, there’s something to do no matter the season. One all-season spot we love is Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Located in Ulster County, it offers everything from hiking to swimming, snowshoeing, and more.

Read on for our review of this stunning greenspace, which has long made our list of favorite New York state parks for a family-friendly hike.

Update: Effective Monday, November 23, DC's Smithsonian Museums are closing again due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. No timetable has been announced for their reopening. We will share that information as soon as we have it.  

Washington, DC's most iconic museums and cultural centers are slowly, and carefully, reopening to the public. The crown jewel of these DC museums, the Smithsonian Museums, are offering timed admission (still free!) with safety measures in place.

What's open? What's on, exhibition-wise? What's worth seeing? We have all the answers you need. Read on.

Houston's urban sprawl may not bring the word "hiking" to mind when thinking about things to do with kids. But let me tell you, the city has many amazing pockets of forests, streams, and wetlands that can be accessed by some pretty great hiking (as well as biking) trails. And we're not talking paved trails in the middle of a tree-less park; the easy hikes below make you almost forget you live in one of the country's biggest cities.

All of these parks and hiking trails are easily accessible for small children, and many are stroller and wagon friendly. Be prepared to add hiking to your list of favorite family activities after checking out these kid-friendly trails and parks.

An enriching high-quality early education is such a meaningful start, and BASIS Independent McLean’s Early Learning Program brings exactly that to families in the Northern Virginia area. Situated on a sprawling 11-acre campus in Tysons Corner—less than 15 miles outside of Washington D.C.—the age 2 through grade 12 private school helps lay a foundation for success with a world-acclaimed curriculum that thoughtfully balances kids' natural tendency to question, explore, and create with more formal academic instruction. And at the heart of it all is a deep love of learning, instilled in students by nurturing and compassionate expert teachers.

If you'd like to learn more about the Early Learning Program at BASIS Independent McLean, read on or sign up for an upcoming virtual open house.