Whether you’re doing an Alaska cruise or individual travel, costs can really add up on a family vacation, especially when traveling in Alaska. Luckily, if you know the area, there are actually plenty of fun and free things to do in Sitka and other SE Alaska cities, as well as affordable eats. 

My grandparents moved to Alaska when I was a tot, so even though I’m not a local, I’ve been visiting Haines and Juneau my whole life. It wasn't until I started bringing my own kids that we started exploring Alaska’s tourist attractions and also traveling as a family to other Alaska destinations. This summer we decided to visit Sitka.

While an escape to Pennsylvania’s Poconos often means quiet hikes in the woods, a swim in the Delaware, or maybe a ski down the slope, my family also relishes a trip to one of the Poconos water park resorts. We recently indulged in a long weekend at Camelback Resort and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Read on to find out what’s new at this Poconos resort and to hear all our best tips for a visit to Camelback with the kids.

Backpacks are probably among the most universal of school supplies, the item that gets the most use and suffers the most wear and tear. Finding the right backpack for school that will accommodate all of your child’s supplies—and that they’ll love carrying—requires a bit of research and a big stamp of approval from the student who has to lug their brand-new cool backpack around from home to class to afternoon extracurriculars.

So if you’re on the hunt for an extra cool backpack this year, we've done the homework for you, pulling together a list of our top 12 backpacks, drawing on many years of experience from our parent writers and readers. For more back-to-school tips, from perfect alarm clocks for the first day to school lunch ideas kids will actually eat, check out our Back-to-School Guide.

You can't spend all summer in the pool (though kids often wish you could), and some days the perfect way to burn off some energy is to head to a playground in Los Angeles! Of course, it's hot in LA during the summer (and spring and fall—even sometimes in winter!), and playing on equipment that is too hot to touch is no fun. Not to mention the sunscreen factor—even when kids let you apply it at the beginning of the day, it can prove impossible to reapply. The solution? Be armed with a list (like the one below) of the best parks that offer shaded play throughout the day.

Keep bodies (and tempers) cool at these playgrounds in LA with plenty of shade. And when the temperature dips, check out our favorite playgrounds that are worth the drive and the best toddler playgrounds in every corner of the city.

Need to find a playground near you with shade for a hot summer day in NYC? These shady playgrounds in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens offer a break from the sun but no shortage of fun.

While kids can always cool off in NYC's many sprinklers, there's no reason for us parents to get stuck baking in the heat. A few NYC playgrounds are known to offer exceptional amounts of shade—Hippo Playground in Riverside Park and Discovery Playground in Fort Washington Park come to mind—but we asked our readers if they knew of any super-shady playgrounds in New York City, and they came through with several great suggestions.

Yes, I was a masking tape mom, too. But when an order of quality, convenient personalized name stickers and kids clothing labels from Mabel’s Labels appeared in my mailbox for my two young daughters—covered in unicorns and rainbows, no less—I was a very quick convert.

Created by four mothers who were tired of digging through the lost and found bin, Mabel’s Labels are durable, waterproof, laundry-safe, microwave-safe, and adorably customizable with dozens of designs. Specially made to fit kids’ most-used (and most-lost) school items, you’ll find labels for backpacks, lunch bags, shoes, sports gear, and water bottles—plus options for the daycare and preschool crowd, like pacifier and baby bottle stickers. You can even shop by occasion to find the best labels to fit your needs, or snag combo label packs like “Little Kid School Combo” and “School Uniform Label Pack.” Yeah, they get it.

Urban kids don’t have to miss out on rural life – they can try it out any day of the year at one of many family farms near Los Angeles. Farm visits are one of those things you can do multiple times a year while kids are still little for pumpkin patch visits, corn maze wanderings, strawberry picking, and animal visits.

Read on to discover our favorite farms near Los Angeles where kids can learn about how things grow, taste homegrown (and homemade) goodies, take part in seasonal festivals, meet animals, and play in the dirt. They range from giant farms with loads of animals, pick-your-own fields, bounce houses, and tractor rides, to smaller spots where city kids can learn about planting and get their hands in the dirt.

Check out our list of the best family farms near Los Angeles and Orange County to visit with your little ones.

There’s nothing like the comfort of your own home when it comes to hosting your kid’s birthday party. Sure, you have to clean up, but you’re in control, and you don't have to worry about sharing a space with other parties. And, since the cost of an at-home party tends to be lower, it's the perfect opportunity to splurge on a one-of-a-kind experience that brings the party to you.

We've rounded up top New Jersey entertainers for your next bash. From costumed characters to magicians, balloon twisters, and face painters—even ponies and lizards—these party entertainers make house calls to delight your birthday kid and pint-sized party guests.

Find more ideas in our NJ Birthday Party Guide.