The Los Angeles Grail, the Great Quest of the Southland, may well be the search for the ultimate family weekend getaway. The vacation that gives the most pleasure for the least effort. The highest decadence to travel time ratio. And I am here to share the news that Nirvana is only an hour away down an Orange County stretch of the 405 to Huntington Beach.

Yes, you read that right: surfing nuns. I know you're intrigued, so read on to find out about those ladies of the cloth and their saintly surfboards. If you'd prefer non-religious sports, try wending your way through the corn maze at Terhune Orchards on Apple Day. Or if you're looking for a good old fair, there are country fairs, folk fairs and a clown hoopla to choose from. And remember, the first official day of fall is next week, so enjoy your last weekend of summer!

Even though autumn doesn't officially start until September 23, we were all about fall this week. We began updating our Fall Fun Guide, and shared our picks for the best concerts, museum exhibits and theater shows for kids this coming season.

Our two new sites in Boston and Los Angeles are picking up speed. Boston highlighted six cool exhibits for families and in LA they're already looking ahead to Halloween with a roundup of pumpkin patches. Let your friends in those cities know that they can sign up for their respective newsletters.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

Wowza, I wish I had a time machine this weekend so that I could manipulate the clock and attend all of the fun  and creative events planned. There are loads of options and you'll be hard-pressed to choose just one. Wilton, Orange, Woodbury and Fairfield are having fairs this weekend. In Woodstock you can experience their Civil War Living History event. For survivalists, check out the free wilderness survival workshop in Kent and for animal lovers do the behind the scenes aquarium tour in Norwalk. There's even a hay bale search in Woodstock and a Rubber Duck Race in Woodbury. Club Getaway and K.E.L.F. are joining forces and opening the club for the day to families. Kayaking, the rock climbing wall and zip-lines are just a tiny bit of the activities to choose from on Sunday.

This week we've rounded up apple picking farms and are giving away tickets to the CT Renaissance Faire (the drawing ends this Friday night at 5pm.) If you are looking for after school activities in Fairfield check out our post. Join our growing facebook community and LIKE us today. You can also friend us on twitter to stay up to the minute with reminders of what's happening around town.

On a more serious note, our New Jersey editor has recently participated in a roundtable discussion for a CBS news special: "Bullying: Words Can KIll". It airs this Friday, September 16 at 8pm EST. The program covers the affects of bullying and explores methods to address it. Read more for the low-down on what's happening this weekend.

This weekend brings the first hint of fall, and our weekend roundup includes a mix of outdoor activities, from RiverSing in Cambridge to Arlington’s town festival to the Trails & Sails on the North Shore, and indoor events, like a Pirate Day story time at the Harvard Coop and a comedic interpretation of the classic Hound of the Baskervilles. And it’s still a great time to plan an apple picking adventure or a trip to a museum to see one of the new fall exhibits.

Alastair Moock and The Rowdy Roots Band Ticket Giveaway Reminder: Boston indie acoustic performer Alastair Moock celebrates the release of his second family music CD, These Are My Friends, with his concert at The Center for the Arts in Natick on Saturday, September 24. Mommy Poppins Boston is offering one lucky family a Family 4 Pack of tickets to the show! Email me for a chance to win.

Long Island is pulling out all the stops to provide family fun for fall, from barnyard dances, to autumn adventures. In addition to the awesome events below, there are many fall festivals and fall fairs taking place on Long Island this weekend, it's a great time to visit a pick your own apple picking farm, and if you are feeling adventurous, take a trip to Queens and check out the Maker Faire, which always garners rave reviews. Have a great weekend.

On a separate note, our New Jersey Editor has recently participated in a valuable roundtable discussion for a CBS News/48 Hours special "Bullying: Words Can KIll". The program covers the impact of bullying and explores current methods for addressing this problem. The special is scheduled to air on Friday, September 16 at 8pm EST.

Not ready for summer to be over? Given the temperatures this week it looks like Mother Nature has been feeling the same way. But luckily we live in Southern California, where we can enjoy a wealth of outdoor activities regardless of the date on the calendar!

LA has a particularly international flavor this weekend. Festivals celebrate the cultures of Thailand, Scandinavia, Greece, and Latin America. There are storytimes in Spanish and American Sign Language, (and one with Peter Rabbit himself). The Hollywood Bowl offers another fireworks spectacular, this time set to music with a French theme.  

Keep reading for some of our top choices this weekend: