I grew up in Santa Clarita and now, I’m raising my kids here. College-aged me would have said there were approximately 0 fun things to do in Santa Clarita and all I wanted to do was move to Loz Feliz or Silverlake and be “near all the cool stuff.” But you know what? When you have three little kids, hipster coffee shops and boutique clothing stores lose their allure. Instead, you want amazing parks and fun places to take rambunctious toddlers with lots of energy. Santa Clarita has that in abundance. It’s what turned me from an anti-suburbian into a lifer.

Here are 25 good reasons why you should brave the 5 freeway (but not during rush hour) and head to the SCV with your kids. For more valley fun, check out our guides to Sherman Oaks and Studio City.

We put together a list of 11 sizzling kids' birthday party themes for outdoor party ideas, including activity suggestions, decoration ideas, and some memorable munchies that will make your kid's summer birthday party the event of the season.

Since many kids with a summer birthday don't get to celebrate during the school year and some friends may be out of town, we need to go all out with epic outdoor birthday party ideas sure to make the birthday child feel special. A kids' birthday party is all about creativity and we've got loads of inspired ideas that more than make up for missing cupcakes at school.

Take all the fun (and the mess) under the sun with these awesome outdoor birthday party ideas, all with a summertime twist, such as camping, fairy par-tea, outdoor movies, and lawn games. Get everything you need to complete your party, from the Perfect Kids' Birthday Cake Idea for Every Party to Birthday Party Favors that Go Beyond the Goody Bag at our Birthday Party Ideas Guide.

You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions the Best First Birthday Gifts, and more in our Guide to Top Toys and Gear for Kids.

Most children love carousels and Connecticut features quite a few places where you can catch a ride on a merry-go-round. The New England Carousel Museum, a little-known gem in the Hartford area, goes beyond offering the opportunity for a whirl. Here you will find hundreds of carousel figurines on display, or being repaired and restored. Though it is small, the Bristol-based museum is still a fascinating place, geared toward older children and adults -- artists, historians, and carousel connoisseurs are sure to appreciate the fragile exhibits. Young children will enjoy feasting their eyes upon the colorful figurines, but without much opportunity for hands-on interaction, they could also lose interest quicker. Still, this is definitely one of the Fun Things To Do With Kids in Bristol and can be a quick stop on a day filled with other in-town adventures.

Climbing aboard an enchanting Polar Express on Long Island used to be but a dream. Instead, it meant a long road trip to one of these Polar Express and Christmas trains near NYC or setting a calendar alert to grab the tickets to the uber-popular Essex North Pole Express train in Connecticut as soon as they went on sale, but there's a new Polar Express on Long Island that's very close to home, thanks to the newly launched Long Island Polar Express Experience courtesy of the Long Island Airstream Experience.

So, start dreaming of Christmas magic as you read on for details on this Polar Express train on Long Island, which comes straight to you, and say so long gas and tolls—it's a veritable Christmas miracle.

Visiting the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia with kids seemed like an excellent outing, because everyone in my family loves to garden. This impressive 92-acre garden is the official arboretum of both the University of Pennsylvania and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You will see gorgeous flowers, impressive sculptures, towering trees, and a scenic pond filled with swans and ducks while strolling through this English-style public garden.

This garden has something new and spectacular on display year-round. In the early spring, the flowering trees, azaleas, and tulips take center stage. In the summer, bask in the shade of the green trees and enjoy the beauty of the rose garden. The fall brings changing leaves, while the winter has a holiday-themed railway light show. Best of all, there are tons of attractions to keep your kids engaged, whether or not they have green thumbs. Read on for all the fun things to see and do on a visit to the the Morris Arboretum.

Playgrounds are a staple of childhood in NYC, but before you know it, your little ones no longer need a lift on your shoulders to reach the monkey bars and will inevitably be too cool to be pushed on the swings. Visits to tot lots are replaced by jungle gyms, and finally these parks and playgrounds in Queens cool enough for big kids. Whether you live in Queens or are just passing through NYC's largest borough, there's no shortage of parks and playgrounds to keep big kids busy.

Looking for more big kid playgrounds? Bookmark our list of playgrounds cool enough for big kids in Brooklyn and this list of NYC's top playgrounds, which carries a few big kid gems of its own. Of course, you can find more playgrounds for any age and theme in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds for NYC Kids.

Sports outings on Long Island offer family traditions from Manhasset to Montauk. If you're eager to catch a game, spectator sports offer great entertainment, and it's possible to take in a variety of events without spending excessively. There are even a host of events that are totally FREE–just bring the kids, a few bottles of water, and maybe a snack or two.

So, batter up–here then are some of our favorite spectator sports options for families on Long Island. And, if you're looking for places to play sports, check out our Kids' Sports Centers and Fun Zones for Long Island Kids Guide.