Connecticut is many things to many people. For some, the amazing local food scene whets the appetite and keeps them coming back for more. Others like to get out in nature on one of our states many trails. But if you're someone who just loves to while away an afternoon taking in great works of art, and maybe you're thinking it's time to get the kids involved, too, have I got news for you. The Connecticut Art Trail not only houses some of the most spectacular treasures but with the new and improved Connecticut Art Trail Passport it is also right at your fingertips.

At the northern tip of Hartford County, you'll find a pastoral oasis: the towns of Granby, East Granby, West Granby and North Granby. Their rolling hills and dense woods make for some of the best hiking in the county, and an abundance of farms offer exciting and delicious experiences for children of all ages. Whenever my family craves a break from city noise and concrete buildings, we head to one of the Granby towns where tranquility and open vistas await, Spring, Summer, or Fall! Without further ado and in no particular order, here are our top 10 favorite stops in the area:

Come September, a kaleidoscope of colors begin to creep across the Connecticut hills, sweeping from the North down into valleys that shelter russet-red barns and milky white farmhouses, steepled churches and tidy village greens. Ah, Fall in New England. Give us all of the autumnal traditions from country fairs and harvest festivals to pumpkin carving contests to farm stands piled high with the season’s fresh bounty. This season, we are visiting some of our very favorite places to savor the brilliant hues, roadside farms and centuries-old cider mills, like B.F. Clyde’s in Mystic.

In Texas, our weather is anything but predictable. Rainy one day and scorching hot the next seems to be quite the trend for much of the year. And then, there are those random winter days where it's just too cold for many of us Southerners to venture outdoors unless we absolutely have to! When you have restless kids stuck in your house for too long and it's too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too anything else to play on one of the many playgrounds in the Houston area, indoor play places become the perfect refuge. With several brightly colored play scapes, kid-friendly music, and play areas zoned for specific age groups, Houston Party Playland in southeast Houston is one of our absolute favorite indoor play spaces. 

Call me a crazy New Englander, but this time of year is what I live for. I love slipping on a pair of boots, some fleece, perhaps a scarf if there's a nip in the air, and loading up the family into our SUV, with a destination in mind...a local fair. Fair season ranks up there with premieres of favorite new television shows, the first snow of the year, or that first, warmish spring day when you can begin to taste summer. It's a rite of seasonal passage, spending too much money on fried dough and games you'll never win, riding the ferris wheel and stopping at the top with an unencumbered view of the entire midway and beyond. It's delightful. Eastern Connecticut has a many opportunities to savor the Fall season, so take advantage of as many as you can!

This fall brings with it some super fun outdoor festivals, pick-your-own farm fun, new interactive art, train rides, and more for the 5-and-under set! 

We've rounded up almost two dozen great events in New Jersey this fall (September through early November) that are perfect for preschool-age kids. Catch big names at preschool-friendly performances of Peppa Pig, Daniel Tiger, Shopkins, Disney On Ice, and Thomas & Friends at Liberty Science Center.

Or head outside with your little ones to enjoy the beautiful weather and colors at events like the Great Pumpkin Train ride, Terhune Orchards’ Fall Family Weekends, and Hefty Harvest and Scary Scarecrows at Camden Children’s Garden.

Read on for the full list of fun fall events for little ones in New jersey. Don't forget to check out our Fall Fun Guide and Event Calendar to find even more great things to do this season. 

Usher in the fall season in Westchester with a host of family autumn festivals. The area's harvest celebrations are packed with fun seasonal activities for kids, including pumpkin fun, hayrides, apple-cidering, doughnuts and more.

We've rounded up details on the best upcoming fall festivals in Westchester, several of which made our September GoList. Be sure to consult our guide to best places for apple picking, many of which include festival-like added attractions.

Looking for more family fun? Get the most out of the season with our newsletters and follow us on Facebook. 

When it comes time to choose a preschool for your NYC kid, especially the first child, the decision can seem daunting. What if you pick wrong and she hates it? What if you hate it? What if he won’t get the leg up you’re hoping for at this school? What if...what if...what if….?

At the time, it might even feel like the biggest parenting decision you’ve made to date, besides perhaps where to give birth or which pediatrician would care for your new baby. Seasoned parents, however, will tell you: It’ll be OK. 

Trust your gut—and it’ll be OK—and if it’s not, switch, or there’s always next year!