How do we love New Jersey? Help us count the ways! We know that New Jersey is one of the best places to raise kids, but even the best has its best. So we're counting on you, our Mommy Poppins readers and the most savvy parents we know, to help us pick New Jersey's BESTIES.

How do we love Westchester and the Hudson Valley? Help us count the ways! We know that Westchester is the best place to raise kids, but even the best has its best. So we're counting on you, our Mommy Poppins readers and the most savvy parents we know, to help us pick Westchester's BESTIES. The best play spaces? Westchester's got 'em.

For your mini Misty Copelands or junior JTs, summer is the perfect opportunity for your kids to practice their routines or learn a new style of dance. From jetés to jazz hands, there is something for everyone on this curated list of dance camps happening this summer in Houston.

And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings.

Living in Connecticut, with kids, chances are you've taken a train ride or two. Whether you rode on Percy at Essex Steam Train and Riverboat's Day Out With Thomas or the Naugatuck Railroad's Northern Lights Limited, there are plenty of incredibly sweet themed and scenic railroad experiences across the state.

But, have you ever hopped on a Metro North train on a Tuesday? Chances are, while you may have made the rounds of the seasonal train excursions, you might not have considered the trains running through Fairfield County every hour on the hour. In off-peak hours, you might spend an average of $7 or less on a round trip ticket between Milford and Greenwich. And your kids will LOVE the impromtu ride on the shiny silver choo-choo. We've rounded up some kid-friendly stops off Metro North to turn an everyday train ride into a full-fledged adventure for your preschooler. And make sure to check out the new Hartford line and our suggestions on where to visit at each stop.

It can be a daunting task to saddle up for the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, but as Houstonians it's basically our civic duty to go at least once a year. Before heading out, there are some key details you should know, like ticket and parking basics, and it's definitely worth reading over what FREE activities are offered for the kiddos. But there's no better advice and tips than what you'll get from fellow mamas.

Read on for 10 tips and tricks from Houston moms who have braved the crowds, pushed the umbrella strollers through those crowds, and dropped more cash than they'd like to admit on fried Oreos. (And moms, if you have tips of your own you'd like to share - drop us a line at houstoneditor@mommypoppins.com.)

It’s official. Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Pocono Mountains is now home to the country’s largest indoor water park.

In early March the African-themed resort completed a more-than-100,000-square-foot addition to its existing indoor water park, bringing the total to 220,000 square feet, more than double its largest competitor in the Poconos vacation region, and besting the record-holder, its own Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio.

The news arrives just before school kids head off for spring break, making it likely welcome news for families looking for a quick water-themed getaway, or even a day trip as Kalahari allows day-pass entry to its water park.

Preschool is one of those things I never put much thought into until my son's third birthday was looming. I assumed finding a preschool would be a breeze, one of those tasks I checked off the to-do list in a day (cue the first time mom chuckles). Instead, I quickly realized that there are a lot of variables to consider when selecting a preschool for your child, some of which make a big difference and others that may not matter as much. For us, price was one of those make or break factors, and finding an affordable preschool proved to be a big hurdle to overcome. So for all the parents out there looking for affordable preschool options in Southwest Houston, we have you covered.

Think a recipe for fun includes locking yourself and your kids inside a small room for an hour? That's the idea behind escape room adventure games, an activity that's become a worldwide phenomenon over the last year or so. New Jerseyans now have a new option for escape room fun: one of the state's largest facilities, the Escape Room Center, just opened in Bridgewater, and it makes for an exciting and memorable outing for families with older children, tweens, and teens.