Hiking with the Family in Hartford County, CT

Getting out into nature serves us all well. Going out on a family hike is a wonderful thing to do with the kids. Most of the hikes listed are easy enough that even your little ones can join in. Get your sneakers on, head outdoors and enjoy some of New England’s beautiful foliage along the trails in Hartford County. And for a change of pace, check out some of these family friendly hikes in Fairfield County.

Take Your Little Devils to NJ Devils Kids Day (Giveaway)

My family goes crazy for sports. We love baseball and Sundays are definitely reserved for rooting on our favorite NFL teams, but our recent  afternoon to see the New Jersey Devils was our first taste of the action-packed family-friendly entertainment of a hockey game. The fun afternoon has me confident we'll be heading back again soon. And you should too. In fact, we're giving away a family four pack to the upcoming NJ Devils Kids Day on March 19th. Read on to hear more about my family's newest sports passion and how you can enter to win. 

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Please Bring Balloons: A Show Full of Magic and Imagination

Kids are transported immediately upon entering the theater for a showing of Please Bring Balloons, a toddler-friendly production by New York City Children’s Theater.

Whimsical animal cutouts hang from the ceiling: a tiger, a horse, a zebra. The floor is covered in turf, evoking the grass of the park you’re entering. Carousel music and bird noises play in the background. Kids are invited to sit on a shared blanket on the floor, essentially putting them onstage and making them part of the play. An affable carousel operator, played by Brandon Schraml, comes around, crouching in front of kids to take their "tickets" to the merry-go-round, asking them questions and generally getting them relaxed.

Aimed at kids ages 2-5, Please Bring Balloons is one of our top picks for children's theater in NYC this winter, and among the best events for preschoolers this season.

Library Storytimes for Babies & Toddlers Inside the Loop

Houston's local libraries are an amazing resource for parents not only because of the huge variety of books (including audio books and e-books for both kids and adults) but also because the libraries offer free classes, events, programs, and clubs for members of all ages. From homework help to book clubs to computer classes to toddler and baby yoga, there are so many opportunities to utilize local libraries.

Rock n Roll Classes: Where Westchester Kids can Unleash Inner Jaggers & Joplins

So your child wants to a be a rock n roll star? Then listen now to what we say ...

In response to a growing demand, several music schools here in Westchester have either added rock to their repertoire or opened to exclusively teach the sound to a new generation of aspiring artists. The schools differ in their approaches but all offer both group and individual instruction. Some also encourage public performing or offer opportunities for recording.

Read on to learn about places in our area that offer rock lessons for budding musicians with either amateur or serious aspirations. Looking for more classes in Westchester? Consult our Classes Guide and sign up for our newsletters

Love That Dog: A Poignant Comedy About Finding Your Voice

New York City Children's Theater's latest production for school-age kids, Love That Dog, is a one-actor play that manages to be both entertaining and poignant. Jack is a 10-year-old boy whose class is learning about poetry in school. He's not thrilled, to say the least, but as he listens to and writes poems he becomes caught up in the magic of words, eventually sharing his story with the audience.

It's one of our top picks for children's theater this winter in NYC. Find out why.

Where to get Fasnachts, King Cakes, Paczki, and Donuts for Mardi Gras in Philadelphia

Whether you call it Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday, one thing is clear- the best way to celebrate is with some delicious sweet treats! The King Cake is a Mardi Gras tradition where a plastic baby is baked right inside the cake! Whomever receives the lucky slice, gets to host the next party (or at least get next year's King Cake). The Pennsylvania Dutch celebrate Fasnacht Day by getting rid of all the fat in the house before Lent, which means yummy donuts (and the tradition states that if you don't eat one, you won't have a very good year). Paczkis are the Polish version of the pre-Lent donut. No matter what you call it, we've found all the best places around town to grab your special treat.

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