What’s one of the best parts of apple picking in the Lower Hudson Valley? Apple cider doughnuts. Whether you like them cakey or fluffy, sugary or plain, we dare you to find a better seasonal treat than a warm cider doughnut directly out of the fryer. We’re not sure there’s such a thing as a bad cider doughnut, but we’ve selected some of our extra-special favorites in the area. Be sure to check out our choices for the best places for fruit picking in Westchester and in Orange and Dutchess, as well as our Fall Festival Guide!

The Staten Island Museum recently opened a second location, adding to its existing space in St. George, and it's just minutes from the Staten Island Ferry terminal, making it a great destination for NYC families from other boroughs.

The new museum nestled in the island's beautiful Snug Harbor Cultural Center isn't a kids' museum per se, but we found plenty there to engage the four boys, ranging in age from 3 to 14, who tagged along with mom. Plus, kids under 12 are admitted for FREE!

Pumpkins, painting, and um, poop, are some of the highlights of this first-full-week-of-October's activities. Have pumpkin-filled fun at South Jersey Pumpkin Show and Read & Pick: Pumpkins. Kids can paint their own masterpieces at Be Craftful’s Kids Only Paint Party. Plus, young scientists will learn all about forest creatures at Pyramid Mountain’s The Scoop on Poop. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

There are all sorts of things you can do with this first week in October, and surprisingly it's not all about Halloween. If you're on your first kid, the subject of preschool likely looms large. Westsiders will want to attend Monday’s Preschool Admissions Panel where representatives of six local preschools will discuss their individual programs and philosophies. If you attended the Preschool 101 workshop, this is a great follow up. If you didn’t make it, more are scheduled later in the month.

As always, the first week of a month means lots of free admissions and two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) of LEGO giveaways. The Natural History Museum, Kidspace in Pasadena, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and Orange County Museum of Art all offer free admission days this week. Of course my new favorite museum, The Broad, is always free; but it might be best to wait for the crowds to die down before attempting that hot spot with kids.

We often praise the El Capitan Theatre which never disappoints. This week they begin a trilogy of Halloween themed movies starting with Hocus Pocus.

And yes, it is October, and Halloween will be here before you know it. Be sure to check out our Halloween Fun Guide and Daily Events Calendar.

You probably already know that my family and I are huge fans of the Harvard Museums. If you've never checked out the Harvard Art Museums, this week's free day is the perfect excuse to pay a visit. This is also a great week to plan out family activities for the month of October,which offers some of the best events of the season. With choice fall and Halloween events running all month long, you can beat the rush by hitting activities like the Octoberfest Kids' Trail (pictured) early on. Keep an eye on ourfull events calendar for more spooky happenings all month!

This first week in October brings the official start of pumpkin picking, as well as celebrating Columbus Day. There are also a few events where kids can express their creativity. For even more fall fun, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar. And be sure to also take a look at our Halloween Guide--many places on LI are already celebrating the holiday! In fact, you can get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

There's something about the fall season that makes us antsy for a day trip out of the city with the kids to enjoy the changing leaves with a hike in cooler temps or just to explore a new museum a bit further afield, hot chocolate in hand for the ride. Maybe it's knowing that in just a short couple of holiday-fueled months, New York City will once again be plunged into a frozen tundra of black-crusted snow.

So whether you're looking for a road trip that's less than an hour away or a kid-friendly weekend overnight, we have 39 super fun destination ideas, including fall hikes in nearby Westchester, places to see wild animals (and dinosaurs) and sea creatures in Connecticut and New Jersey, and New York lighthouses, historic homes, foodie hot spots and seasonal fun like hayrides and pumpkin picking.

For more NYC getaway inspiration, read through our Day Trip Guide or visit the Mommy Poppins Travel site.

With the recent weather dampening some of the fun events this past weekend, it’s time to look forward to the fun that lies ahead mid-week for Westchester families.

Our top picks for this week are a motley mix of events—most of which are FREE and not dependent on the weather!--including Mariachi Fiesta and Gargoyle Masks. Before the weather turns too cold, it’s time to soak up one of the final carnivals of the season at the grand Eastchester Columbus Day Carnival.

Read on to learn more about these and other options in store for the week, then turn to our Event Calendar and October GoList for many more to choose from!