New Jersey is known for its bountiful farmland, and the pick-your-own farms dotting the state offer opportunities for many hours of family fun. These New Jersey farms are overflowing with acres of beautiful flowers, including camera-ready zinnia and lavender fields.

Sunflower fields in New Jersey offer a particular treat for fans of the long-stemmed plants during its long growing season, which typically lasts from mid-July through October. In the fall, some farms host sunflower mazes, sunflower trails, and even sunflower festivals. Read on for everything you need to know about spending a day of flower-picking in New Jersey and bringing home a fragrant assortment of blooms. 

If your family also gets excited about picking your own produce, check out our Pick Your Own Guide to Farms in New Jersey, which includes our stories on picking strawberries in late spring, peaches in the summertime, and apples in the fall. 

Flower farms in the tri-state area offer families pick-your-own flower fun and interactive outdoor activities. Nature-loving kids enjoy a blossom-filled adventure to one of these you-pick flower farms near NYC. Pick-your-own farms are no longer limited to berries, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. Many of these local flower farms allow visitors to stroll, skip, and explore fields full of beautiful blooms for photo-ops and to pick everything from tulips in the spring to wildflowers and sunflowers in summer.

From pony rides and playgrounds to mini golf and food trucks, many of the farms are packed with family-friendly action for a full day of fun. Read ahead for our top flower farms to visit this spring and summer. For even more family-friendly farm fun check out our Guide to Farms and U-Pick destinations.

Riding off into the sunset is about as Hollywood as you can get. Yet, many of us city-slickers have never even hopped on a horse! The hills of Los Angeles are the perfect place to hit the trail, and I've rounded up (pun intended) the best horseback riding in the LA area for families.

As a longtime equestrian, I can attest that these options provide a memorable experience that doesn't require alot of horse sense. Stable staff only select their most docile mounts for the trail rides, use western tack, and ensure horses keep a slow and steady pace. Some of these spots even provide pony rides around the ranch for the littlest cowpokes that may not be up for a trail ride just yet. 

Horseback riding is among the best things to do in Hollywood with kids. For more horseback riding experiences, check out summer horse riding camps in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

One of the best things about living in the Bay Area is that it feels like spring all year long! Across the region, there are countless fun, engaging, and seasonal activities for kids of all ages. Spring in the Bay Area is our family’s favorite time of the year because the days are longer, so there is more time to explore the parks, gardens, and hiking trails.

The Florida Keys and Key West region of Florida are the perfect family vacation spot to get that tropical-island feel without leaving the US. The islands of the Florida Keys are known for their relaxed vibe, watercolor sunsets, and endless family-friendly water activities. Florida Keys hotels and resorts don't skimp on all that island charm, either.

We've put together a list of 20 Florida Keys hotels and resorts that we think are just right for families in the Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and the Lower Keys/Key West. Each offers an array of amenities, including luxurious swimming pools, water sports, parasailing, bike rentals, and much more. Some of these resorts have private beaches, and one even offers dolphin encounters in its own private lagoon.

Be sure to read our list of the top 30 things to do in the Florida Keys with Kids to help plan your getaway. And, our Florida Family Vacation Guide has even more fun places to visit all over the Sunshine State.