Need a little getaway from your daily routine, or maybe the perfect fall day trip? The Poconos is a fantastic spot for families that love spending time in the great outdoors. No matter the season, this beautiful spot in Northeastern PA has great options for outdoor fun, whether your family loves hiking, camping, or activities on the lake. Plus, there are fantastic spots for dining and shopping, and even several indoor water parks.

The Pocono Mountains span 2,400 square miles and spread into several counties, so you'll need to do some homework to plan the activities your family is most interested in. Here's a 2-day kid-friendly itinerary to get you started.

Check out our NJ Fall Day Trips Guide for more seasonal inspo, including our story on the best family-friendly hikes. 

While the Hudson Valley is a great family getaway destination year-round, it's especially gorgeous for family weekend trips in the fall. With the colorful foliage on full display, the weather is perfect for going apple picking, navigating corn mazes, taking scenic drives, and attending fall festivals.

There's so much to do in the Hudson Valley in the fall, it's hard to know where to start if you've never been. I've created an ideal two-day itinerary for a fall family getaway that takes advantage of the best that the Hudson Valley has to offer. Read on for my top picks for things to do during a seasonal family weekend trip.

Looking for more ideas for family-friendly getaways? Consider one of these 30 fall day trips from NYC, and find more ideas for fall travel in our Guide to Day Trips and Weekend Getaways.

You don't need to travel far from DC to enjoy the perfect fall weekend with kids. Loudoun County, Virginia—only about a one- to two-hour drive northwest of DC proper—truly comes alive in autumn with a huge variety of family-friendly farms and festivals, breweries and wineries, parks and playgrounds, and more. There is something for every family member to enjoy during what is arguably Northern Virginia's best-weather season.

Read ahead for the perfect fall-weekend itinerary that combines classic fall fun with Loudoun County's distinctive local flavor. Then check out our DC Fall Day Trips Guide for more autumn family fun, including our ultimate guide to fall festivals.

Nestled in the pine forests of the San Bernardino National Forest, just a few hours from Los Angeles, Big Bear is the perfect outdoor getaway. When Angelenos want to experience a real fall or take a winter escape to go snow tubing or skiing, Big Bear is the place to go. It's easily doable as a day trip, or you can extend the fun into an overnight trip. 

No matter the time of year, there’s an abundance of family-friendly activities and experiences to explore at Big Bear Lake and the surrounding alpine areas. Check out the best snow tubing near LA, and discover all the many things to do in Lake Arrowhead. Plan your family adventures with our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families. 

If watching a TV show is exciting for your kids, imagine how much more exciting it would be to be on location while the show is being filmed. One of the perks of being in New York City is that many shows are filmed right here. This means there are plenty of opportunities to be part of a live studio audience.

Whether you're a local or a visitor, here's where you can watch a TV taping in NYC. Our picks range from daytime talk to teen-friendly late-night shows, all taping in New York. Find more behind-the-scenes action with a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens.

Wandering through the 14th Street and Eighth Avenue train station in Manhattan, you can't help but spot the whimsical bronze statues scattered throughout the underground station. These charming little round-headed creatures are the creations of artist Tom Otterness, and they never fail to delight families who stumble upon them during their commute. Many New Yorkers are already aware of the existence of these sculptures, but what you might not know is the NYC subway isn't the only place where you can find Tom Otterness sculptures in the city.

So, whether you love Otterness' work or are just on the hunt to uncover a fun hidden gem in NYC, here's where else you can find Otterness' art with kids in tow.

Crafts are an amazing way for tweens and teens to unplug from screens, express their creativity, and even make thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

They’re perfect for fun, screen-free time with friends—and also make great activities for birthdays, sleepovers, or rainy days when you want something engaging and hands-on. I love seeing my own daughter get completely absorbed in a project, coming up with ideas I never would have thought of, and feeling proud of what she creates.

The best part? These crafts are actually cool, not “kiddy,” so kids will be excited to dive in and genuinely enjoy the process. On this list, you’ll find everything from trendy TikTok-inspired projects to hands-on art crafts that let them experiment, explore, and make something uniquely their own.

Try one of these projects this weekend and watch their creativity—and confidence—shine! For thousands more craft ideas for kids of all ages, check out our Crafts for Kids Guide. For your hard-to-please teens, we've also got a Teen & Tween Activities Guide, filled with ideas we've run by our kids to ensure they're teen-approved, not mom-lame.

While tennis has always been a popular sport in NYC, pickleball has been gaining in popularity. Many people are discovering that pickleball is a family-friendly activity and relatively easy to "pick up." If you're ready to dive into the action, check out the best places to play pickleball in NYC this season, plus some top picks for playing indoor tennis and other paddle sports with kids in NYC. We've even got an entire list of the best tennis classes in NYC for kids to give you even more options to hit the courts with kids.