Planning a birthday party for your kid can be tough, no matter how easy-going your little one might be. Beyond balloons and party favors, there's the question of where to have the shindig (unless you have a large home you're willing to clean extensively before and after). The location has to be family-friendly, fun—and has to serve food your kids (and a lot of other kids) will eat. A restaurant is a good pick, but which one will let you bring in a horde of hungry, bouncy kids? We've found six that serve up lunch and a side order of playtime so you can relax (or, more likely take lots of photos) while the kids run off all that great food you didn't prepare.

The world's largest bounce house is coming back to Houston in October, and tickets are on sale now! Last year's event sold out, so you'll want to secure your tickets now so you can see what new and exciting bounce houses and activities the event has in store for 2018.

The Big Bounce America makes its third stop in Texas Oct. 26-28, 2018 in Houston at Houston Sportsplex. Tickets range from $12-$17 depending on how long you're looking to jump and play.

This October, your little one can get spooky with LEGO ghosts and ghouls and skeletons and more at the second annual Brick-or-Treat celebration at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes (making yet another great space for you to get extra mileage out if it!) as they participate in frightening family fun every Saturday (10:00AM-7:30PM) and Sunday (10:00AM-6:00PM) through October 28. We got a chance to check it out along with my LEGO-loving little one. Here's what you can expect!

Want to check out some more Halloween fun in the Philly area? We've got your covered with our Ultimate Guide to Halloween Events.

When you're a parent, the new year pretty much starts in September. Summer's over, school's back in session, and we're all getting back into our regular routines—or at least trying to, right? If you're one of the many moms and dads still attempting to fill up your kiddo's fall calendar or maybe even make some mid-year resolutions of your own, the YMCA of Greater New York just might be your new best friend.

If you've never stopped by your local YMCA, you may be surprised by just how much you're missing. Lucky for you, all locations are hosting open houses on Saturday, October 6, 2018 from 11:00am to 3:00pm, so you can take a look at all of the programs and amenities available at each location. And in addition to waiving their joiner's fee from now until October 8, 2018, we've got plenty more reasons a YMCA membership will be a total family game-changer this fall.

"Trick-or-treat!" Kids of all ages love reciting those magic words in exchange for bags filled with goodies. Walking through the streets and knocking on strangers’ doors late in the evening, however, may not be the best option for toddlers and preschoolers. Luckily, New Jersey offers plenty of opportunities for safe trick-or-treating in controlled environments. From pumpkin farms to amusement parks to community events, you can experience the fun of trick-or-treating without worry at these structured, family-friendly outings.

Read on for 20 fun ways to celebrate the holiday with little ones, and find even more Halloween happenings in our Event Calendar and Halloween Guide.

What's the one way to make a costume-and-candy-filled Halloween celebration even sweeter? Make it FREE. In New York City there are so many no-cost Halloween celebrations, we've decided to give parents a real treat: a roundup of FREE Halloween events for kids in all five boroughs, including big annual family favorites like Fort Greene's BAMboo! block party, the Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Flotilla in Central Park, and more.

So bring your trick-or-treat bags, but leave your wallets at home for these gratis happenings, and then check out our Halloween Fun Guide for details on the best costume parades, trick-or-treat spots, and other seasonal activities.

It only takes one minute in the Music City to see it's truly alive, from the constant pulse of live music in almost every public space and eatery to the rich history and beautiful landmarks. One thing is for sure, your family will never be bored. There is something for every kid, from the train enthusiast to the science lover to the outdoor adventurer.

And for more guides on visiting cities around the world with kids, check out our Mommy Poppins Family City Guide.

What's your favorite thing to do in the autumn? Halloween costume parades? Trunk-or-treats? Autumn themed-library events? Hiking? This month has it all, both fun things to do indoors as well as outdoors. Also, take a moment and look at our creative and unique list of 50 Things to do This Fall in Connecticut.