September means summer is in the rearview, and thoughts turn to school, apple picking, colorful leaves, and more fall fun.

One of my favorite ways to pick something new and fun to do on any given day is to celebrate a holiday! There are national days and holidays just about every day of the year, and it can be fun to take inspiration from them to plan an outing, craft, activity, treat, or game in honor of a silly holiday. September is home to National Playdough Day (below we've got an easy recipe to make your own) and Friday the 13th (read on for 13 ways to celebrate!), and so much more.

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. And if you're planning a fall getaway, check our travel guides to our favorite gorgeous fall family destinations in our travel guides to New England, the Poconos, and Maine.

The Houston Zoo's latest exhibit opens on Friday.

If you've got a child in public school, you live by the public school calendar. Many local NYC preschools follow the NYC public school schedule, too. We're just over a week away from the first day of school in NYC, so we're re-sharing the New York City Department of Education's calendar for the 2024-2025 school year below. You'll want to bookmark it now for reference, and keep it handy to help with planning family vacations and school break camp coverage.

Once again, there will be no snow days. Plan on logging your kiddos on for a day of remote learning whenever buildings are closed for snow or other emergencies.

These are all of the dates you can count on your kiddos being out of school during the 2024-2025 school year.

Houston, we have a new indoor waterpark! Yes, Great Wolf Lodge–the oh-so-popular year-round family destination–just opened a brand new location 35 minutes southeast of Houston in Webster, Texas. The expansive resort has toddler play pools, high-thrill water slides for teens, and lots of other fun activities under one roof, making it an easy vacation spot the whole family can enjoy.

My kids and I had been counting the days until Great Wolf Lodge Houston’s grand opening, so I was thrilled to be one of the first families to book an overnight stay and experience all the fun. Read on for my first hand review of the attractions and amenities, plus helpful tips for planning your trip and ways to save.

Feast & Fettle is a fully-prepared meal delivery service that’s all about bringing fresh locally-prepared dishes made with real ingredients to families across the Westchester area and beyond.

If you've ever tried a meal delivery service, you may have found that the convenience it promises often falls short for families and the quality of the prepared dishes rarely measures up to a homemade meal. Feast & Fettle understands what parents actually need and has created a service that personally-delivers fresh meals made entirely from real ingredients to homes across Westchester, New Jersey, and New England–never frozen and never shipped. There’s no subscription required, you can customize your menu to fit various diets and appetites, and there are always options for kids.

Our family tried it out and, after a week of Feast & Fettle meal delivery service, I’m happy to say the locally-prepared entrees and side dishes did not disappoint. Plus, the easy-to-use service earned me and my husband back time in the day that we really didn’t think existed between our busy schedules and having two young kids.

Read on to learn more about what made Feast & Fettle stand out and get a FREE one-year membership when you place your first order.

Find the best places for apple picking (and more) near Boston!

It's the season for apple picking (and more family fun) throughout Connecticut.

As late August and September arrive, so do thoughts of apple picking near DC. This favorite fall tradition is a must for families, and it often goes far beyond plucking ripe apples from a tree. Many of these Virginia and Maryland apple orchards host fall activities of all kinds, like hayrides, petting zoos, and playgrounds.

All of the apple orchards and farms listed below are within easy driving distance of DC. A few of them even made our lists of the best pumpkin patches near DC and fun fall festivals near DC. Remember that farm conditions and produce availability change throughout the season, so call or check the farms' websites before you visit.

Read on for our list of 14 great places to go apple picking near DC. Then check out our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families for even more great autumn activities.