Ahh! The delicious agony of having to research the best ice cream shops in Fairfield County! And what a wonderful way to enjoy these hot summer days. Why not take time out for a quick trip to an ice cream shop that’s more like a mini-vacation?

Of course, we all have our personal favorite ice cream shops from when we were kids. If we still live in the general vicinity, we may find ourselves being mysteriously drawn back to our ice cream memories. But how fun it is to find a new ice cream parlor we’ve never tried before on a Sunday afternoon as we explore neighboring towns! Here are a few places that you can just happen to pass by during your summer meandering. And if you happen to be in Farmington Valley,  New Haven County or New London County, we've done roundups there, too!

Connecticut offers its share of shoreline fun in the sun and we list loads of beaches in our CT Beach & Water Fun Guide, but one of our family favorites, Ocean Beach Park is tucked away in the southeastern corner of the state, in New London, and has something for everyone!  For more beachy summer fun check out our CT Summer Fun Guide.

For more than a century, carousels have added magic to childhood and nostalgia to our adult years. Racing for the most bedazzled horse or the one with the fanciest saddle is a right of passage since many children are naturally drawn to the whimsical figurines, whether they sparkle and shine, stand stoic in the breeze, or gracefully glide up and down to the sounds of carnival music. Being immersed in countless lights and bright colors, while the sense of flight is perpetrated by the circular motion, makes it seem like one is living in a musical water globe, if only for a few moments. Carousel rides are synonymous with summer breezes, but many can be enjoyed year-round. Below are 11 recommendations for where to catch a carousel ride in Connecticut...or close to the state border.

Few events herald spring for our family quite like Philipsburg Manor’s Sheep-to-Shawl festival. We included this event in our AprilGo List—our top picks for events happening all month long—and Sheep-to-Shawl definitely delivers.

Part of the Historic Hudson Valley network, based largely in Westchester County’s charming Rivertowns, Philipsburg Manor is a working historic farm that dates back all the way back to the 1690s. Each year, just as us humans are getting ready to shed our winter coats in favor of spring jackets, so too are the sheep getting ready to shed their winter wool, and that is where the festival begins. Read on for all the details on this weekend-long event, including what to expect and what not to miss!

Looking for more ways to ring in spring? Check out our Spring Activity Guide and sign up for our newsletters!

Brunch is the classic way to celebrate moms on Mother's Day. The city has so many Mother's Day brunches to choose from, and they often fill up so fast, it can be overwhelming to find a place that will be fun for both mom and kids. There are plenty of spring activities to do with the family, but brunch at one of these great places will leave mom happy, but still be plenty of fun for the little ones. However you decide to spend Mom's special day, purchase tickets or make reservations in advance, because many of these events sell out well before Mother's Day weekend rolls around.

If you're looking for something to do after brunch, check out our event calendar for more great ways to celebrate mom.

When it comes to birthday parties, my daughter might want to dream big. However, the reality is our living space is quite small.  

Fortunately for her, she has a mom who loves to host creative parties; who likes the challenge of figuring out how to make small spaces work no matter what idea she comes up with. These five themes are big on imagination, even if you are short on space. Most of these activities can take place in one room and be personalized to appeal to boys and girls of a variety of ages. 

Find more tips on hosting a kid's birthday party in a small city apartment, from keeping the favors simple to curating the guest list.

The Whaling Museum & Education Center in Cold Spring Harbor is another family-friendly museum that lets Long Island kids have fun and learn at the same time. Kids are engaged in the museum's interactive exhibits—from taking a whiff of cooked whale blubber to climbing into a bunk bed and experiencing a whaling ship’s tight living quarters—as they explore Long Island’s rich maritime history.

Kids have boundless energy and idealist hearts, which makes them perfect volunteers. But it can be tricky to find giving opportunities open to the whole family. As any parent who’s tried to vacuum or bake cookies in the presence of a young child knows, little kids really, really want to help out, but making sure their efforts aren't counterproductive requires masterful delegation—or even creation—of tasks they can handle independently. Not surprisingly, many volunteer organizations limit involvement to kids who are in their pre-teens or older. Boston, luckily, is home to several organizations and activities designed with families and young kids in mind. If the community spirit of the marathon and Earth Day has you and your kids feeling inspired, read on for ways to give back.