The tulips are bursting in jewel tones and the birds are singing their little ditties, so any excuse to get the family out of the house is good, good, good! We've rounded up some lovely (and mostly FREE) festivals in Fairfield County, everything from sheep shearing and hayrides, to crafts and trucks! Want even more seasonal fun? Check out our list of things to do in Litchfield County this spring.

With its wonderful schools, diverse housing market, and myriad things to see and experience (not to mention its proximity to NYC), Westchester County is understandably one of the most desirable places to live in the entire country. So it's a given that it's also an incredible place to raise (or be) a kid!

Whether you’ve lived here all your life, moved here after realizing that 2.5 kids and a dog in a one-bedroom apartment wasn’t your idea of bliss, or stumbled upon our corner of suburbia completely by accident, welcome! Here are 25 reasons why you'll never want to leave.

Your child's birthday is coming up and your house is a mess—totally unsuitable for hosting a bunch of little bodies. But your kid wants the coolest party ever. So what do you do? Read this post, of course! We’ve found some great kids' party places in the Hartford area that are original and offbeat, ensuring an awesome birthday experience that doesn't involve you cleaning your house. You can find even more birthday bash options in our Party Guide, including roundups of museum, spa, and artsy party packages all over Connecticut.

Back in the day, many of our parents used the image of orphans in other countries as a reason for us to eat what was on our plates. Where I grew up, the “starving children in Africa” were held up as the ones who would better appreciate my peas, while here in SoCal many kids heard about the orphans in Mexico. The big difference is that I lived pretty far away from Africa; Los Angeles kids can actually meet the less fortunate kids in Mexico, sometimes via charitable trips across the border to bring supplies, donations, and general good will.

Like anything well intentioned, this charitable family activity sometimes draws mixed reactions in the community; I've spoken to parents who are skeptical of how much good these trips actually do. I recently took my son on a day trip with the organization Corazon de Vida, and I found it to be a remarkable opportunity to introduce kids to the concept of helping others whose needs are greater than our own. My son saw boys his age leading a very different life from his, and by the time we left, some of the kids he'd been playing soccer with had the means to fulfill their dreams of joining a local soccer team.

The number of families settling down in Peekskill has exploded over the past decade, and so have the plethora of places for kids to play and learn. In previous posts, we explored things to do in Peekskill and the best places to dine with kids in the area. Now we wrap up our coverage of Peekskill with a roundup of the best places in town to have fun and pick up new skills.

Peekskill has lots of enriching indoor destinations for families, including a contemporary art center, hands-on creative spaces and theater programs. Meanwhile, outside you'll find lush parks with water features and other alfresco fun. Read on for details on awesome places for kids to learn and play in Peekskill—be it on the jungle gym or on the stage.

Life in Connecticut is challenging... especially in 2015, when there are so many trails and so little time. Say what? You haven’t started The Sky’s the Limit hiking competition yet? Designed to encourage exploration of our state’s natural wonders (all free!) while spending time together, this outdoor recreation campaign launched in January. Thus far, my family has visited seven state parks and we have three more to go before becoming eligible for a shiny medallion. With spring in full swing, it's time for your family to sign on. May the winner take all!