Pre-Thanksgiving travel is like the calm before the hectic holiday travel storm.  If you can manage to get away just before or just after Turkey Day, you won’t find big crowds and you will find deals.  East Coast residents can enjoy discounts at rustic Shenandoah National Park, off-the-grid Maine Huts &Trails, the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, urban-cool New Haven and Woodloch Resort in the Poconos. Out west, consider a trip to Los Angeles, Death Valley or Phoenix. There are warm weather deals in Florida and at Atlantis in the Bahamas.
True travel mavens are gearing up for Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, when the Internet is flooded with hotel and airline bargains.  These deals are usually announced at the very last minute, so you won’t get much advance notice. In recent years, hotel chains like Starwood, Sheraton, Embassy Suites and Marriott have offered consumers deep one-day-only discounts. All-inclusive family resorts like Beaches and Club Med have also offered bargains, so keep these chains in mind if you’re looking to score a Cyber Monday vacation deal.

This weekend brings two of our top family event picks of the month and they're both FREE: the awesome annual Canstruction display at Brookfield Place and the first-ever New York Festival of Light in Dumbo. The FREE fun continues with a no-cost concert by kids' crooner Elizabeth Mitchell at Carnegie Hall, a gratis production of Pinkalicious at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and FREE family flicks at MoMA.

Looking ahead, if you're already in the Turkey Day planning phase, our Thanksgiving Fun Guide is up, and we'll be adding more posts over the next few weeks.

All of our best bets for this weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar.

As a fall chill fills the air, kids will start turning indoors for fun and games. Let them loose at these new play spaces for indoor enrichment, classes, open play and more. With art, music, sports, dance and other offerings, there's a boredom busting activity that's just right for both your little and big kids.

And for more ideas on indoor fun on Long Island, check out our Inside Activity Guide.

Feel that chill in the air? November is here in full force, and there are plenty of activities to keep busy on this post-Halloween, pre-holiday weekend. Get a sneak preview of the holiday season with Santa's Arrival at the Quakerbridge Mall. And don’t forget your shopping list when you stop by the Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique. Speaking of castles, catch a performance of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The Pax Amicus Castle Theatre. Treat the little princesses in your life to a day of beauty and fun at the Day Out for a Queen and Her Princess. And the whole family will want to load up on delicious food and fun at St. Anthony’s Orthodox Church International Festival. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

While we make it a point to encourage our readers to buy local whenever possible, we realize that doing holiday shopping online helps you avoid crowds and stress-while staying in your PJs. In addition to offering cool incentives like discounts and free shipping, many online retailers also give back to those in need during the holiday season by donating a portion of their proceeds to various charities. The opportunities to "shop for a cause" at this time of year are almost limitless, so we've highlighted nine favorites we think are particularly great for families. So go ahead and spoil the ones you love and feel good about it!

If you’re looking for a New Jersey town full of history, natural beauty and family-friendly fun, look no further than Monmouth County’s Matawan, my own hometown. Take a stroll down Main Street in Matawan and discover landscape and architecture of 19th century New Jersey, alongside contemporary shops and restaurants. History buffs may associate Matawan Creek as the site of a 1916 vicious shark attack- subject of several documentaries, and, legend has it, an inspiration for Jaws. Over 30 years ago, a portion of Matawan became Aberdeen Township, and the neighboring towns share a zip code, school system and a sense of community.

Today, Matawan and Aberdeen boast a taste of the past plus modern restaurants and stores. The area’s natural beauty is evident in its lakes, parks and beaches. Its proximity to both New York City and the Jersey Shore make for an ideal day trip. So hop on Jersey Transit, or the Parkway, and visit Matawan and Aberdeen. And if you’re traveling to Monmouth County, check out our Great Small Town post on Red Bank.

We wrap up our month-long coverage of Nyack with a look at indoor places for kids to play and learn in the area.  We've already featured the top 25 things to do and taken a closer look at Palisades Center. Now we turn the spotlight to where to learn and play indoors.

Nyack offers so many fun-filled indoor experiences for kids and families, the onset of cooler weather and subsequent detour from parks and playgrounds is a bit easier to take. Read on for our picks of the best indoor places to play in Nyack. 

Thanksgiving is about being grateful for all of life's blessings. But let's be honest: It's also about eating delicious food, too. If you'd rather spend your holiday spending time with your friends and family instead of slaving over a hot stove in the kitchen, you might want to consider pre-ordering dinner from one of these Long Island's restaurants. You can pre-order not just your turkey, but all the trimmings and desserts as well. Then all you have to do is set the table and enjoy. And be sure to check out our roundup of 2016 Long Island Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving. Be sure to contact the restaurants listed below, as menu options may change without notice.