Orange County is home to plenty of family-friendly attractions (including the country's biggest theme park haunt) so it should come as no surprise that California's third biggest county is also one of the hottest spots for trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Tons of planned communities with homes a short stroll from one other give kids ample opportunity to satisfy a sweet tooth, in a climate that doesn't require covering up cool costumes with coats. The OC is also one of the wealthiest counties in the country, which translates into bigger candy bars, more elaborate decorations, and no-holds-barred block parties.

We scoured the county to come up with a list of the top OC spots to take your ghouls and goblins trick-or-treating this Halloween. If you're visiting one of these generous neighborhoods, please show your appreciation by being extra considerate about candy wrappers and other litter on the ground. And wherever you head on Halloween night, carry lights and watch out for traffic.

Torn between a nanny, daycare, or staying home with your kids? Choosing childcare can be a difficult—and deeply personal—decision for any family, and of course involves a number of factors, from costs to the length of your commute. A new study out of France suggests that daycare might offer some significant advantages in terms of our kids' development.

Researchers at Sorbonne Université in Paris followed nearly 1,500 kids from the womb to age 8 as they either attended a center-based daycare or were cared for by a nanny or family member. The daycare kids, particularly those who attended at least a year before the age of three, were less likely to have problems with peers and other emotional and behavioral issues, according to the researchers.

Do you live in a part of Fairfield County where the roads are windy and you don't have any sidewalks or streetlights? There is a simpler and safer alternative to trick-or-treating called Trunk-or-Treat. Haven't heard of it? It's like a Halloween tailgate, where families gather in a church or community parking lot and children trick-or-treat from car to decorated car. These popular events confine the confections to a safe, central spot and many of them aim to keep the mayhem to a minimum. Trunk-or-Treats tend to start early, so you don't have to deal with any spooky meltdowns in the dark. Better yet, these events usually add more fun to the mix with food, activities, games, and even campfires. In our round up, we've included Trunk-or-Treat events as well as similarly structured events that provide a centralized trick-or-treating experience.

It's official: October 22nd through the 26th is Massachusetts' first annual statewide STEM week, and we couldn't be more excited! Schools will be planning fun activities, events, and lessons focused on science, technology, engineering and math (a.k.a. STEM). But can your kiddos ever get too much STEM-ulation? We didn't think so. From robots to outer space, we've rounded up 10 extracurricular activities sure to get your kids psyched about science. 

If you thought vacations in ghost towns were only for sitcom families, think again! Just a short drive from LA is the Calico Ghost Town, an old mining town that boomed in the 1880s but was abandoned not long after. Walter Knott, of Knott's Berry Farm fame, restored the town in the 1950s into a Wild West locale perfect for a family vacation. And while Calico may or may not have actual haunted houses, it can be a wonderful Halloween month outing all the same.

Halloween seems to get bigger and better every year--and I'm not just talking about the size of the candy bars. Back in the day, we were happy just to trick or treat in our neighborhood, but these days, you can start celebrating at the beginning of October and continue celebrating all month long! Even if you don't live for Halloween, we've got a lot of great ideas for ways to get out there and enjoy (both spooky and non-spooky) in our Connecticut Halloween and Fall Fun Guide.

Here in Fairfield County we have a huge variety of activities and events from Halloween parades to hayrides to pumpkin patches and more. We've collected some of our favorite Halloween happenings here, but don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters and keep tabs on our event calendar so that you won't miss any Halloween fun!

The Garden State's many wonderful farms are perfect spots for a family-friendly outing any time of year. But a few special farmsteads offer visitors the unique opportunity to experience farm life just as it existed many years ago. These living history farms give visitors the chance to try their hand at chores like bottle-feeding lambs, gathering honey, and harvesting ice. If you're looking for a fun, educational experience for the entire family, hands-on historical farms are a great choice.

For even more outdoor family fun, check out these New Jersey farms and historic villages. 

Celebrating a child's birthday can be an emotional one for parents. After all, each birthday celebrates one more step towards growing up. Before you know it, your kiddo is 18! Wait, didn't I just bring this baby home from the hospital?  With only 18 birthdays before being considered an adult, there are certain experiences in and around the Delaware Valley every Philly kid should have. This way, when they fly from the nest, they can say, "Yeah, I've done that. I'm from Philadelphia."

Our picks are listed in no particular order. However some clearly are geared toward a younger set while others have a broader appeal to kids of varying ages. Read on to see how many of our 18 must dos your child has visited.