From King Kong to Batman, New York City is one of the most famous settings for countless movies and TV shows. Filming is so ubiquitous here that locals can barely make it down the block without tripping over a production crew. Still, there's a thrill in seeing such iconic movie sites in person—and not just for kids.

Families looking for an off-beat, outdoor adventure can DIY their way to these big (and small) screen "sets" for FREE with our list of top NYC movie spots, or hop onto one of the many bus and walking tours to narrate your way through the city's most famous locations like a certain Ghostbusters' downtown firehouse and a Smurf landing in Central Park.

This post is sponsored by La Escuelita.

Thanks to shows like Dora the Explorer and Ni Hao Kai -lan, kids are being exposed to foreign languages at a younger age today. The preschool years are prime time for language building. In fact, the traditional model in the US of waiting to acquire a second language until the adolescent years is flawed—research has shown that children's ability to distinguish between new sounds and accurately replicate them diminishes dramatically after age 12. The key is immersing a child in the second language as early as possible. Whether Mom and Dad speak another language or not, a language immersion preschool can help a child to become fluent in another language, while also readying him or her for elementary school.

La Escuelita was founded in 2003 by two mothers, both educators, who wanted a quality bilingual English/Spanish education for their children. The school is one of the first dual-language preschools in NYC, providing support for early bilingualism via playgroups for little ones aged 12 months to 6 years, as well as a preschool for children ages 2 to 5, an immersion afterschool program for children in grades K-3 and an immersion summer program.

Ghouls, goblins and scary get-ups are all the rage this time of year. On the East End of Long Island, there are as many ways to celebrate Halloween as there are seeds in a pumpkin. From the North Fork to the South, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites just in time for the holiday. Here you’ll find haunted houses, spooky walks, parties and even trick-or-treating tips to keep your young ones in the spirit of the season.

And for more seasonal fun, check out our Long Island Halloween Guide.

If anyone in your household is planning on trick-or-treating in princess attire this Halloween season, we know something that will make their weekend even more exciting: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Broadway musical, is coming to Stamford. What could be more thrilling than watching the live stage show, then taking to the streets in a Belle dress and trick-or-treating with Be Our Guest still ringing in your ears?

Our sponsor The Palace Theater is not only hosting the only two Connecticut performances on this national tour, but also inviting families to attend the preshow festivities in costume and strike a pose on the red carpet. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, Beauty and the Beast features a spooky castle, a beast cursed by a witch’s spell and a colorful cast of characters—but with a happy ending the entire family will love.

For years, my husband and I have been saying that we need to get bikes.  So today, after a quick coffee stop (much needed) we drove to a nearby bike shop.  Now, the last time I got a new bike, the only decisions to be made were which color (blue or pink) and basket or no basket.  Well…things have changed!  Mountain bike, hybrid bike, street bike, racing bike, suspension, no suspension, road tires – my head is still swimming.  Somehow me managed to leave with two bikes ordered, ready for pick up in a mere 7 days.  So tonight I’m looking into bike trails that the five of us can tackle together before the cold weather sets in.  Listed are some nice places in Fairfield County. Hope to see you out there…I’ll be the one on the pink bike with the basket, no bell.

This week kicks off with Columbus Day; a day off from school, meaning an extra day to entertain the little ones. Just Bead Yourself offers all kinds of creative workshops on Monday, such as Pinkalicious Reading & Beading and Afternoon Tea with My Doll & Me, or take a Rockin’ Rocket Ride on Monday at RVCC’s planetarium. There are plenty of opportunities for preschoolers to burn some energy this week, including skating at Tyke’s Tuesday and Kidz Village’s Paint Your Own Pumpkin And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

Most families are enjoying a day off on Monday, so spend Columbus Day in costume in Cold Spring Harbor. Then it's time to focus on Halloween, with everything from pumpkin painting to rocking with ghouls and goblins this week to entertain the kids.

For even more fall fun, check out our Long Island Events Calendar, as well as our Halloween Guide. In fact, you can get the best events of the week sent directly to your inbox each week if you sign up for our newsletter.

Raising bilingual and bicultural children can be quite a challenge, so it's wonderful to see all kinds of events cropping up to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. From a celebration with Mariana Iranzi (pictured) to a Spanish story time to an event with La Piñata, there are plenty of activities to immerse kids in the Spanish language and culture this whole week. There are also some other great activities to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather we've been having, including a fun hike for parents and babies. Be sure to keep an eye on the full Event Calendar for more happenings all month!