Recently my eight-year old daughter was invited to a laser tag party. I was admittedly apprehensive at first -- my little girl, battling with lasers? But she wanted to try it and I’m glad we gave it a shot. If you aren’t aware of how it works, the kids wear packs on their bodies that track if they are struck by a laser beam shot by another kid. Most places have obstacles to hide behind as well as for sneaking up on opponents. Kids work in teams so that they are not alone. Different places have varying themes and special effects. If your child likes high adventure and is looking for a thrill, check out the following places in the Hartford and New Haven areas for his or her next birthday party. For more birthday party ideas, check out our Connecticut Kids' Birthday Party Guide. 

Fall is officially here and you can savor the first weekend of the season with some awesome fresh-air activities: get a head start picking out an orange beauty during Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival, sample local eats and let the kids get their faces painted at Hoboken’s annual Fall Arts & Music Festival or test your outdoor knowledge during The Great Nature Quest at Echo Hill Park. And if you need a few more ways to keep the kiddos entertained, check out Open Cockpit Weekend at the Aviation Museum, Insect Insanity at Cora Hartshorn Arboretum or Batman Day Storytime at Watchung Booksellers. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar .

There's nothing like fall in New England. The crisp air ushers in many time-honored traditions -- foliage hikes, apple picking, hay rides to pumpkin patches, and the start of the fall fair and festival season. Connecticut offers some of the best fairs in New England, filled with family fun and activities. Nothing is better than fried dough, midway games, rides, kettle corn, and the sweet stickiness of caramel apples and apple cider. Check out the options below along with our Halloween and Fall Fun Guide; with the variety of fairs offered in greater Hartford, there is something for everyone! 

My daughter, like many other little girls, loves to dress up and pretend to be a Princess. This is probably just the start of many years to come of her wanting to get pampered. Really, what woman doesn't enjoy a day at the spa?! As she gets older I envision many special mom and daughter day trips to the salon getting our nails done together. For the little girl, adolescent or even teen who enjoys getting all dolled up, a spa party with her friends would be a perfect way to celebrate a birthday. There are some great selections in the Hartford County area that cater to just that kind of party! If a spa party in Fairfield County might be more convenient for you we've covered some options there as well. For even more great party ideas check out our Party Guide.

Apples and pumpkins aren't the only things ripe for the tasting on Long Island this fall harvest season. The bucolic North Fork is home to many family-friendly wineries that make for great day trips. Adults can indulge in a variety of fine vintages, while children picnic and frolic in the wide-open fields.

The gorgeous Sparkling Pointe Winery in Southold, Long Island is a particularly sweet destination for NYC families. Though it's less than two hours by car from Midtown Manhattan, it feels worlds away thanks to its grand opulence and wide selection of sparkling wines. And because it's just a short drive away from many other family attractions, including a working lighthouse and pick-your-own apples, you can make a fun day of it with the kids.

The new littleBits electronics maker space in Soho is fast winning over New York's littlest tinkerers and inventors. The homegrown startup's first NYC store lets grade-school kids (and adults) play, invent and build for FREE using its electronic building blocks that snap together via magnets, making it simple for all levels to follow these STEM-inspired lesson plans. Of course, no need to tell the kids you approve of such tech play. Why spoil their fun?

The only problem? It's a pop-up shop, so though you can find littleBits at its West Broadway location through the 2015 holidays, it plans to close up in January. 

Read on for the Mommy Poppins review of NYC's newest maker spot.

Los Angeles has received a stupendous gift: The Broad Museum is the newest addition to our cultural landscape, and admission is always free. As long as the museum is new and exciting, plan on booking those free tickets in advance, though. More details on that below.

Art can be tricky for kids; they know that, like vegetables, it’s supposed to be good for them, so they sometimes resist. If you don’t catch them in the right mood, a day at the museum can be torturous for everybody involved. There’s nothing worse than plunking down admission fees and realizing ten minutes later that you already have to leave, or choosing to stay and realizing two hours later that nobody saw, engaged with, or enjoyed any of the art. Thanks to founders Eli and Edythe Broad, our new museum is free and always will be. It is a gift to the public of epic proportion.

The award-winning New Victory Theater in the heart of Times Square has long been a local favorite to catch entertaining and affordable productions for all ages, but it's much more than just a place to go see a show. Through a range of interactive educational activities like performance workshops and camps, the organization is raising the next generation of theatergoers.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary season, the New Victory is bringing back popular past productions, as well as showcasing new works by theater companies behind former favorites. So Mommy Poppins is particularly excited to partner with the New Vic for the third year in a row. Throughout the season, we'll be giving you access to its incredible lineup of shows, ticket discounts and a pair of exclusive events for Mommy Poppins readers. We kick off our partnership with a preview of the New Victory's 2015-2016 season, including show recommendations for every age and stage, tips on how to save on tickets and clips from the upcoming productions.