With its historic seaport district, renowned aquarium, and easy beach access, Mystic, Connecticut is bursting with New England charm and a ton of family fun. Tourists tend to flock to this coastal village in the summer, but Mystic truly shines all year round with rich traditions like the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade along the Mystic River, Northern Lights animal display at the Mystic Aquarium, and the annual "Pirate invasion" come fall.

Whether you are heading into town for a day trip or a long weekend, we have loads of recommendations for interactive museums, unique attractions, and delicious food (including, of course, pizza!) for grown-ups and kids to enjoy together. For more family getaway ideas, explore our Mommy Poppins U.S. Travel Guide.

The Hudson Valley is a year-round destination for families all over the tri-state area, and it's no surprise as there are tons of things to do in the Hudson Valley with kids. It boasts natural beauty, delicious food, and wonderful museums, historic sites, theaters, and play spaces. With events timed for nearly every holiday, and enough attractions to suit any family's interest, the Hudson Valley beckons visitors searching for a family getaway or day trip.

We’ve found 35 things to do in the Hudson Valley with kids, ranging from the obvious (hello Legoland New York) to the under-the-radar. If you're looking to spend more than a day here, be sure to peruse our top picks for family-friendly hotels in the Hudson Valley, and find more family-friendly destinations nearby in our Adirondacks, Catskills, and Hudson Valley Guide.

Sometimes all you need are a few really great bedtime stories for kids...

The homework is finished, the baths are complete, the children are snuggled in their beds... and they're still awake! A truly tantalizing tale is the final piece of the bedtime puzzle. Whether you read these books to your kids, read them together as a family, or play the audio versions, these beloved bedtime stories for kids will help them drift off to dreamland in no time. There are even some free bedtime stories you can easily access online, for those nights when you need something new.

Dim the lights, get cozy, and crack open one of these 30 great bedtime stories for kids. For even more great books, check out our list of 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up, plus more beloved book recommendations in our Guide to the Best Kids' Books.

There's no shortage of art museums in New York City, but the Whitney Museum of American Art is the only one devoted to showcasing contemporary American art. While displaying the works of many well-established American artists, the Whitney Museum is unique in its dedication to presenting the works of living artists whose works often contains social messages.

The Whitney Museum in NYC is a must-see for families and kids to learn about important artists making their mark in the present day. Since modern art can be a bit intimidating even for grown-ups, we've gathered our top tips for a family-friendly outing to this unique museum and our favorite kids' activities to enjoy while you're there.

Read on for our top tips for visiting the Whitney Museum in NYC, and find all our top culture spots for kids in our New York City Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits Guide.

If you want your animal-loving little one to cluck with joy, consider throwing a barnyard birthday bash at a New Jersey farm. Whether your little one wants to eat all the fruit, pick pumpkins, pet animals, or ride ponies, these 10 New Jersey farms have you covered.

Find even more ideas for birthday party fun in our New Jersey Birthday Party Guide, and be sure to check out our roundup of the best family-friendly farms in NJ.

Everything about how to compost sounds like a recipe for disaster: it takes up loads of space, it's super smelly, and everyone knows it attracts mice. Throw kids into the mix, and what parent wants to start that project? Unless ... none of that conventional wisdom is actually true. Composting is clean, stink-and-critter-free, reduces landfill, is great for the earth, and is a task that kids are eager to take on. Ok, mostly critter-free. If you have a backyard, you might want to get some worms—but for your kids, that will be part of the appeal!

Many cities, including New York and Los Angeles, offer composting programs where residents have a separate bin for organic waste. Other cities have private organizations with receptacles in designated locations for compost. But you can also compost in your own yard or kitchen, and with these easy steps to get started, your kids can be a part of the process.

For 26 Tips for Living More Sustainably Every Day and more ideas for creating more earth-friendly habits for your family, check out our Earth Kids Guide and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter for more ideas and activities every month.

New York can be a big, intimidating place for anyone, and that's especially true when you're looking for fun things to do in NYC with preschoolers. Thankfully, pint-sized visitors and residents alike can enjoy plenty of fun activities for preschoolers. While NYC has preschool-friendly zoos and gardens, and a top-notch collection of children's museums, we wanted to provide something a little out of the ordinary. So, we've crafted five itineraries perfect for preschoolers. Whether you're looking for activities for preschoolers as a visitor, or you're a local who wants to check out a new-to-you neighborhood, we've rounded up five mom-tested outings meant to give you and your kid a glimpse of the city without totally wearing everyone down.

Find more fun things to do in New York City in our Guide to NYC's Best Preschool Activities, and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar, where you can search for fun things to do by age or neighborhood.

Graff Lab Studio is an immersive experience that offers graffiti-style art where kids, teens, and adults can create one-of-a-kind items. Graff Lab Studio offers drop-in workshops, summer camps, birthday parties, and private events in industrial spaces in Holtsville and New Hyde Park. The company can also come to the location of your choice for on-demand graffiti fun. What are you waiting for? Tag someone you want to visit with.

Want more options for your mini Monet? Visit our Museum and Art Guide and our Directory of Art Classes on Long Island.