6 Must-See Fall Museum Exhibits for Families Around Boston

Experience the sights, sounds, and smells on board the International Space station, and try your hand at some of the feats of engineering that support astronauts as they navigate the unforgiving vacuum of space. Photo courtesy of Museum of Science

A trip to the museum doesn’t need to be a “boring” excursion for your kiddos, or strictly refer to your family popping into an indoor space for some play time. Whether it's artwork featuring everyone's favorite honey loving bear or interactive challenges like dodging hanging pendulums, at least one of these half-dozen exhibits on display across greater Boston is sure to delight your kids this fall. They might even learn something (but you don't have to tell them that).

Harvest Festivals, Hayrides, and Fall Fair Fun in New Jersey

Pick pumpkins and enjoy other fall fun every weekend at Johnson's Corner Farm.

The air is crisp, the apples are ripe, and fall fair and harvest festival season is about to get underway! We've rounded up 26 great harvest fests in New Jersey, all packed with signature autumn activities like hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin decorating (and picking), pie contests, scarecrow making, live animals, live music, and more. Some even incorporate a little early Halloween fun.

Read on to find an event near you, including the Great Pumpkin Festival, the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, and more.

For more seasonal activities around the Garden State, be sure to check out our Fall Fun Guide and our list of 40 Things We Can't Wait To Do with NJ Kids This Fall

Indoor Play Spaces for Babies and Toddlers in Bucks County

Photo courtesy of Giggleberry Fair

Parents of babies and toddlers all know that getting out of the house to burn off energy can be essential to surviving the winter months. Fortunately, Bucks County has plenty of drop-in play spaces where little ones can jump, climb and get creative without making a mess in your home!

We have a few free indoor play areas on our list, but don't forget one of the best no-cost options: Your local library. Many libraries go beyond your basic story times for kids and have large children's areas filled with blocks, puzzles and other toys to keep little ones occupied.

Read on for our list of Bucks County indoor play and be sure to check out our lists of indoor play options in Philadelphia, Chester County, Delaware County and Montgomery County as well.

7 of the Best Campgrounds near Philly to View the Fall Colors

French Creek State Park and its campground offers a beautiful view of the fall colors, Photo courtesy of PA DCNR-Flickr

With Labor Day behind us, it's time to welcome in fall. What better way to embrace autumn than to get the family together for a weekend camping trip? Within a few hours' drive of Philadelphia, you'll find great spots where you can pitch a tent, rent a cabin, or park an RV and enjoy the changing foliage and cooler weather. Unwind and get your kids out in nature--hiking, fishing, and bicycling. If you're able to get cell reception, try a geocaching app for a twist on the traditional scavenger hunt. And don't forget the s'mores!

Cool Pumpkin Displays, Festivals, and Decorating Events in NJ

The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze is worth a trip across state lines to New York! Photo by Margaret Hargrove

Are your kids already preparing for Halloween, with visions of candy, costumes, and pumpkins dancing in their heads? Kick off the festive fall season at one of the many wonderful pumpkin-themed events happening around NJ, from elaborate pumpkin exhibits and carving competitions to good old-fashioned pumpkin picking and decorating fun.

Read on for our top picks, plus a bonus event that’s worth a drive across the state line. You can find even more even seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide

Not Scary Halloween Fun in Fairfield County

There is a little something for everyone in Fairfield County this October.  From trick-o-treating on a farm, to getting up-close and personal with real life creepy crawlies, these family friendly activities will leave you with a little more treats than tricks. My three year old daughter loves almost everything about Halloween except that she is absolutely terrified of things that go bump in the night.  Now that the haunting season is upon us, check out the following activities around Fairfield County that are best suited for a younger crowd.

Best Brooklyn Storytimes for Kids and Babies

Books are Magic has weekend story times as well as visiting author story times.

Neighborhood story hours for preschoolers and babies abound in Brooklyn, providing a fun, no-fuss outing, especially on cold or rainy days. Most storytimes are free (or cheap), and many venues offer additional kid activities before or after the reading, including plenty of book-browsing, so the fun can continue even when storytime ends.

Read on for our top picks for read-along sessions in Brooklyn at libraries, bookstores, and other tot spots, and find more story hours at these Manhattan spots.

Inquiry-Based Learning is Front and Center at Blue School

What does it take to be named one of the most innovative schools in the entire world? Just ask the founders of New York City's Blue School, who actually co-created the performance art phenomenon Blue Man Group more than a decade before deciding to build an educational program that embodies that same boundless energy and rule-breaking creativity. Since it first entered the scene back in 2006, the independent school for two-year-olds through eighth grade has been named one of the thirteen most innovative global schools by Business Insider and one of just six selected by Wired magazine.

Located in lower Manhattan, the oh-so-modern Blue School campus is filled with unexpected spaces including a "Wonder Room," an Upcycling Center, and a double-height Materials Library. Meanwhile, thoughtfully designed classrooms; designated lab spaces for studio art, STEAM, science, music, and drama; a gymnasium and performing arts space; and the outdoor roof and terrace are all equally reflective of the school's mission to provide students with endless opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and self-expression. (You can see for yourself at an upcoming open house or admissions tour.) Across the campus, you'll find two-year-olds exploring materials by digging their toes into mounds of clay; third graders writing non-fiction pieces about Westward Expansion through the eyes of animals who bared witness; and fifth graders studying social justice through independent research into the unknown stories of known activists.

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