As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, flower fields in Connecticut start springing to life. Daffodils, cherry blossoms, tulip fields, and more put on a beautiful floral firework display with a cacophony of blooms throughout the state. From the urban beauty of Cherry Blossoms in New Haven to the delightful daffodils in Litchfield, Connecticut sure knows how to celebrate the arrival of spring.  

Browse our list of the most beautiful places for flower picking near you in Connecticut before digging out those buckets from the garage. Colorful inspiration is all around us during springtime in the Nutmeg State, so don't miss Spring Festivals and Fairs in Connecticut for Kids and Families and our ultimate Spring Bucket List.

If you're looking for a nearby escape in the Nutmeg State, look no further. Colonial vibes and New England charm ooze out of the town of Essex, which is nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River. This quaint Connecticut town is home to one of the oldest continuously running inns in the country, a packed calendar of annual events, and tons of lovely shops and restaurants.

Time and time again, Essex has earned a spot as one of the Best Small Towns in America. Whether you grab a burger at The Gris, a cone of Essex Mud, or spend the day coasting down a historic railroad, this small New England town is anything but sleepy. Read on for the top 10 things to do in Essex, Connecticut with kids. For more cute towns and the best kid-friendly Connecticut activities, don't miss the Top Attractions in Connecticut for Families.

It’s April Fools season, and you know what that means! April Fools Day is a time when parents get to turn the tables on their kids by bringing a little mischief—and a lot of laughter and fun—into their homes. If pranking your kids is not your style, you can also just wait for them to prank you. Either way, we promise you’ll get a giggle or two out of these hilarious April Fools memes.

When your finished with these April Fools Day memes, check out our lists of super easy April Fools Day pranks to play on your kids and hilarious jokes for kids to keep your family laughing all month long.

Greenlight cards are the buzz these days in parenting circles, and once you know a little bit about these debit cards for kids, it's easy to see why. Like most parents, I never have cash on me and am constantly handing my daughter little slips of paper as IOUs. As families figure out how to navigate an increasingly cashless world, it is still important to teach our children a sense of financial responsibility. There are several options out there that provide a safe banking experience for kids, including Greenlight debit card for kids and Chase debit card for kids; all of them offer a variety of family-friendly safety features like real-time spending alerts and financially-incentivized chore charts.

Read on to determine which debit card for kids is the right one for your family.

Right about now, any parent out there can use a good laugh, right? Modern-day parenting is hard. I mean, really, really hard. All the meal planning, cooking, clothing, coordinating—I could go on, but you get the picture. Thankfully, there's no shortage of funny parenting memes to get us through the day.

We've all seen memes—those little squares of joy that stop us when we're scrolling through social media and make us think, "That's funny because it's true!" A good parenting meme allows us to feel seen; to realize that maybe we aren’t the only ones taking a ride on the struggle bus.

Hopefully, these 25 funny parenting memes will give you a little something to chuckle about and prove that laughter truly is the best medicine. If you need even more grown-up giggles, check out our list of funny school memes and our roundup of the best mom jokes and #momlife memes.

Connecticut may be small, but the Nutmeg State sure knows how to pack in a ton of fun. From historic villages to sandy beaches to amusement parks, there are plenty of exciting tourist attractions in Connecticut to make a family visit well worth the trip any time of year.

It’s not easy narrowing down the list of things to do in Connecticut with kids, but we’ve made our picks for the 25 best kid-friendly activities in CT for residents and visitors alike. As locals, these are the places that we frequent with our children, and the first stops we make with family and friends whenever they're staying with us from out of town. So leave your FOMO at the door and start checking these spots off your CT bucket list.

Black History Month is a time to reflect on the contributions of African American culture to our society and show support for the Black community. One of the most impactful ways to show support is by patronizing Black-owned restaurants and Black-owned shops in Connecticut. With that in mind, we’re shining a light on institutions dedicated to preserving Black history, as well as local Black-owned businesses in Connecticut that cater to kids and families.

From bookstores and party entertainment to coffee and sweet treats, here are some Black-owned establishments to discover in the Nutmeg State if you haven’t done so already. For more family-friendly activities and events to celebrate Black History month browse our event calendar and the Best Things To Do in Connecticut in February with Kids. Check out 30+ Children's Books to Celebrate Black History Month for great reads that represent and affirm kids of color. If you'd like more stories like this sent straight to your inbox, sign up for newsletters.

Believe it or not, 2021 wasn’t all pandemic and social distancing. As a testament to the human spirit, there was a ton to celebrate and embrace. From simple pleasures like enjoying nature and a movie night on the couch, to larger adventures such as taking in a Broadway show or heading to an amusement park, 2021 was a bit of an emotional roller coaster (and that might be the understatement of the century). We polled our readers, our staff, and our kids to come up with the things that kept us going this past year.

We've rounded up the best of 2021 for kids and families, including the best movies of 2021, the best books of 2021, and more. Our Best Recipes of 2021 list was too long to include here; be sure to check it out if you haven't yet. Enjoy working your way through this list of favorites, and here's to more "bests" in 2022!