Dreary January weather always inspires me to get crafty and creative with my kids. I break out the play dough, glitter glue and dress up bin. Heck, I’ve even used masking tape to make hop scotch on our hallway floor. But then it dawns on me that I’ve got two little ones to entertain (indoors) for at least a couple of months to come and my limited craft skills can only take us so far! Some days, we just need to get out of the house – an engaging activity for the kids and a cup of coffee for mom do wonders to beat the winter doldrums! Here are a list of stores that offer story time/play time to keep NJ kids entertained and parents sane.

The beautiful fall foliage is almost at its peak, Halloween is just around the corner and New Jersey is brimming with fall fun this weekend! There’s an autumn adventure to be had in every corner of our great state: head to Liberty Hall Museum’s Pumpkin Patch Day if you still haven’t gotten your huge orange beauty, take the Great Pumpkin Train to a corn maze and pumpkin patch as you ride the Delaware River Railroad or dress your little ones up in costume for some pre-Halloween trick-or-treating in quaint downtown Westfield. And for some night time fun, check out the always popular Harvest Moon Hayrides at Alstede Farms or brave a Nature of the Night Halloween Hike at Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

If you’re looking to get your fill of all things Halloween (and pumpkin!), Jersey doesn’t disappoint this weekend! Take the kiddos down the shore in costume to Jenkinson’s Boo at the Boardwalk, roll up your sleeves for a Halloween Monster Craft at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center or brave a Haunted Halloween Hayride at Allaire Village. And for classic fall fun in northern Jersey, head to Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival or if you’re down south, check out the annual Pumpkin Festival at the Historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

It’s officially October, the season of Halloween, pumpkins and all that is autumn! New Jersey has no shortage of pumpkin activities this weekend so check out one of the many fall events like the annual Great Pumpkin Festival at Heaven Hill Farm, the Pumpkin Train Festival at Whippany Railway Museum or the Holmdel Harvest Festival at Bayonet Farm. For some nighttime fun, sign up for a cozy Harvest Moon Hayride at Alstede Farms. And if you’ve got little animal lovers in the family, head to Community Day at Woodlands Wildlife Refuge – a special once a year event where the sanctuary opens its doors to the public. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Autumn is officially here New Jersey! These next couple of months will be filled with cooler sweater weather, pumpkins & apples and best of all, plenty of festivals and events to keep families busy and happy. Check out one of the many seasonal festivals our state has to offer, like the Bergen County Harvest Fest & Craft Fair or the 33rd Annual Harvest Festival at Trailside Nature Center. And if you want to keep the back-to-school learning momentum going, bring the kiddos to check out airplanes at Teterboro Airport’s Open Cockpit Day, hear a story from a famous children’s author at the Morristown Festival of Books or sit back and enjoy a vibrant Indian dance performance at the NJ State Museum. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

The humidity has dropped, high temps are just reaching the low 70s and the official start of fall is around the corner. Enjoy this sweet spot of the year before it gets too chilly with an outdoor activity: pick some juicy ripe apples during Fall Family Fun Days at Alstede Farms, sample schnitzel and listen to authentic German music at the Crystal Springs Oktoberfest or take the kiddos out to a minor league ballgame at TD Bank Ball Park.  For more fresh air fun, check out the NJ Storytelling Festival at the beautiful Grounds for Sculpture or take a Migration Walk at Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Is that a chill in the air? The bright, sunny days of summer will slowly be giving way to shorter, cooler days as we near fall. This can be a beautiful time of year to explore the outdoors and spend some quality family time together. So pull on those sweaters and check out all that Jersey has to offer this weekend like the much loved Apple Day at Terhune Orchards, a cozy Fall Crafters’ Market at Allaire Village or the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with live music at Boyd Park. And for one last summer hurrah, head down to Atlantic City for their huge seafood festival! And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

There really aren't too many “all-American” foods that my vegetarian family enjoys; you won’t see us sinking our teeth into hamburgers and fried chicken at barbecues. Even French fries are kind of take it or leave it (I know, crazy, right?) But if there’s one American staple that we would never, ever turn down, it’s PIE! The buttery crust, the tart and sweet filling and of course, a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on the side. As luck would have it, New Jersey is a great place to find delicious versions of our favorite fall pies, with its bountiful farms and one-of-a-kind diners in almost every town. Any way you slice it (pun intended), New Jersey families have some awesome pumpkin and apple pies to choose from.