No-carve pumpkin ideas for safe pumpkin decorating, from pumpkin painting to mess-free, stress-free pumpkin primping.

Maybe the gourd’s guts gross your kids out, or you’re avoiding the knives and flames that Jack O' Lanterns require, or you just want less mess. We’ve got hacks that require zero actual hacking, but are still a fun and creative activity that leaves you with festive pumpkins. If even paint is too messy for you, we have a whole list of no-carve and no-paint ways to primp your pumpkin. Get ready to trade seeds for sequins and goo for glue to jazz your Jack O' Lantern without the carve.  

For older kids who can handle a good carving session, browse our piece on Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas featuring links to 20 free pumpkin stencils! For more ways to make the most out of this Halloween, check out our Halloween Guide and look for festive activities near you in our Local Halloween Fun and Activities Guide.

New York City kids (and parents) who love spooky vibes with a side of history have a new experience to add to their must-do list: Madame Morbid’s Trolley Tours. Think of it as the city’s most stylish ghost tour—where Gothic charm meets Brooklyn grit—all aboard a custom-designed Victorian trolley that looks like it rolled straight out of a Tim Burton film.

Part history lesson, part ghost story, and part quirky field trip, Madame Morbid takes families and friend groups on a haunted ride through Brooklyn’s past. From tales of forgotten cemeteries to urban legends that refuse to die, it’s a delightfully eerie way to see the city from a new angle.

Find more fun for the spooky season in our NYC Kids' Guide to Halloween Fun, which includes all our top picks for the best things to do in NYC this Halloween. 

October means HALLOWEEN! But that’s just one day, there are 30 more days to fill with awesomely spooky, costume-filled, pumpkin-spiced October fun.

In addition to Halloween, you can also celebrate Fluffernutter Day, Yom Kippur, Wear Something Gaudy Day, International Sloth Day, and more — all in October. Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve also rounded up all the Halloween fun with days set aside for Halloween parties, Halloween movies, and pumpkin carving (we've got easy templates so your pumpkins will impress even if you have limited art skills, promise!).

Check this list, and you’ll find the perfect thing to do with your kids each and every day. For more ideas for Halloween activities, check out our Halloween Activities Guide for Families.

The details on Houston's latest indoor playground. 

A delightfully spooky Halloween trail is back at the New York Botanical Garden. The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail features characters from Disney’s 1993 Tim Burton movie of the same name, set against the backdrop of a dark, wooded trail.

Read on for everything you need to know about this creepily fun nighttime experience. And find more hair-raising activities across all five boroughs on our list of NYC’s best Halloween events of 2025.

As a parent who has stayed in more San Diego hotels with kids than I can count. It feels like we’re always heading to San Diego for visits to Legoland California, the San Diego Zoo, La Jolla getaways, seeing shows at the Old Globe, and even to watch the Dodgers beat the Padres (sorry locals!).

I travel a lot with my family, and I know the difference between a resort that claims to be family-friendly and one that actually delivers. And I can say that now that I’ve stayed there, Town and Country Resort in San Diego has made it to my list of best San Diego hotels for families. After our recent stay, I can share the insider scoop—including the retro vibe, activities, pool, central location, everyone-approved dining options and more. If you’re planning a San Diego family vacation, here’s my honest parent-tested review of Town and Country Resort.