We spend a lot of time writing about Halloween fun for little kids like costume parades and tame seasonal fetes. But what happens when your tween outgrows those kinds of all-ages celebrations? A lot of eye-rolling, that's what. As the mom of a nine-year-old desperate to grow up, I know that firsthand. But I also know he's not quite ready for full-on adult Halloween events like those super-freaky haunted houses.

Take for instance the monster of the moment: zombies. He's very into the walking dead but I won't let him watch The Walking Dead. (Especially not this season—yikes!) However, we have been able to enjoy a few freaky but not mega-frightening zombie experiences as a family. These interactive events like zombie laser tag and a zombie escape are way too intense for tots but thrilling for tweens and teens, not to mention adults. So if you're tired of hearing the "this is for babies!" complaint, take your angsty adolescent to one of these zombie-themed events.

A few years ago, Superstorm Sandy made it impossible for many Long Island kids to trick or treat outside. Hopefully, we won't see anything like Sandy again, but extreme cold or rain can make going door-to-door quite a task. Or if you have small kids, crossing streets and going up and down front stoops can be a challenge. If you are looking for an alternative to going house to house, we've come up with this list of different trick-or-treating alternatives. And for more seasonal fun, check out our Long Island Halloween Guide, as well as sign up for our weekly newsletter.

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.

You’ve breathed through birth classes, drooled over adorable baby clothes, picked out the perfect stroller, and decided on a pediatrician. What about having a little fun after baby is born? Connecting with your baby and other new parents may seem like luxury, but we think it’s incredibly important. Here are a few things to check out before baby comes to ensure you have a social network and plenty of fun ways to connect with your little one once she arrives. 

Cemeteries can be beautiful, historic, and filled with interesting people. On Halloween night or under a full moon they might be just a little bit spooky or awfully sinister, depending upon your tolerance. Regardless, my family loves them. For my daughter who relishes the macabre, there is always the hope and possibility of encountering a graveyard ghost. My husband and son are scholars of the past, and there is nothing quite so historic as a bunch of dead people. Me, I like the trees and the grass and the inscriptions.

A good boneyard has something for everybody (including some great Day of the Dead celebrations). While Los Angeles is a town where people come seeking eternal youth (or at least a botoxed rendition), nothing lasts forever. Nevertheless, our sundrenched landscape is not a bad place to spend eternity, and you may even find yourself alongside somebody quite famous in one of these LA final resting places.

We wanted to know all about Boston kids who exemplify the spirit of the Kids Really Rock festival – kids who give back in small and big ways to their communities, demonstrate kindness, use their creativity to help others and make a positive difference in the world – so we asked for nominations from parents, nonprofits, youth leaders, and even the kids themselves.

The phenomenal entries we received confirmed our belief that Boston kids are making a difference in their communities, and that they really do rock! After careful consideration (and some very difficult decision-making), we selected five finalists, including one grand prize winner who is the recipient of $1,000 donation to local nonprofit Cradles to Crayons and a nonprofit organization of his choice. These are the inspiring stories of our five finalists in the Boston Kids Who Really Rock contest.