North Hollywood, better known as NoHo to the locals, is a wonderful place to live, and if you're not lucky enough to live here, it's a great place to bring your kids and explore for a day. I moved to NoHo from Hancock Park a couple of years ago and it didn't take long for me to discover all the wonders this eccentric, vibrant, and charming neighborhood has to offer. My five-year-old and I love exploring new places—below I'll share with you the favorites we've discovered, and why I haven't regretted moving to this side of the hill for a second.

Not only are there tons of things to do in North Hollywood with kids, but its location makes it a great base to also explore nearby towns like Burbank, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, and Studio City. So don't just spend one day exploring these neighborhoods, plan on spending several!

While we love an action-packed park or playground, there's something magical about an off-the-beaten-path enclave, too, and New York City streets are packed with them. These secret gardens, hidden on busy city streets, and overflowing with lush greenery and beautiful flowers make for a different kind of escape and cool way to commune with nature. We've scoured the city blocks to find some hidden gardens and botanical wonders for you and your family to enjoy. Here are 15 secret gardens for your next outdoor adventure.

Are your kids doing backflips off of the couch? Climbing the bookshelves? Mattress sledding down the stairs? There are several spots in Nassau and Suffolk counties that offer obstacle training, where your little ninja can test his or her balance, vaulting, tumbling, and more. So go ahead and let that daredevil of yours try out one of these classes or courses that will keep your walls scuff mark-free.

There's much more outdoor entertainment on Long Island, and you can find even more adventurous fun in our rundowns of Long Island theme parks, arcades and other indoor play spaces. Or use items from around your home to build your own indoor obstacle course. Of course, sign up for our FREE newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.

Montessori preschools take a different approach to early childhood development, one which is focused on self-directed learning. Parents choose preschools that use the Montessori method for a variety of reasons, including the positive environment, self-directed curriculum, and individual attention each child receives. This laid-back and sunny approach to school is a great fit for the SoCal lifestyle, which must be why there are dozens of fabulous Montessori schools in Los Angeles. From the Valley to the South Bay, here are some of the most popular preschools in Los Angeles for Montessori learning.

For more great preschools in Los Angeles offering unique opportunities, like these dual-language and immersion programs, check out our Los Angeles Preschool Guide.

This year, make your children’s holiday season spectacular with a visit to somewhere full of Christmas cheer—without leaving Texas. We may not always have real snow, but we have enough Santa's villlages and Christmas towns in Texas to celebrate in style.

Venture somewhere new and let your kids’ faces light up with the magical sights, tastes, and sounds of Christmas towns in Texas that go all-out to celebrate the season. Read on to find out more about the best Christmas towns in North, South, East, West, and Central Texas. These towns go all out to celebrate the season:the hardest part will be choosing the right one for your family.

For more holiday and Christmas ideas for kids, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Houston Families.

With their funky vibe, cool art scene, great parks, and the 606 trail, there’s no shortage of things to do in the sister neighborhoods of Bucktown and Wicker Park in Chicago. From the trail to the treats, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly places the whole family will enjoy. We’re talking some of the best burgers in town, one-of-a-kind murals, indoor play spaces, an elevated train trail, and more — all in one area of Chicago. 

Families with little ones that love the show Daniel Tiger know all too well the excitement a trolley and a “ding ding” can elicit. But the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor offers the perfect mix of education and fun each season and has something for kids of all ages, not just the preschool set. Autumn is an especially great time to visit the Trolley Museum because the trolleys—which you can ride as many times as you want—make a visit extra picturesque with fall colors passing outside the trolley windows. But there’s a lot to enjoy all year long.

For more train adventures, see our list of train rides your preschooler will love and find out what's along the Hartford line that will fill a day with adventure. Or, work your way through our list of 50 Fall Things to Do in Connecticut with Kids.

Brunch isn't just for adults anymore. There are plenty of fabulous brunch spots across Long Island where kids and families can indulge in delicious pancakes, fluffy eggs, and menus designed just for them.

From highchairs to kid-friendly cups to crayons at the table, these 12 brunch destinations in Nassau, Suffolk and the East End are designed to keep children happy while serving up some Instagram-worthy meals. And did we mention they're delicious, too?

While you're at it, check out our Long Island restaurant guide, where you can find (among other things) our favorite Long Island spots to enjoy tea with your little ones and restaurants where kids eat free.