Sharpen your skates and start searching through your winter gear for a matching pair of mittens: New York City's only FREE ice skating rink has set its opening day, and it's only weeks away. The Winter Village at Bryant Park reopens to the public on Friday, October 29, and we've got all the details on what's in store this season.

Home to more than 200 animals sprawled across 30 acres of land in Manorville, the Long Island Game Farm is entering its 50th year. A family-owned and operated business, this animal farm/petting zoo offers unique opportunities to get up close to rare animals. 

After you get your furry fix here, check out the other animal farms and petting zoos on Long Island 

Halloween can be a tricky time for families with younger kids. There are lots of haunts and thrills for teens and bigger kids to get their adrenalin pumping: haunted houses, terrifying hay rides, theme park terrors, and more. But for those of us with young children, or any kids who are easily overloaded by sensory experiences, the choice is often limited to some version of a pumpkin patch. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good patch. But it’s also fun to have something a little less ... expected. To shake up our Halloween activities this year, we headed for the hills in Calabasas to experience Nights of the Jack. This is a perfect outing for families like mine with kids of a whole range of ages, as it strikes just the right balance of atmospheric and fun without being too scary.

Read on to find out why this is my family's new Halloween tradition. And for more Halloween fun for kids of all ages, from the best free Halloween events in Los Angeles to scary Halloween houses for big kids, check out our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

As if we weren’t already excited enough about plans for a $250 million investment in one of Philadelphia’s best parks, we’re over the moon now that we’ve got a fresh look at the playground updates set for completion in 2023.

Whether you’ll be celebrating Halloween at home with the family this year or you’re planning to have a few friends over, there’s no shortage of easy ways to make the holiday extra special.

Light on the fright and heavy on the fun, here are five Halloween activities inspired by Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney, #1 international bestselling author of the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Packed with comically terrifying zombies, vampires, and ghosts, the book’s scary-but-silly tales will leave your whole crew laughing—much like these Halloween games!

We’ve said it before but it bears repeating: There are plenty of wonderful playgrounds in Westchester County for kids.

And it looks as if the variety is getting even better: We’ve noticed an uptick in renovated playgrounds in the area lately, including one of the newest: the playground at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

We visited recently and came away impressed. Read on, and for even more outdoor fun check out our guide to playgrounds and parks in Westchester, and be sure to sign up for our newsletters.

If you're looking for a casual adventure for your family but don’t want to drive a long way, head to the nearby town of Clifton, Virginia. This historic town, which has been around since the 1700s, is charming, picturesque, and small, with a population of less than 300. And there are plenty of things to do in CIifton, Virginia with kids, from delicious food to scenic hikes. 

Read on for our list of nine things to do in Clifton, Virginia with kids. And if you're looking for more fall family outings, check out our list of fall day trips near Washington, DC, our fall fun guide, and our Halloween events and activities guide. Enjoy!

Best known for Baylor University and home-reno duo Chip and Joanna Gaines, Waco offers top-notch family fun just three hours northwest of Houston, Texas. From quirky museums and a mammoth dig site to inland surfing and a zoo, we’ve hand-picked the 12 top things to do in Waco with kids the next time you're in Central Texas. 

For more Lone Star State adventures and activities, see our handy list of the top things to do in Houston this fall or check out our Weekend Getaway Guide.