We love our local library, but sometimes we find a book that we love so much that it just has to be purchased and added to our at home collection. Big retail stores can be fun to explore when shopping for books, but there is something to be said for getting lost surfing the shelves of a local shop. Personalized service, author readings, and storytimes make shopping at a local bookstore a delightful experience to share with little ones. These stores are unlike any others in the city. You never know what you might find tucked away in the shelves or what local author you might bump into at these quaint shops. 

Whether it's your first child or your third, finding the best daycare option for your family comes with its share of challenges. Most parents are looking at factors like cost, hours, location, safety, and child-teacher ratio, but of course, another major requirement is an environment that's warm, inviting, and family-friendly. While trying to find the perfect daycare can make any parent anxious, the relationships and beautiful memories you'll create as a family will make all the effort worthwhile.

To help guide your search for the right daycare, we reached out to childcare program directors, Mommy Poppins editors, teachers, and professional moms to collect their stories and consolidate their advice. These daycare veterans have had time to reflect on their choices, and are ready to share their wisdom and lessons learned, which, together with your area's Daycare Listings, can help you pick a daycare that you actually love.

It’s not officially autumn yet, but it will be soon and that means it’s time for fall festivals. There are so many in the Boston area that it can be hard to know which ones are good for families. We took the guesswork out of it by narrowing the field down to our favorites. You’ll find good food, fun activities, music, performances, and much more at these 10 fall festivities in Boston that are perfect for both parents and kids.

School has started, but that is no reason to stop having family fun-time. In fact September marks the beginning of a ton of autumn fun! There are festivals, carnivals, free museum days, and other memorable happenings. To get the full fall picture, check out our fun Fall Guide.

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, NJ families can look forward to plenty of fun in the Garden State this fall. Explore nature at the NJ Wild Outdoor Expo, chow down on delicious seafood at the Atlantic City Seafood Festival, or listen to some exciting tales at the NJ Storytelling Festival.

Check out the 13 awesome festivals below, and visit our Events Calendar for more fabulous fall ideas! And sign up for our FREE newsletters to get the best local events and reviews delivered right to your inbox.

Fall is the perfect time of year to explore all of the amazing play areas that the Houston area has to offer. The weather is starting to cool off, so exploring outdoor playgrounds is at the top of our to-do list. But for those drizzly days, we do know of several amazing indoor gems to head to. Take a look at our favorite FREE places to play all around the Bayou City this fall. No matter what part of town you're in- we've got you covered!

Explore the great outdoors at the Marine Nature Study Area in Oceanside, a South Shore seaside environment preserve ripe for a self-guided expedition.

The education and conservation of marine life have played such a large part in Long Island's past, and we are fortunate to have places such as the Long Island Aquarium, South Fork Natural History Museum, and Quogue Wildlife Preserve to help keep it alive in the present.

For more FREE fun, check out our list of playgrounds, boardwalks and fishing spots. After Labor Day, most beach fees on Long Island are not collected. Before heading out, peruse our calendar for a list of updated events.

For a small state, Connecticut has its fair share of over-the top foods. You can slurp freakshakes, chow down on an insane ice cream creation, or bite into an over-the top cupcake. But these treats truly are the unicorn of photo-worthy foods! From bagels, to smoothie bowls, and everything in between, unicorn themed foods are popping up just about everywhere in our magical state.