There's no way around it.  Literally.  If you're heading north or south on I-95 -- especially over a holiday -- you're going to run into Connecticut.  And sorry to say, that's gonna go part and parcel with traffic.  Gnarly traffic.  We're sorry.  Really.  So, if your brood has positively HAD it in the car, we've got some ideas for where you can catch a break just beyond the mayhem of the official rest stops.  We mulled over our favorite playgrounds, beaches, and play spaces, and hope we can take a little agitation out of easing down the road. Note, this is for Fairfield County only (exits 3-33).

Local mom and “Outdoors with Kids Boston” guidebook author, Kim Foley MacKinnon, shares her best family outing tips and picks with you as part of our guest blog series with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors Boston free online community.

There are many ways for young speed demons to get a rush outdoors in winter, from racing down mountains on skis to sledding down the highest hills around on snow tubes. But for kids looking for both speed and height, winter coasters and zip lines at several New England resorts offer some fast, chilly thrills. Make sure to call in advance as rides often depend upon weather conditions.

It's a truly mixed bag of news this Thanksgiving week. Things to be thankful for: the opening of a new cat cafe (with adoptions!), the announced marine center in Brooklyn Bridge Park and the plan to reopen Central Park's Lasker Rink on Thanksgiving. But there are also things we'll undoubtedly be griping about during our turkey dinners, like the closing of a beloved 110-year-old treat spot in the East Village and the end of Posman Books in Grand Central. Plus, how kids can contribute their art work to a MoMA PS1 display, help your local library get much-needed funds and other news of interest to NYC families.

 Every year I find myself googling the same information - how do I make sure that my Christmas tree ends up being made into mulch and not heaped in the landfill. In fact, I usually start the season by googling around trying to decide how guilty I should feel about having a Christmas tree at all and is there some other alternative that would be cool, environmental and not make my children feel like I'd killed Santa Claus. I am happy to announce that after years of debating this whole issue I have finally come to a concrete conclusion. So here is my Definitive Guide to a Greener Christmas Tree Experience from the question of getting the tree to the question of getting rid of it:

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it is inevitable that our attention be drawn to the multitude of Christmas Holiday events. Trees continue to be lit; Santa is starting to make appearances, and this is the week that some people start putting up their extravagant light displays.

For those of you who would prefer to be thankful for what you have before focusing on what you can get, the Salvation Army kicks off holiday giving on Monday, and the Turkey Trot downtown is a great way to celebrate health and fitness while donating to causes that support some of our less fortunate Angelenos. Read on for all of our picks this week; and if you need extra ideas for fun this holiday week, remember that most of LA's outdoor ice rinks are open on Thanksgiving, as is CHILL at the Queen Mary.

Last year, the big Black Friday news was that many stores were actually opening on Thursday. For 2014, that trend continues with select stores opening earlier than ever on Thanksgiving Day—Old Navy is throwing down the record-breaking gauntlet of 4pm, and many other chains are following suit with 5 and 6pm doorbusters. (At this rate, people will be having Thanksgiving turkey breakfasts.)

More shopping hours probably means even more shoppers. So as always, you should be prepared to stand on long lines and dash through crowded throngs of fellow bargain hunters while wielding your shopping cart like a weapon. For those who love low prices (and honestly, who doesn't?), Black Friday (or should we rename it Thrifty Thursday?) is almost as exciting as Thanksgiving itself.

We've got the scoop on where, when and how to make the most of Black Friday sales (whenever they start) in New York City, as well as details on another shopping event that's much dearer to our buying local hearts: Small Business Saturday.