Did my tween roll her eyes when I said we were going to check out the new Sesame Street exhibit at Lincoln Center? You bet. But the moment we walked into the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and saw a replica of the show's original stoop, we both started grinning and giggling like little kids. Despite its very grown-up title, Somebody Come and Play: 45 Years of Sesame Street Helping Kids Grow Smarter, Stronger, and Kinder was designed to appeal to anyone who grew up with the seminal edutainment series, whether you're watching it now or did so long ago (I was part of the first generation of Sesame Street graduates).

A collaboration between the NYPL branch and Sesame Workshop, the jam-packed retrospective features scripts, storyboards, designs, animation cels, photographs, blueprints and other behind-the-scenes artifacts that mostly appeal to adults. But there are also fun and interactive highlights for families, like a cute play area, vintage and contemporary clips, and great photo ops with more than 20 Muppets (just check out our slide show). The exhibit, which is FREE, is also a great way for kids to get a glimpse at what NYC and Sesame Street looked like back in the day—they've both changed a lot.

If you haven’t spent much time in Redding, you're not alone.  The only ones traveling down these pastoral roads are the Yankees who live here, and perhaps, after this, the occasional daytripper looking for some fresh air and perspective.  Though it’s just minutes up Black Rock Turnpike from Fairfield’s suburban slurry of shopping, Redding is entirely about simplicity and solitude (ok, and excellent schools).  As we drove in on a road that barely qualified as two-lane, I experienced what I recently learned the Japanese call a 'forest bath' —  that strangely warm feeling of serenity you get from being deep in the woods … and I wasn’t even out of the minivan yet, with a 1 and 3-year-old in the back, I might add.  Not even the ‘How many more minutes?’ could keep me down.  Sunlight streaming through the green.  Steep rock outcroppings.  Winding roads.  Even though I live in arguably sleepy Trumbull, I felt even more awesomely removed in Redding — half wondering if maple syrup runs out of the kitchen faucets or something.  It is straight up New England here.  Mmm-mm. 

Our destination was Warrup’s Farm, a place I’d often listed as a suggestion for Fall Fun in Fairfield County, but had never been able to visit myself. 

Last Fall when I reviewed Atlantis Paradise Island, it was my first time in the Bahamas. This summer I was invited to visit the Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island and jumped at the chance to further explore the former British colony. Grand Bahama Island is the 4th largest of the 700 islands that make up the country and just about 50 miles from Florida.  The island is rather populated and more commercial than Paradise Island, which means there are lots of things to see and do for residents and visitors alike. 

The Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort is the the largest hotel on the island and considered by many to be the finest. The hotel offers the sandy beaches, warm sun and ocean breezes that the Bahamas are known for, along with lots of amenities, dining options and planned activities. Its in the the island's touristy Lucaya district makes it easy enough to take in some of the local sights if you want to stray from the resort.  Easy to get to and hard to leave, the Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort is a paradise for families.