After four years of running classes, birthday parties, and summer camps out of a variety of locations in New York City, SciTech Kids finally has opened permanent maker space for kids and grown-ups.

SciTech's new home on East 81st Street celebrated its grand opening on September 17, 2016. With City Council member Ben Kallos on hand to help cut the ribbon, founder Kim Magloire—a biologist, epidemiologist, science coordinator for NYU Polytechnic's Science Summer Research Program, and a mom—welcomed families to its assortment of tech stations.

It's true that homeschooling creates a really unique and wonderful bond with your kids, but, sometimes, it's really hard. When you consider the fact that you're responsible for teaching your child everything, getting some socialization time in with other kids, and making sure they're healthy and physically active- well, it's just too much. That's why we started this monthly series of articles, to help homeschool parents, new and vets alike, find all the resources you need to make it a completely enjoyable experience. Which means, taking some responsibilities off of your plate. There are a lot of great classes out there, specifically for homeschool kids. Maybe there's a subject you don't feel comfortable teaching your child, or maybe you just don't know how to keep them active, or (real talk), maybe you need a break. We've found a lot of great phys ed, gym, and sport options to enroll the kids in to keep them healthy and strong. 

Fall brings with it a lot of fun traditions like pumpkin carving and apple picking. It also means it’s time for the annual fall fair, a really fun way for families to spend the day together. New England is home to dozens of quaint agricultural fairs that feature farm animals, midways with rides, and fair food like fried dough. We’ve rounded up one of the best fall fairs from each New England state so you can experience this classic seasonal tradition with your kids while enjoying fall foliage day trips all over the region.

Autumn marks the start of a new theater season, but you don't need to shell out big bucks on Broadway shows to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. This fall, preschoolers will go gaga for engaging, page-to-stage adaptations of some of their favorite picture books and TV shows like The Ugly Duckling, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Mr. Popper's Penguins. Meanwhile, school-age children can catch a pair of steampunk-styled spectacles—Cirque du Soleil's Kurios and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea—plus avant-garde offerings at Lincoln Center and La MaMa. Best of all, 10 of our picks are $20 or less per ticket.

This post is being updated for 2017.

The Hudson Valley is the setting for many a scary Halloween happening—parents be warned! There's traditional fall fun like pumpkin picking, fall festivals, and corn mazes, but the area celebrates Halloween in a big way with attractions for all ages (and all levels of bravery). Even if you don't live in the Hudson Valley, these are totally worth the schlep and blowing the kids' bedtimes—at least once.

While the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze is perhaps the top Halloween event in the area, there are other cool happenings just next door: the haunted attraction Horseman’s Hollow, a live retelling of Irving's Legend, and the little-kid-friendly Legend Behind the Legend. Head a little further north to Somers to check out the Halloween Train Show at Lasdon Park, and put the Wappingers Falls and Nyack parades on your calendar. 

Our best advice: Start planning now. Nearly all require advance tickets and most sell out. 

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletters to stay updated on all things Halloween-related.

As a yoga teacher, I love that Houston has tons of yoga studios and varieties of yoga to choose from. From hot yoga, live music, partner yoga or practicing in a brewery - if there is a way to practice yoga, you can find it in Houston! Yoga offers a multitude of benefits, from increasing strength and flexibility to decreasing stress and tension. I credit yoga with decreasing my anxiety, improving my posture and helping me to become more mindful in my daily life.

When I was pregnant, prenatal yoga helped me to embrace my changing body while allowing my busy mind to quiet down. Once my baby arrived, I was no longer sure how to incorporate yoga into my life. I felt intimidated by the idea of attending a traditional yoga class as my body was still recovering. I also had to contend with the new challenge of finding somewhere for my baby to be. Fortunately, Houston’s yoga community did not disappoint, and I found two great mommy and baby yoga classes that offer two very different approaches.

The Houston Children's Museum is great, but it can be a bit overwhelming for younger children. The last time I took my toddler I could see the fear in his eyes as I tried to herd him and his cousin through seas of big kids. It's why I love The Woodlands Children's Museum because it is perfect for my family right now. The 11,000-square-foot facility is geared toward children up to age 10, and the best part is it is just small enough that I can sit in one spot for a good 5-10 minutes and still have my toddler in sight.

In the southwest corner of the greater Houston area is the 23,000-acre George Ranch, which is home to the George Ranch Historical Park. Driving down to Richmond, which is about 15 minutes west of Sugar Land, may seem like a hassle for some Houstonians, but a visit to the park is worth it. It brings nearly a century of Texas history, the 1830s to 1930s, with historical replicas, exhibits, and reenactments. 

Read on to hear about my family's trip to George Ranch Historical Park during Labor Day weekend and why we think it makes the perfect day trip.