Many museums and venues that aren't regularly open make an effort to open on school holidays and offer special programs for families. Here's a list of some of your best bets for Columbus Day.

Many New Yorkers associate City Island with summertime (that is, if they even know about it).  Afterall, the main cuisine offered is seafood, there are panoramic water views, and sailboats galore.  However, we find the best time to visit City Island is a) anytime but a Friday or Saturday night (lunchtime is fine) and b) off-season!  Therefore we're recommending it as a perfect weekend daytrip. 

I have family visiting and I was thinking today that there really couldn't be a better time to visit Long Island than now. Fall is here, it's pumpkin and apple picking season, Fall farms are bustling, and there are plenty of Fall Festivals happening across the island as well. The weather forecast looks great for Columbus Weekend, and here are a few of our favorite suggestions for activities for you and your family to enjoy over the long weekend:

I've added a new page to the site that I wanted to share with you. The Arts and Kid Shows Guide has lots of information about museums, performances, art shows and other fun cultural activities to do in New York with kids. There's also money-saving tips, like free times at all the museums, some ideas for how to make a museum outing more fun with kids, and recent reviews of kid shows.

I'll keep adding more info as we write it and all new reviews will be in there, so you can always check the guide for the most current exhibit and show information. You'll find it by clicking on the Art & Shows tab at the top of the site.

I hope this page will be a helpful addition to the site. If you have any suggestions please email me.

Visit the Culture Guide now.

I can't believe it's October already. The first month of school went by so fast and we've been so busy. Meanwhile the DOE has been busy too: a new rule prohibits bake sales in schools. On the flip side, the junk food industry has launched a campaign to fight City Hall's attempts to fight the obesity epidemic. A study shows that Charter Schools perform better and Bloomberg asks to lift the cap on them. And Obama wants to keep kids in school longer while some kids may be missing school after going to swine flu parties. Lastly, we learn about the silver lining of recessions and how you can see the philharmonic for just $16.

Colors are changing, and those warmer jackets are making their way out of the closets—true signs that Fall is in full swing. If you’re looking to bob for apples (or pick ‘em), play in pumpkin patches or feast on the harvest, you’ve got plenty of options. But there’s also a slew of cultural events happening this weekend, like the Tibetan, Norwegian, Korean, and Diwali festivals, and Halloween events are going on already, too. If you are looking for a little mini-adventure, the “outer boroughs” are also jam-packed with events from the traditional fall fare to soap box derbies. So whatever you wind up doing, get out there and enjoy the crisp air (and leaves)!

Sure, New York City is expensive, but think how much money you save by not having to travel all the way to India with your kids to experience the culture and customs of Diwali. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and New Year, is a time to celebrate good fortune, family and friendships. While October 17, 2009 is the official holiday date, there are events and activities for kids to celebrate Diwali in New York as early as this week. Enjoy performances of the story of Diwali, create traditional decorations to take home, eat yummy Indian foods at Diwali Mela street fairs...all you need is a Metrocard and a sense of curiosity.

Here are some fun Diwali activities and events for kids in New York City:

[UPDATED: September 7, 2012]

We've previously let you in on the best museum memberships for families, and now we're exploring more of New York City's great institutions--gardens and zoos. Learn about membership options, what perks and extras are offered, and everything else you need to know to figure out if it's worth it for you and your family.