We hope you've been enjoying our series on Great Small Towns in NJ and have headed out to Chester, Sparta, or Cranford by now. Today's selection is Millburn, New Jersey; as the home of the famed Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn is a center of the arts and culture in Essex County. Millburn also boasts a host of recreational facilities, restaurants, and a beautiful arboretum that will keep any family busy for a great day out in NJ!
 

Autumn in the Hamptons and North Fork is filled with pumpkin patches, apple picking and the beauty of vibrant Fall foliage. This week is your last chance to enjoy the breathtaking colors, as all of Suffolk County is either at or very near peak foliage color. The I Love NY website offers a Fall Foliage report and a leaf identifier tool to help you and your children collect and identify the leaves you'll likely collect on your outing. But don't delay!!  Too soon, the leaves will be blowing in the wind and the branches will be bare until next year. Read on for a few suggestions of spots where you can get out of your car to explore and enjoy nature up close.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to teach our children how to display gratitude. We can teach our kids to be thankful for our own health, safety, shelter and well-being while at the same time helping out others who are less fortunate. Not only are there many ways you and your family can help out others but you can also take the time to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with one of these themed events in Hartford County.

This time of year, the transition from one holiday to the next happens almost before you know it. Our calendar is growing daily with tons of holiday events for families in the greater Boston area through the end of the year. Whether your family has its annual “must-see” favorite or is considering attending a new show, it’s not too early to start making your plans.

One great resource is the Mayor’s Holiday Special website, which offers half-price tickets to many holiday shows all over Greater Boston, a $10-off holiday dining deal, and a full calendar of holiday festivities. The website is available November 1 through January 1, 2014.

So it begins: the season of giving. Whether giving thanks or giving presents, many of us are lucky to be able to do both. Sure, video games and gadgets are on the top of their lists, but why not give your kids the gift of giving? It’s hard to take your four-year-old to a soup kitchen, but here are a few easy and fun ideas to remind them (and you) how good it feels to do something for others.

And if your kids are ready to volunteer out in the world, check out our round up of kid-appropriate places to help out during the holidays.

It seems like only yesterday I was complaining about the heat and humidity, but cold weather and the holiday season are fast approaching.  There are deals to be had in diverse locations, like South Carolina, Williamsburg, Orlando, NYC and Portsmouth, NH.  If you are thinking internationally, there is a low-priced airfare special to Mexico City, non-stop from New York City.  If a romantic vacation without kids is in your future, consider the Aruba Marriott Resort's “Cupid on Call” program.