Whether you are a new parent or a seasoned professional, we all need a night off. Especially when it comes to a night dedicated to romance. A date night for V-Day doesn’t have to be a distant memory! Check out one of these fab NJ places offering drop-off services and Valentine’s Day fun on and around the big day for the kiddos and slow down for a much-needed break with your Valentine. And for other fun stuff this month, check out our February GoList.

Many childhood experts agree that attending a high-quality preschool is important in helping children to prepare for kindergarten and beyond. In such a setting, little ones begin to understand structure, how to wait their turn and work in a team, and lay a strong academic foundation that includes richer vocabularies and stronger basic match skills. But such an experience should not cost as much as college tuition. In the Hartford area, there are many preschools that offer an enriching curriculum at a more affordable price. Here are a few names to help start your search for the perfect fit for your child:

What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than a family nature hike. Central New Jersey’s hiking trails pass through a diversity of beautiful surroundings that include forests, lakes, animal habitats, waterfalls and even historical landmarks. Hiking is a fun way for families to get fresh air, exercise and explore the great outdoors together. Many of the hiking locations also have playgrounds, nature centers and picnic areas, so plan to make a day of it. Pack up the snacks, the camera, a trail map, and check out these five picks for family friendly hikes in Central New Jersey.

When the GRAMMY Museum arrived on the LA scene back in 2008, my son was five years old - too young, I felt, to enjoy a museum full of musicians he'd never heard of. And since the Mom Years are not a time to indulge in museums for my own personal enjoyment, John Lennon's glasses would have to wait. Or so I thought. Happily one of the museum's periodic family concerts lured us there ahead of schedule, and I discovered that the GRAMMY Museum is not just a Mecca for aging rockers. In fact, for a parent ready to think outside the playspace, this is a fabulous play spot on a rainy day!

As TV's Grease Live might croon, “STEM is the word!” From the president to the mayor right down to the schools, everyone wants to get kids, especially girls and children of color, excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

And now New York City has one more STEM play and classes spot for kids. Zaniac, which has outlets around the country, including in Greenwich and Westport, Connecticut, recently opened its first STEM-focused, after-school and camp center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Find more NYC classes in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings.

In my world, summer generally means a visit to Grammy and Papa's rustic, woodsy Colorado cabin. While I love raising my kids in NYC, with all of the museums, parks and culture it has to offer, I also enjoy escaping from the urban jungle so we can explore the great outdoors.

One fun and educational way to do that is the national Junior Rangers Program, which we discovered last summer in Colorado. My kids received different activity books—geared toward their respective ages—to read and complete with the promise that, once they were done, they could meet with a Park Ranger, discuss what they'd learned and be sworn in as Junior Rangers complete with badges.

Although my children became Junior Rangers far from the Big Apple in Rocky Mountain National Park, NYC kids can do it at 10 sites right here in and around Manhattan.

Here's a list of some of our favorite summer camps in the Litchfield County area. Performing arts, fine art, equestrian, woodland survival, nature, and just every day fun camps are included. These are camps that our children or their friends have done so we can vouch for their quality. For more options check out our Summer Camp Guide.

Kids are innate animal lovers—we bet all parents go through that phase when they're convinced their child is going to grow up to be a veterinarian. But in wintertime when all living things in New York City seem to be hibernating, it's tough to indulge kids' craving for creatures beyond the ever-present subway rats. And who wants to pet one of those?! That's why we rounded up the best places to get up close and personal with animals in cozy, indoor environments. Here's where you can hang with cool cats, beautiful birds and butterflies, and even "adopt" a critter without ever having to take it home.