Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and if you're anything like me you've already started dreaming of all the delicious holiday food you're going to enjoy with family. After all, this is the one time each year that it's actually acceptable to spend the entire day eating...and then eating some more. But consider starting a new family tradition - participating in a family Turkey Trot, which gets everyone up and moving and allows you to raise funds for a good cause. Here are 12 family-friendly runs happening around Houston!

Every time I look at my calendar lately, it seems like my kids are spending more time with me than they are in the classroom, and November in NYC seems to be particularly peppered with days off. Between Election Day, Veterans Day, and the pair of school holidays that make up Thanksgiving break, we've got plenty of time to kill. If you're not heading out of town to celebrate with family and friends, you might be searching for some staycation ideas for you and the kids.

Fear not, though we've already given you a slew of must-do activities to enjoy all month long, here are 25 more ideas for entertaining your brood in New York City on November's school holidays. Find more school holiday fun in our daily Event Calendar.

Jackson Heights is often thought of as a hot, up-and-coming NYC neighborhood, but really it's just been flying under the radar for the last hundred years or so. This community, one of the most diverse in the United States, has been called an “international Mayberry” due to the small-town feel and the peaceful co-existence of so many different types of people. The fact that it was the nation’s first planned garden district—meaning that most of the buildings in the historic section are built around lush, green courtyards—doesn’t hurt, either. 

Eleven years ago, I moved to this Queens neighborhood from the East Village—which has its own, very different charms—hoping that a down payment and a dream would keep me from missing those Manhattan lights. I soon discovered that mere acquaintances here greet each other on the street, and I find myself in conversations with interesting people from all over the world. Once I had a baby, I met even more neighbors. 

To make it a little easier to find those great Jackson Heights gems with your children, we've compiled a list of neighborhood highlights. Enjoy!

The eating local trend has taken Boston by storm, with farmers markets cropping up in many neighborhoods and the Boston Public Market opening last year. And we can’t think of a better way to celebrate local food than by purchasing a regionally raised turkey for Thanksgiving. So we’ve rounded up 10 Boston-area farms and shops where you can purchase a local turkey to have as the centerpiece of your family’s holiday meal. With Thanksgiving only weeks away, it’s time to reserve your bird!

Fall festival season may be almost over, and that means it's time to start celebrating the holidays. (We know - we can't believe it's November either). There are plenty of family friendly holiday, and non-holiday related, festivals to check out this "winter" around Houston.

All right.  Fourth of July was a tad early to be seeing Christmas decorations.  But once Thanksgiving has come and gone, its time to bring on the holiday decor, Connecticut!  If holiday spirit is what you’re seeking, check out some of these super festive streets in Fairfield County.  Creative store window displays, twinkling street lamps and beautifully lit trees can brighten anyone’s mood! For more holiday fun check out our Holiday Guide.

If there’s one thing Queens might always need, it’s another sensory gym, indoor party venue, and play space for kids. Well, Big Stride of Forest Hills, is a “triple threat,” offering all three options for residents. While it’s predominately a sensory gym and classes space for toddlers to teenagers with disabilities, it also can be reserved for birthday parties and private play dates. We checked out the new space to learn more.