Gala. Honeycrisp. Cortland. Liberty. McIntosh and Macoun. It just wouldn't be autumn in Connecticut without a delicious apple-picking adventure. For most families, it means enjoying the outdoors on a beautiful autumn day, road tripping with friends, or eating nothing but cider donuts and apples for three straight hours (and the inevitable-but-oh-so-worth-it stomachache that follows). If you are heading out to pick straight from the tree, call ahead to see what's available, but meanwhile, check out our Apple Picking Guide, which includes farms all over the state. Below are some wonderful family-owned orchards to consider in Eastern Connecticut:

We've already stocked up on back-to-school supplies from new backpacks to jeans, but now comes the fun part: books! 

If you have voracious summer readers, it's likely your kids are already complaining that they’ve read everything. Or maybe you want to inspire a less than enthusiastic reader to kick off the 2015-2016 academic year on a wordy note.

Either way, Mommy Poppins has put together a list of more than a dozen books for kids of all ages, from preschool to high school, that were published within the last year, and, based on the awards they've already won, seem destined to become future classics. So pull up a comfy chair, whip out that library card and read on. You might just find a new family favorite.

My kids are five and seven and both attend public school. I’m amazed at how much is expected of them at such an early age. In addition to rigorous academics, students are expected to sit still for huge portions of the day—not easy for active kids like mine! We stay busy with activities like hiking and ice skating, and of course, we love all the indoor play spaces Westchester has to offer. Still, I wanted a class where my kids could learn some new skills. Nothing too regimented—I wanted to balance out the school stress, not add to it. My kids needed a class that would let them get their wiggles out, help them become strong and confident and, most of all, have some silly fun. Luckily, we've found a great place to combat the Common Core blues: the circus!

Do you have a budding artist or historian? We have the perfect party ideas for them! You won’t be disappointed with the choices Hartford's Party Guide has to offer. Whether it be a bounce house, air or trolley museum, we've listed ten fun places to throw your next soiree. 

Labor Day weekend brings an unofficial end to the vacation season on the East End of Long Island. The calendar gave us an extra week to celebrate and Mother Nature blessed us with near-ideal weather all season long. Let’s hope she stays kind for one more final weekend because there’s just too much going on to be stuck inside.

From Friday to Monday, East Enders can enjoy arts festivals, community parties, fishing derbies and, of course, the Shinnecock Pow Wow, Southampton’s annual celebration of the East End's indigenous people.

So get out and enjoy yourself. Take one more look at our Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide for the best in East End entertainment and check out our Long Island Classes Guide to help you get ready for the school year. And remember: Memorial Day 2016 is only nine months away!

Kids aren’t the only ones feeling academic pressure these days—Mom and Dad are experiencing it, too. With the introduction of Common Core Standards, our kids are learning in a completely different way than we did as students. This can pose a real challenge when a child is struggling in school or needs help with assignments (I admit to reading over the instructions to my son’s math homework quite a few times before fully understanding it!). Many more parents are turning to tutors now than when we were kids.

Different from tutors, our sponsor Kumon realizes that learning is about more than simply scoring well on a test; students also need to develop good study habits and the ability to self-learn without being taught. And this takes the pressure off parents when it comes to helping out with homework and test prep.

Kids aren’t the only ones feeling academic pressure these days—Mom and Dad are experiencing it, too. With the introduction of Common Core Standards, our kids are learning in a completely different way than we did as students. This can pose a real challenge when a child is struggling in school or needs help with assignments (I admit to reading over the instructions to my son’s math homework quite a few times before fully understanding it!). Many more parents are turning to tutors now than when we were kids.

Different from tutors, our sponsor Kumon realizes that learning is about more than simply scoring well on a test; students also need to develop good study habits and the ability to self-learn without being taught. And this takes the pressure off parents when it comes to helping out with homework and test prep.

As the kids head back to school (be sure to check out our classes guide), it's time to shake off the beach sand, head into fall, and get back into the rhythm of things. But just because summer is over doesn't mean the fun has to stop. There are plenty of activities and events for the family this month, from fall festivals and fairs to train rides and the annual Shinnecock Pow Wow. 

And don't forget to check out event calendar daily, as we continue adding to it throughout the month.