We admit it.   Connecticut can be a bit of a nightmare for travelers.  The crush of Fairfield County commuters, merging with Northeast Corridor weekend volume, can equate to several hours inching through a pretty tiny state.  Toss in a holiday, and you’re toast for certain.  A reader sought out Mommy Poppins' advice for planned, midday rest stops — ones where you and the kiddos can escape the mental drain of traffic for a bit.  We looked at our favorite Fairfield County parks and nature centers and came up with a list of spots within five minutes of the Merritt.  Whether you’re from near or far, we hope it takes the sting out of your extended stay on the Parkway.

With the holidays coming up, it's time to think about gifts for family and friends. Each year, I try to support local Brooklyn businesses. Luckily, I'm surrounded by so many unique places for toys, clothes, books and everything in between. Even if you don’t plan on holiday shopping in Brooklyn, many of the stores listed have excellent websites and can ship gifts wherever they need to go.

Our series of posts on Sunset Park continues with a look at some of our favorite family-family restaurants in the area. As the home of Brooklyn's Chinatown, Sunset Park has long been a foodie destination for authentic dim sum and Chinese cuisine, mostly on or around Eighth Avenue, which is where the neighborhood's annual Lunar New Year Parade takes place.

Sunset Park also has a rich Hispanic population, so there are a number of eateries serving up staples like Mexican tacos and Puerto Rican mofongo along Fourth and Fifth Avenues, plus one spot that harks back to the area's original settlers: the Danish Athletic Club. And while overall the community has been relatively untouched by the hipster artisanal dining scene in neighboring Park Slope, there are a few upstarts in the South Slope section of the nabe, like beer garden Greenwood Park, which occasionally hosts kids' events on weekends.

Here are our top 10 places to eat in Sunset Park with kids.

'Tis the season for plenty of yummy treats. Instead of doing all of the hard work by yourself, why not get the kids in on some of the action? In fact, the holidays are a great time to get your kids in the kitchen, learning to bake pies, cookies and other goodies. And there are a few classes on Long Island where children can take their cooking skills to the next level, including learning how to create some holiday delights. For all, pre-registration is required. 

And for other fun ideas and activities during the season, be sure to check out our Long Island Holiday Guide.

With Christmas quickly approaching, it’s easy to get lured in by the mega-sales, sparkling lights, and shiny wrapping paper. Even for those of us who try our best to be good to the Earth during the rest of the year, the holiday season can completely derail our efforts as we endeavor to please everyone, outdo our neighbors, and make Christmas magical for our kids. Celebrating Christmas in an Earth-friendly, sustainable way doesn’t mean taking the fun out of the party. Here are tips to help you go green (and maybe even save some green) this Christmas in Boston and beyond. 

There are some things that only come around once a year, and sometimes we miss them every time. One minute the local promenade is an ordinary shopping street; the next it is a winter fairyland. How many times have you meant to be there when they turn the lights on?

This week trees and streets are illuminating all over the LA basin with events in Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Glendale, El Segundo, and Westlake Village. Mark your calendar and put some cocoa in a thermos. Nothing says “holiday” like a good tree lighting celebration.

If miniature trees in HO Scale are your thing, don’t forget to check out another rare event, The Pasadena Model Railroad Club Fall Open House.  And of course, for those of you who may be allergic to conifers, there are plenty of non-Christmas tree activities to be found on our event calendar. Read on for our weekday picks this week...