Sometimes we want our kids to have birthday parties teeming with enriching activities and professional party entertainment from start to finish. Other times, we just want them to go outside and jump somewhere far away from the sofa. Families with sprawling back yards might be fortunate enough not to need the information below, but for the many, many LA families raising kids in smaller homes than they ever imagined they would, our wonderful city parks are our life support system; the parks that allow bounce houses can be even more so. Check out 12 great parks we love that let kids enjoy bouncers at their birthday parties.

Can't bear the thought of another laser-tag or spa-day birthday party? No problem! We've rounded up plenty of options for you to choose from and some you might even enjoy doing right along with them. Here are a few fresh ideas for you that are sure to make this year's party a big success! 

And take a look at our Long Island Party Guide for all things birthday-related.

Spring is finally here! A time for sunshine, flowers, and, of course, baby showers! The planning and design of baby showers have grown leaps and bounds in today's baby-happy world, and they've definitely have become more personal and creative. We spoke with four Jersey-based event planners about new trends in baby showers... plan a memorable one for a pregnant friend, or throw a fabulous one for yourself!

I am an urban-dwelling mama. If a discussion ever comes up about moving to the ‘burbs, my initial reaction is always, "But what would I do without the Boston Children’s Museum?".

I have the luxury of having the museum in my backyard, and let’s just say my toddler and I put our annual pass to good use. Our children’s museum excursions are very predictable. It wasn’t until my most recent trip that I thought I might go batty if we didn’t break up the pattern. So we had a long chat about it. (Ever notice how toddlers need this kind of explanation if a routine is broken? Actually, so do most adults.)

Punxsutawney Phil may have predicated an early spring, but Mother Nature had other ideas. We’ve all been cooped up for weeks now, and spring break is right ahead. Yes, it' a short one (thanks a lot, lousy NJ weather), but if you are looking for an alternate plan for your brood for the few precious non-school days, check out the list of local spring break options.

There are a lot of memes out there taking Punxsutawney Phil and his groundhog brothers to task for their early spring prediction. With Monday's snowstorm and a forecast for more snow next week, it's hard to believe that spring is here, but it is along with spring break. All of our sites have awesome suggestions for enriching spring break activities and Easter celebrations. Our Boston site also has a great post about creative calorie-free treats to stuff in Easter eggs and awesome spring-themed crafts in case you're looking for ways to spend time together at home. Plus you can always catch a new family movie: The Croods opens on Friday, and Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill and Oz: The Great and Powerful are already playing.

Spring break is a great time for a day trip. There are lots of wonderful tri-state area destinations and some don't even require a car, like NJ's interactive Liberty Science Center, which is easily accessible via PATH train. If you're looking for an overnight getaway, check our Travel site. It's not too late to plan a last-minute spring break getaway!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: