If you're planning a camping trip with the kids—whether it's in the forest or backyard camping—picture this scene: Everyone is gathered around the roaring campfire. The marshmallows have been roasted, the campfire songs have been sung, and the crickets are chirping. What better time to whip out the flashlight and share some ghost stories?

Here are 21 not-so-scary ghost stories and spooky stories for kids of all ages. For more family fun while camping, check out our list of 17 camping games to play with kids.

Considering visiting The Metropolitan Museum with kids? Here are our top tips for a family-friendly visit to the world-class art museum.

One Friday afternoon, my son came home from kindergarten and announced that we must visit The Met over the weekend because he had to see the Renoirs. His wonderful art teacher introduced the class to Impressionist art, and I was overjoyed.

If you're lucky enough to live down the road from a world-famous art museum, why shouldn't your whole family take advantage of the sprawling galleries, priceless pieces, and kids' activities at The Met, and explore it together? We've made countless trips to The Metropolitan Museum of Art since—it's one of our favorite museums to visit with kids in NYC—and are offering our top tips for a family-friendly visit to The Met, plus our favorite kids' activities at The Met and the top exhibits and hidden treasures to explore. Find all our top picks for cultural outings in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC.

Everyone has their own idea of what the best Trader Joe's foods are, and while we all know about the magic of Trader Joe's Orange Chicken, the shelves at Trader Joe’s are lined with products that make meal time, snack time, and just about any other time more enjoyable. Eager to get some new easy dinner ideas, we asked readers what they think the best Trader Joe’s foods are. We were overwhelmed by the responses. Start this week's grocery list off with these best Trader Joe’s foods, from frozen treats to snacks to easy meal ideas. Meal planning just got a whole lot more fun!

If you need more meal inspirations, check out these 15 Easy Trader Joe's Recipes, and other favorite recipe ideas from taco recipes to sheet pan dinners kids love, in our Guide To Easy Recipes for Kids and Families.

We have just five precious years or so to spend with our little ones before they head off to kindergarten. In these years, kids grow and develop faster than they will at any other time in their lives, so many of us want to fill their days with as many opportunities to learn, laugh, and love life as possible. That means taking advantage of the many play spaces, mommy-and-me classes, storytimes, playgrounds, and other treasures the Garden State offers toddlers.

Enjoy these great opportunities throughout New Jersey while your preschoolers are young enough to appreciate them—and, in some cases, young enough to score FREE admission.

For more can't-miss NJ offerings, check out 100 Things to Do in New Jersey with Kids Before They Grow Up.

Visiting the Long Island Aquarium with kids will give your family access to more than 100 exhibits and interactive experiences, ensuring a fun day admiring majestic sea life. Formerly Atlantis Aquarium, the Long Island Aquarium allows you to embark on an adventure to the lost city of Atlantis, where you'll be greeted by stingrays, sharks, seahorses, and even mermaids. 

With different events and experiences throughout the year, it's always a good time to say hello to Poseidon and his friends. 

For more entertainment inspiration, check out our Guide to Amusement Parks and Water Parks Near Long Island, and be sure to bookmark our frequently-updated Long Island Family Activity Calendar. 

If you have a little historian on your hands, plan a visit to Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island, where guests immerse themselves in rich American history in Historic Richmond Town's living history village and historical museum that springs to life with seasonal programs, workshops, and year-round special events.

Read on for details on our visit to this Staten Island gem and learn about more living history day trips nearby. We've got more picks for great local museums in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for Kids.

As your child becomes a teen, creative birthday party ideas become more of a challenge. You can't satisfy them with balloons, ice cream, and pizza like in the early years. Bringing in the clowns won’t work, and you can forget about face painting and bouncy houses too! So, how do you engage them and create birthday memories? My teen loves the city for her birthdays; she can walk around the fabulous neighborhoods with her friends after the party. So check out these ideas for teen birthday parties in Boston, and find the right celebration for your not-so-easily-impressed teen.

See out our Top Attractions in Boston: Best Things To See and Do with Kids for more ideas on having fun in the city on their special day. And check out our Birthday Party Guide for Boston Kids for cake recipes, fun ways to connect virtually with loved ones, and much more.

Teens and tweens are in that - interesting, shall we say - stage of life between being a go-with-the-flow kid and an independent adult. Sometimes they love anything and everything you do for them, and other times, they absolutely can't stand the sight of you. Parenting teens and tweens can be hard, but planning their birthday party doesn't have to be, because there are plenty of birthday party places near Houston.

With growing independence, the occasional energy for days, and the ability to safely participate in activities that may be just a bit too extreme for younger children (i.e., go-karts and paintball), teens and tweens are at the perfect age to venture out from indoor play spaces and parties at parks and plan a party at a Houston venue that offers a bit more adventure.

Here is a list of birthday party ideas for teens in Houston. For more Houston-area birthday party ideas for kids of all ages, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Guide for Houston families.