Say what you will about November, but few months are more, well, American. Our national celebration of thanks bonds citizens from Port Washington to Port Jefferson and from Manhasset to Montauk.

Long Islanders this month will vote in regional elections, honor our veterans, eat some turkey, maybe watch some football, and perhaps even engage in that all-American sport of Black Friday shopping. Who needs Amazon when you’ve got Roosevelt Field, right?

November heralds the arrival of the holiday season, but before rushing into Christmas, New Year’s, and the dead of winter, why not take a few moments to contemplate the majesty of the calendar’s 11th month. Grab a sweater, go for a hike, bear witness to the foliage, compete in a turkey trot, and remember all that we love about our overcrowded, traffic-strewn piece of island real estate. We at Mommy Poppins will be right there with you.

Here are our picks for the best in family entertainment in November. Our Long Island Events Calendar offers exciting family options as they develop throughout the month, and our Fall Fun Guide will keep you and your family moving right up until that first day of winter.

Here we go.

Fall in NYC has well and truly arrived—the days are crisp and cool, and the leaves are changing color all around town. While the holiday season is creeping up on us, too, there's still plenty of fall fun to pack in, including the annual Canstruction, celebrations of Día de Los Muertos, a musical about taco-loving dragons, and of course, the unstoppable juggernaut that is Baby Shark live.

If your family kicks into Christmas mode the minute your Halloween costumes come off, we're not judging—in fact, we're right there behind you in the Santa hats! Reserve your spots for Polar Express train rides and Macy's Santaland, which is by (FREE) reservation only again in 2019. Meanwhile, the NYBG's holiday train show returns this month with new creations, along with the beloved Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, brand-new holiday lantern festivals, and an immersive holiday installation at Saks Fifth Avenue featuring the characters from Frozen 2.

Read on for the best family outings in November, and for more options, check our Event Calendar and Fall Fun Guide. 

November is a month of transition, as celebrations of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the December holidays merge—and Westchester and the Hudson Valley are rich with seasonal family activities. There's still time to squeeze in visit to local Halloween haunts like the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, which runs through the end of November; then, before you can say gobble-gobble, it’s time for the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Skydiving Santa.

In between are numerous performances, STEAM-related programs, and other assorted fun. Below are our picks for the best things to do in November, but remember that our Event Calendar has many more fun and enriching activities of all kinds. Savor the season and enjoy it all! 

Put away the pumpkins and get out the garland! November is here, and the holiday season has officially begun.

Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday season, and you can celebrate the old-fashioned way at Thanksgiving Harvest Home & Armistice Observance and the Historic Village at Allaire. And it's already beginning to look a lot like Christmas, with the start of holiday train rides and holiday light shows like the ones at Skylands Stadium and Turtle Back Zoo. Santa Claus is coming to town, too, with celebrations of his arrival at Storybook Land and in Nutley.

November is also a month full of drama, with everyone's favorite characters taking the stage. Check out family-friendly performances of SpongeBob, Rudolph and Disney Junior Holiday Party.

Read on for more can't-miss events coming up in November, and for even more kid-friendly choices, be sure to check out our Event Calendar, updated daily with new happenings. Happy (beginning of the) Holidays, New Jersey!

From the moment my family arrived, we found West Virginia to be quite literally a breath of fresh air. A quick four-day family vacation to the Mountain State left such an impression that my tween daughter announced nearly immediately that she'll be moving there!

Whether seeking outdoor adventures, such as whitewater rafting and hiking in stunning West Virginia's state parks, or enjoying a classic state fair and exploring caves, families with kids of all ages will find plenty of fun things to do in West Virginia. We knew little of this mountainous southern state beyond the refrain of John Denver's anthem...."almost heaven, West Virginia." But we couldn't agree more. What we found was a refreshingly authentic travel experience, steeped in nature and sweetened by welcoming locals. Our overwhelming impression is just the absolute greenness of the sate: thick forests of trees, so many trees, and lush, dense greenery. More than three-quarters of the state is covered by forest.

Read on for our family-friendly travel guide-slash-love-letter to the state of West Virginia. We're sharing some of the favorite restaurants, resorts, cities in West Virginia, and yes the abundance of outdoor opportunities and more fun things to do in West Virginia when traveling with kids, from camping to skiing and more. 

The thought of having to prepare a huge Thanksgiving meal for my family gives me nightmares worse than forgetting to turn in my senior thesis. I prefer to leave it to the professionals and enjoy family, friends, and football rather than shopping, cooking, and cleaning up. For a traditional feast with all the trimmings and minus the stress, check out our list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving in the Hartford area. Reservations are strongly recommended for all of the restaurants. Check out our posts about Thanksgiving Dinner Out in Fairfield County and Restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day in Litchfield County too. 

Now that Halloween is over, it's time to (at least try to) get into the holiday spirit! This month you can still check out a fall festival or two, but Santa is already making appearances around town. For inside activities, check out an area trampoline park, or indoor play area. It's also the perfect time of year for a weekend camping trip to get the most of the weather.

We'll continue updating our calendar for things to do every day, and you can sign up for our weekly newsletters to receive our latest posts and ideas for things to do around Houston.

The Please Touch Museum is one of the most celebrated places in the Philadelphia region to take your tots under the age of six, and for good reason. This totally hands-on experience, with nothing off limits, gives kids the chance to let their imaginations run wild. Whether they are playing grown-up in the replica grocery store or make-believe in the Alice in Wonderland maze, kids are sure to have a great time. Here are some insider tips to help parents and children make the most of their visit.

Looking for other inside activities for kids in the Philly area? Check out our directory of venues that offer indoor fun.