If you’re looking for an enjoyable amusement park experience minus crazy thrill rides and super-sized crowds, take a day trip to Storybook Land in Egg Harbor. This charming spot, in operation since 1955, was created with younger children in mind—the rides and attractions are all geared toward the under-10 crowd, making it great for toddlers and big siblings alike.

Visiting is a bit like stepping into a fairy tale: as you walk through the wooded grounds, you encounter characters from nursery rhymes and classic children's stories, like Humpty Dumpty and Alice in Wonderland. Even if you didn't go there as a kid, as many New Jerseyans did, you're sure to fall under its nostalgia-laced spell. 

My husband and I recently visited for the first time with our two boys, ages 5 and 2, and we all loved it and will definitely go back. Storybook Land is No. 1 on our list of 30 Things to Do with NJ Preschoolers, with good reason. Read on for more about this sweet NJ gem. And find even more fun for little ones in our roundup of Great NJ Amusement Parks for Toddlers and Preschoolers.  

If your family is in the market for a new kitty or just looking for the purr-fect way to spend an afternoon, you are in for a furry good time. The Shabby Tabby, Long Island's first cat cafe, is waiting for you to frolic and munch with some new feline friends. 

Make an hourlong reservation at the cafe in Sayville and enjoy some cuddly time with your favorite fur-balls while enjoying a complimentary beverage and tasty pastries. All of the cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready for adoption. 

What's more, a second cat cafe, A Kitten Kaboodle, plans to open in Selden in June, offering more fun for animal-lovin' tots. In the meantime, check out our list of the best animal farms and petting zoos on Long Island and our roundup of animal encounter birthday party destinations for Long Island kids.

Founded in 1891, the New York Botanical Garden is a 250-acre oasis in the middle of Bronx Park, housing 50 specialty gardens, and more than one million plants. The largest botanic garden in the United States, it's also a National Historic Landmark and well worth a visit in any season. 

When I was growing up, my family ran a generations-old business selling plants and designing fabulous landscapes for the well-to-do in my native Colorado. My first job was weeding the plants in the garden center, and for a time, I thought I'd go to school to become a landscape architect and follow in my father's footsteps. Plants are practically in my blood, and to this day, I still crave a connection with nature and want my born-and-bred New Yorkers to feel blades of grass between their toes and get their hands dirty.

While we've always found our nature fix in Central Park and some of the wonderful gardens, flower shows, and greenspaces the city has to offer, no park in the city has captivated me as much as the Bronx's New York Botanical Garden. Read on for 10 things to love about this green treasure, as the cultural gem embarks on its yearlong celebration of #plantlove.

It’s difficult to take kids to the Jersey Shore without them hounding you to go to the boardwalk. Now they have three new reasons to twist your arm: Jenkinson’s is adding a trio of rides to its amusement area in summer 2019, including a new roller coaster, a giant slide, and a kiddie ride.

Our picks for April are in, and we've chosen a dozen plus of the most special activities from our Event Calendar, including literary outings, a pow-wow, and escapes into the mists of time. Easter and Earth Day are in the mix as well. Of course, we'll send our newsletters with even more ideas as the weeks unfold, and we'll keep adding to our calendar daily; but we want to give you enough time to snag tickets for some of these extra special events in advance—or leave your day open—so you don't miss out on any favorites.

Click through to the full listings, and you can automatically add them to your personal calendar.

April is jam-packed full of fun ways to soak up springtime...and as always, our Boston GoList features a carefully curated roundup of the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month. Sheepshearing, stargazing, Easter egg hunts, and Patriots Day parades are just some of the awesome events on tap for April. And with warmer weather on its way, it's a good time to bookmark our spring fun guide, too. 

April is jam-packed full of fun ways to soak up springtime...and as always, our Connecticut GoList features a carefully curated roundup of the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month. Stargazing, farm fun, Easter egg hunts, and even dino egg hunts are just some of the awesome events on tap for April. And with warmer weather on its way, it's a good time to bookmark our spring fun guide, too.