Surrounded by the flat, meandering Charles, Boston has a reputation for some great kayaking and canoeing. But whitewater adventures? Not so much. However, in just a few hours or less, you can find real-deal rapids that rival many you might find in the southern mountains or even out west. Even better, southern New England is home to some experienced guide companies who run family-focused trips that introduce beginners to whitewater rafting with an eye toward safety, education, and fun. If you think your crew is game to try some whitewater rafting, here's a breakdown of three companies who operate trips in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and southern Vermont.

When I moved to Houston from New York City, my former co-workers got me a membership to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as a going away gift. I guess they wanted to make sure I would still get some culture all the way down here in Texas. It was a wonderful gift and gave me the opportunity to get to explore one of the best resources for art and culture in Houston! Now that I'm a mom, I have realized that the MFAH has so much to offer for children and families. 

Nothing compares to the beauty of New England Falls: the breathtaking colors of the foliage with the reds, oranges, yellows and browns cannot be found anywhere else. A beautiful, sunny October day is the perfect time to head out to explore one of Fairfield County’s many, beautiful parks. We have many favorites and look forward to nice autumn weekends to be able to visit them all. Check out our complete Fall Fun Guide for more ways to savor the season. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and don't miss out on any fun this season!

Monroe is a quiet, little outpost north of Bridgeport on the way to Danbury, with the obligatory (and lovely) town green/gazebo this state is known for.  But that old town center is now a long way into town from the highway — most of Monroe's hustle and bustle these days is along one of two corridors — route 25 or route 111 (Monroe Turnpike), near the Trumbull line.  That being said, there are a couple of outdoor gems off the beaten path that make a trek out from lower Fairfield County worth the time spent getting there, whether your kiddos are tiny or teens.

It’s never too early to teach kids the importance of eating healthy, and what better way to do that than by showing them how to cook nutritious meals? (OK, fine, sweets-baking is also fun for kids.)

Not only will kids master important kitchen skills, these classes also improve fine motor skills, boost math comprehension (thanks to all that measuring), and encourage kids to try new foods.

We’ve rounded up more than 10 places that offer cooking and baking classes for kids in Nassau and Suffolk counties. So go ahead and encourage your future Emeril or Giada to get cooking! And for more enrichment programs, check out our Classes Guide.

On the list of things Boston is flush with—green space, top universities, a maddening number of rotaries—museums are a particular point of pride. We boast some of the world's best, but it's been awhile since one could call itself "new." Enter Dreamland. As visitors to Government Center may have noticed, the Dreamland Wax Museum just had its grand opening in July. With more than 100 wax figures, Dreamland is definitely a different sort of experience than you might find on the neighboring Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall. I recently visited with my 12-year-old son, my seven-year-old daughter, and an eight-year-old friend, and here's our take on whether the museum is cool or creepy. (Spoiler alert: It's a little bit of both).

With a new school year starting in just a couple of weeks, we decided to ease our kids back into the learning game with a fun and informative trip to the San Jacinto Battleground. Filled to the brim with Texas history, this state historic site is home to the iconic San Jacinto Monument and museum, the USS Texas Battleship, and tons of green space to explore with historical markers and informative plaques. It's often challenging to find a family activity that all four of our kids (ages 3, 5, 8 and 11) will enjoy, but we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to see and do at the battleground. 

The malls of Los Angeles want you to visit, and they’re willing to do you a favor or two to get you there—including free workout classes. It may seem counterintuitive to head to the mall in search of free stuff, but, in the spirit of reeling us in, many malls offer kid-friendly, free workouts for moms. In other words, the mall is one of very few places where you can exercise without dropping a wad of cash. I can’t promise that you won’t end up splurging on lunch or a new pair of skinny jeans (that’s the whole point of the free workout, isn’t it?), but the sweat sessions listed below are free to anyone with an iron will.