Places to Take Your Kids (Big & Small) to Get Out and Enjoy the Day

It's finally getting a little warmer (at least some of the time), so it seems like a good time to take the family and head out. Our weekly Grab & Go Kids Planner has you covered.

It's our weekly list of kid-friendly activities and places to try out. You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the five (or more) best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

As always, help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips—if we missed anything, just leave us a comment letting us know!

Friends' Book Sale
Where/When:  Feb. 10 to 13 at the Thursday's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Sunday's hours 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Why Go:  Enjoy the comfort of a bargain priced book and more.  All  for a great cause.
Pricing: 10 cents to $2.00

Valentine's Day Storytime
Where/When:  Saturday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. at  in Bridgewater.
Why Go:  A special storytime and Valentine's Day themed craft will warm children's as well as parent's hearts.
Pricing:  Free

Thomas and Friends Live!
Where/When:  Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. at the MAC at Monmouth University.
Why Go:  Cheer and dance to beloved sing-a-long songs "Roll Call" and "Good Morning."  Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends Percy and Diesel will transport plenty of family fun and adventure.
Pricing:  $23 to $50 per ticket

3rd Annual Yuletide Bonfire
Where/When:  Saturday, Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. behind the Why Go:  No amount of snow or rescheduling can stop this fun!  Enjoy sleigh riding, snowman contest, refreshments, entertainment and more ... and ... Oh, a bonfire.
Pricing:  Free

Valentine's Day Horseback Ride
Where/When:  Sunday, Feb. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the  in Basking Ridge.
Why Go:  Enjoy nature and family with a leisurely walk/trot through picture-perfect trails.
Pricing:  $28 for Somerset County residents and $36 for non-residents

Pippin
Where/When:  Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12th at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Villagers Theatre
Why Go:  Travel along with Pippin as he searches to discover the secret to happiness and fulfillment ... the simple pleasures of home and family. Due to mature subject matter, the recommended viewing age is age 16 and older.
Pricing:  $18 per adult and $16 per senior and student

Where/When: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the  in Morristown.
Why Go: Besides being able to sample chocolate at the events, families can see how chocolate is made and make chocolate crafts. This is the third annual Chocolate Festival at the Morris Museum.
Pricing: Free with museum admission, which is $10 for adults, $7 for children and seniors, and free for members and children three or younger.

Performance of “Oliver!”
Where/When: Feb. 11 to 13 at Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph. Show times for Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12 are 8 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 13 is 2 p.m. This is the second, and second-to-last, weekend that the play will run at the playhouse.
Why Go: Based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” “Oliver!” has been performed on Broadway and premiered in 1960. According to the Brundage Park Playhouse’s website’s description of the show, “Oliver! is always a hit with audiences and perfect for the entire family.”
Pricing: $20 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12 or seniors

Great Backyard Bird Count
Where/When: Saturday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the  in Chatham and , which runs through Boonton, Montville, and Kinnelon.
Why Go: Be a part of an annual ornithological research event: birdwatchers age five or older can choose any spot in either the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center or Pyramid Mountain Historic Area and count how many birds they can see with binoculars in 15 minutes, then report their findings to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Pricing: Free, but participants must register by calling 973-326-7601.

Family Fun Day
Where/When: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the  in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Why Go: Families get to make chocolate Valentine’s Day Lollipops.
Pricing: Museum Admission, but preregistration is recommended at 973-377-2982, extension 12. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children, seniors, and students—but the museum will only charge a maximum of $13 per family.

Mad for Maple Syrup
Where/When: From 1 to 3 p.m. at the  in Morris Township on Sunday, Feb. 13.
Why Go: Families can enjoy pancakes, taste maple syrup samples, and learn how the sticky-sweet topping is made and how it can be used at this event meant for anyone age six or older.
Pricing: $20 per family, preregistration required at 973-326-7601.

Preschool Storytime
Where/When: The Children’s Room of the Morris County Library in Hanover from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Why Go: Because, according to a 2009 School Library Journal article, story time helps preschoolers get ready for kindergarten, and, they write, “is the perfect skill-building activity!”
Pricing: Free

Local Harvest Family Event
Where/When: The Morris County Cultural Center from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Why Go: Learn about local agriculture and purchase locally grown produce and locally raised meats. There will be historical displays about New Jersey agriculture by the Fosterfields Living Historical Farm.
Pricing: That depends, how much do you plan on spending on locally grown and raised products?

Hearth and Home: A Century of Family Life ExhibitWhere/When:  in Morristown from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Why Go: A chance to see how people lived from 1810 to 1910, the Macculloch Hall website describes the exhibit, “An exciting feature of this exhibit is an interactive area which provides opportunities for hands-on learning and experiential play; it is sure to be fun for adults and children alike.”

Pricing: Admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children younger than 12.

So, did we forget anything? Tell us in the comments, or post to our ongoing all-purpose events calendar.