Take a quick trip and join in the celebration at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History’s Lemelson Center. When the hall reopens on November 21, young inventors will be tested, encouraged and, best of all, seriously inspired.

Scrapbooks, postcards and slideshows – oh, my! Your family pictures are worth more than a thousand words, so show them off with Smilebox!

For busy moms with no time to keep up-to-date, Kirtsy brings all the headlines to you. In a compact format you can peruse at your home computer or on the go, news, entertainment and blogs are lined up for your reading pleasure.

Enjoy a little winter exercise, whether you’re a first-time skater or an old pro. Our little city is just teeming with first-rate ice-skating rinks that are the perfect spots for families to have a good time.

A trip to the Catskills may seem like a serene respite for parents, but there’s a plethora of activities for families to enjoy. We’ve found a schedule full of events for the busy family that only has one weekend to get away.

Change in Dancing Meatballs' newsletter format - no longer just one event per day but 7 of our best ideas for the week.

Stumped for exciting Halloween plans? See our five top picks for the Philly area and choose one – or all – for a kickoff to a family-fabulous fall.

On October 18, 2008, the Please Touch Museum will open its doors at a new location at the Memorial Hall (4231 Avenue of the Republic in Philadelphia) in a building that was built for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Look for several new features at this facility, which will be more than the triple the size of the museum’s current 21st Street home.

There’s something for everyone – vegans, vegetarians and carnivorous brunchers of all ages – at A Full Plate Café, two years new in Northern Liberties. Revel in the “down-home” menu with fried green tomato salad or catfish fingers and be sure to try the award-winning chicken and waffles entrée.

Stay at your choice of Leading Hotels of the World from only $19.28 per night! Celebrate the 80th anniversary of this posh company by reserving a spot at some of the most coveted hotel rooms worldwide. Just log on and book away!

Become part of the larger picture of the sustaining food movement and join the Weavers Way Food Co-Op. The low prices and community atmosphere truly make this grocery store a family-friendly shopping experience.

Move over, cowboy. Austin, Texas, is home to the postmodern young family – smart, sophisticated, tech-savvy and dedicated to a healthy, happy and culturally-rich lifestyle for kids.

Try it before you buy it and never go through the hassle of large ticket item returns again. Zilok organizes regular people bartering regular items, so you can see how that plasma TV works before you spend your hard-earned money.

Who can keep track of everything that needs to be done in a day? You can – with a little help from Jott. Call in your own reminders, lists and messages and send them to yourself or your family with the assistance of Jott’s digital personal assistant and messaging programs.

Cast your lines and see what you catch this Saturday at the 2008 Philly Fun Fishing Fest at various points along the Schuylkill River. (See the Web site below for a complete list of locations.) You and the fam don’t need a license to participate in this event, which runs from 7:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., is completely free and features a variety of fun prizes.

Are you ready to race? Well, if you aren’t, a little Red Bull might do the trick. Even if you’re not a fan of the stimulating beverage, you’ll still enjoy watching the Red Bull Soapbox Race on September 6. Simply head to Lyceum Avenue in Manayunk, otherwise known as “The Wall.”

Who do you go to when you can’t figure out simple cooking tips related to sharpening knives, cutting garnish and coming up with new recipes? Luckily, StartCooking will keep your secret (that you don’t know everything about the culinary arts) and will even give you a few more.

Don’t know how to do something? No sweat! Seek expert tips related to just about any trade at Quamut.

That old saying about not being able to get enough of a good thing is completely true, which is why we at Dancing Meatballs are proud to present you with a new Anywhere Edition. Click on the link below for access to family-friendly, affordable activities that will wow your crew, whether you live in Boston, Los Angeles or anywhere in between.

In a world of online photo sharing, it can be super confusing choosing which service you should use to store your pics. Free – and popular with families searching for tons of online storage for precious group pictures – Snapfish is the top choice of many.