Although New York City is filled with fantastic family-friendly museums that we all know and frequent, we enjoy visiting off the beaten path destinations with kids. That's why we want to put the Hudson River Museum on your radar.

Located in Yonkers in lower Westchester County, this gem of a museum features a historic 19th-century mansion, art galleries, spectacular views of its namesake and, most exciting for children, a planetarium. The Hudson River Museum is just a short Metro-North train ride away and offers family art workshops and other activities every weekend.

If it pours on Saturday or Sunday, some of our outdoor event picks may be canceled, rescheduled or move inside. We're doing our best to keep this post updated, but if it does rain on the weekend, be sure to check the events' official websites before heading out to find out if anything has changed. Mothers Day is Sunday, so moms, this weekend should be all about you. Why don't you decide what to do on Saturday and Sunday? (As if you don't do that most of the time anyway.) There are lots of fabulous outdoor activities including a slew of cool school festivals, Socrates Sculpture Park's annual Kite Flight, a no-cost Brady Rymer concert in Battery Park and the New York Botanical Garden's Mothers Day Garden Party. Plus, after being closed for many months due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, Tribeca's popular Pier 25 playground is set to reopen on Saturday.

If Mother Nature decides to make it rain on our big weekend (how could she?) there's plenty of indoor fun too beyond Mother's Day brunch. My family plans to check out the Parade of Trains celebration in Grand Central Terminal. And on Saturday you can get geeky at the Kids Comic Con in the Bronx or bring your natural treasures to the American Museum of Natural History for Identification Day.

These are just a few of the great things going on this Mother's Day weekend. All of our best bets are below, You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you from your fellow moms at Mommy Poppins.

Just because we live in a concrete jungle doesn't mean our kids can't enjoy a summer filled with great outdoor spots. And you don't even need to be a Hilton to afford them.

New York City offers many opportunities for city kids to learn team sports and also try swimming, tennis, golfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking and more at no cost. Of course registering for these free programs takes a little legwork and, since many of them are first-come, first-serve, punctuality. We've got the scoop on what's available, and how your kids can vie for spots.