Schlepping through the long, cold months of winter in our fair city can feel daunting. While there are loads of indoor things to do to keep the kiddos occupied, winter in my family means museums (many of them free!). Not surprisingly, we found a number of terrific current or upcoming exhibits this season that are absolutely worth a look. Journey to Cuba and Japan without hopping a flight, experience an immersive camping adventure—indoors(!), learn all there is to know about the artistry of Taylor Swift, and so much more.

Read on for highlights of our top picks for museum outings with kids of all ages during the city's coldest months.

Albeit temporary, a brand new installation, Swale, has made its home at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and we are thoroughly impressed. Swale is both a sculpture by talented artist, Mary Mattingly, and a functioning farm located on a barge made from recycled materials. Beyond the beautiful setting is a hands-on learning opportunity showcasing the impact of food sustainability, as well as demonstrating value in reusing our planet's natural resources. Oh, and did we mention that this exhibit is FREE?

I will not lie. When I heard a permanent cereal bar opened earlier this month near Times Square, I thought it would just be a trap for tourists. But after visiting, I found Kellogg's NYC to be an adorable cafe appealing to many diverse visitors (even us proud New Yorkers) with a fondness for breakfast; it will take you right back to your mother’s kitchen, filling everyone’s bowl with a whole lot more than just Rice Krispies.

We ran into Rob Nieporent, general manager of Kellogg's NYC, who told us that the inspiration behind the cafe was not merely to enhance Kellogg's bottom line or reinvent a tried-and-true brand name. Instead, Nieporent explained that the masterminds behind the restaurant wanted consumers to think about cereal in a new light. Beyond a staple breakfast food, the cereal bar demonstrates how the Kellogg's cereals we grew up with pair with a number of other ingredients, including blueberry jam, mint, and lemon zest. After trying three scrumptious concoctions inspired by pastry chef Christina Tosi (the founder behind the cereal-studded Momofuku Milk Bar), they sure had us convinced. 

UPDATE: This cafe moved to Union Square on December 7, 2017. The new address is 31 E. 17th Street, New York, NY.

Times Square and its vicinity might seem like the last place to wile away a few relaxing hours with a child. But we have an updated jewel to add to our list of wonderful NYC playgrounds and parks. Ramon Aponte Park in Midtown has recently undergone a transformation, and chances are you won’t recognize the newly renovated, charming neighborhood playground and splash pad.

Swings tend to be a big hit with all ages. But giant swings that play music while you sway back and forth? And deliver up water views? Oh, yeah.

Now that my oldest child is 10, the list of activities he enjoys with his little sister is dwindling. When The Swings, a free, interactive musical swing set, was installed right next to one of our favorite playgrounds in lower Manhattan, they were both pumped to visit.

Open daily through July 7 this year, The Swings: An Exercise in Musical Collaboration features 10 swings that trigger sounds as riders swing back and forth. Each swing represents one of four instruments—piano, harp, guitar or vibraphone—and when multiple swings are in motion they produce rich melodies. Created by Montreal-based interactive design studio Daily tous les jours, The Swings encourages people of all ages to interact and collaborate, fostering a sense of community and whole lot of fun.

It's easy to forget that living in New York City doesn’t have to mean severing ties with Mother Nature. After years of exploring outdoor spaces in our urban landscape, we had a blast putting together our top 25 places to thrive outside. 

On that list is the Brooklyn Salt Marsh, 530 acres of a grasslands ecosystem located within Marine Park. The marsh is home to birds, including egrets, red-winged blackbirds and the impressive marsh hawk, and is such a treasure the Urban Park Rangers have established one of its 10 citywide nature centers there. So on your next visit, stop by the nature center and let a friendly ranger educate your children on the powerful role the marsh plays in the local environment.

In the meantime, here are 10 great things we discovered during our recent visit.

Let's be honest: Kids practically invented yoga. From happy baby pose to downward dog, these forward bends, twists and headstands come naturally to youngsters. The just opened, kid-focused Monkey Do! Yoga in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, sandwiched between two family-packed neighborhoods, Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, gets this.

The cozy, 700-square-foot studio focuses exclusively on classes for kids and families, which means an emphasis on play-based yoga that incorporates kid-sized props, games, stories and songs and fun themes like a Girls Are Superheroes session. Prenatal yoga, baby and me yoga, yoga for crawlers and family yoga where caregivers can join the fun and weekly open play hours are also on tap. Read on for our review. 

Just south of Prospect Park, Ditmas Park and Kensington are neighboring Brooklyn nooks oozing family-friendly charm. Centered around Cortelyou Road and Church Avenue, most flock to the area for excellent dining options, including The Farm On Adderley.  There are also several tried-and-true destinations for fun, including the terrific Lark Cafe, which offers a calendar full of toddler entertainment.  

Some staples of community life such as bookstores, children’s shops and playgrounds are not as plentiful as you might expect. Instead, visitors and residents share unique experiences such as Kensington Stables, Green-Wood Cemetery and one of the hippest farmers markets around, Cortelyou Greenmarket.  For just a taste of both neighborhoods, a single day might be enough. But to really feel like a local, we recommend you dedicate a full day to each enclave. We hope you love these sweet spots as much as we do. 

Check out our NYC Neighborhood Guide to find the best things for kids to do in each of the city's most popular hoods.