With February Vacation Week upon us, parents can find loads of special activities and museum programs to entertain the kids. Many of the events listed below run the whole week, so while our picks represent one possible itinerary, there are enough great choices on the calendar to fill each day this week with a fun activity. Plus, there are lots of ways to enjoy this winter wonderland, like going sledding, tubing, skiing, and snowboarding. 

Our picks for the week include everything from the Bugs Bunny Film Festival in Cambridge to Snowshoeing on the Story Trail at Gore Place in Waltham. Great museum programs include Lowell Kids Week for budding historians and MFA Vacation Week Activities for the young art fan. Read on for our picks of the week, and don't forget to check out the full events calendar!

Please check with the event venues for snow cancelations before heading out this week.

It’s Winter Break, when schools are closed, temperatures are low and parents need ways to keep kids busy (without spending a fortune). Well, you’ve come to the right place—we’ve scouted around Westchester for the best ways to engage your kids—and most of our best bets are FREE!

Your kids will have so much fun at Mardi Gras in Montrose, The Wright Stuff: Air Inventions & Explorations and Sprouting Seeds Workshop they won’t even realize they’re learning during school vacation! But that’s not all—read on for our top pick for each weekday, then visit our Events Calendar, which is extra jam-packed with activities throughout the entire winter break. Also check out our list of February Break art camps for alternative options.

So bundle up and head on out to as many of these events as you can get to. And if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest news, events and activities throughout Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley.

Alert! Alert!  We love the Olé Soccer facility on Tunxis Hill Cutoff.  Yes, yes, there are many play spaces in Fairfield County we've already outlined in Our Favorite Indoor Play Spaces, but this one is further north, making it much easier for Easton, Trumbull, Monroe and Shelton residents to access.  While your little ones bounce off the walls, you can slide an older child into a weekly skills session or a soccer clinic, like on the upcoming President's Day holiday. (For more ideas for Winter Break camps, click here).

There's no better place on the East Coast for a family to hit the slopes than Vermont. With dozens of downhill and cross country ski resorts, the state offers more options for skiers of every age and ability than anywhere else. But some are especially well suited for families, with ski and board lessons, special family activities just for kids, and child care options for parents.

Okemo, Stratton, Sugarbush, Smuggler's Notch, and Stowe are the big names in Vermont skiing, but there are some lesser known gems too. With a parent's eye to what families are looking for, we've reviewed the top ten best mountain resorts for family ski vacation in the Green Mountain State.  Find all our ski reviews in our Ski and Snow Sports Guide. 

It's hard to believe it, but here in the midst of all these snow days, it's time for Winter Vacation right here in Fairfield County. If you're like me and the snow days and delayed openings mean you're playing a little bit of catch up, you may be thinking about vacation camp options for winter break. Fortunately, there are a myriad of drop-off options for kids of all ages, whether you're looking for coverage for a whole day or just a couple of hours.

A word of warning: winter break can be a bit of a tricky thing, with each district taking a slightly different approach to scheduling. While everyone's closed on Monday, February 16th, for President's Day, Greenwich public schools, for example, are closed all of this week; Darien and Westport are closed all of next week; Stamford is closed Friday; etc. So, if you're exploring camp options, double check that the dates you need match the dates being offered.

All the talk in the schoolyard is about February break, which starts this Presidents' Day weekend. It's just about your last chance to book an enriching midwinter recess camp or plan a family vacation.

Of course, if you're sticking around NYC for a staycation like my family, you'll find plenty of fun things to do in our Winter Guide, which has a whole February break section filled with ideas for every day the kids are off from school, from Lunar New Year celebrations to warm indoor destinations to creative at-home activities. If you're looking for nearby seasonal getaways, our Snow Sports Guide is packed with great options like our just-posted review of Stowe, Vermont's awesome Stoweflake Resort and Spa along with nearer ski and snowtubing spots, including a few that don't require a car.

Want a kid-friendly way to celebrate Valentine's Day this Saturday? Then join us for a special performance of the percussive dance spectacle Cambuyón at the New Victory Theater, hosted by Mommy Poppins. Our readers enjoy a 20% discount on tickets and exclusive post-show cookie decorating with our friends at Cookie Party. I'll be there with my kid as will Stephanie so be sure to say hello.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

February always gives us a bit of a break, and we call it President's Day Weekend. This three (sometimes four) day rest allows us to spend time with our families. And, since this holiday coincides with Valentine's Day, what better way to spend the weekend with the ones you love than with activities found on the Mommy Poppins event calendar.

Create a sweetheart picture frame at Lowes Build and Grow Kids Workshop, design your own candy bar wrapper at Hagley Museum's Victorine's Valentine's Day or listen to the sweet classical sounds of Lansdowne Symphony's Valentine Concert at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. For history buffs, celebrate our First President's 283rd birthday at Washington's Birthday Party at Valley Forge National Historical Park or use a quill pen to write a letter to George Washington at the National Museum of American Jewish History's Family Day.

After all the family togetherness, parents looking for a grown-up night out have a few options. Valentine's Day Parents' Night Out at BounceU in Exton, Parents' Night Out at Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia and Valentine's Dinner Date at Delaware Museum of Natural History in Wilmington all provide kids with some fun while Mom and Dad can celebrate Valentine's Day without the children in tow.

Please look below for more recommendations for weekend fun. Don't see your event? Please feel free to submit your information to our calendar. Thanks!

Presidents Day weekend launches the February School Vacation Week with tons of great activities and performances for families. Unfortunately, the Model Train Weekend featuring Ntrak trains in Lexington has been canceled due to weather, but as long as the snow holds off, model train fans can see the Lego Train at the Wenham Museum. Other fun choices include the Bugs Bunny Film Festival in Cambridge or the unique opportunity to participate in a Family Service Day on a working farm in Methuen. 

In performances this weekend, families can catch Pinkalicious: The Musical in Cambridge, the Karen K & the Jitterbugs Lovefest concert on Valentine's Day in Wakefield, or The Boy Who Cried Wolf in West Concord. Familes with older kids are the perfect audience for The Wiz in Dorchester.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Celebrate the Chinese New Year with family-friendly events in and around Boston. 
• Keep busy indoors making these Celery Stamp Roses for Valentine's Day.
• A multitude of special activities and museum programs will keep the kids entertained during February Vacation Week.

Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to check out the full events calendar! Please check with the event venues for snow cancelations before heading out this weekend.