For many kids, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a fun activity in itself. (That's why it's No. 69 on our list of 100 Things to Do With Your Kids in NY Before They Grow Up!) The 5.2-mile, 25-minute nautical jaunt offers crisp air, a great view of Lady Liberty and the thrill of moving on the water—all for free.

Once you're off the boat, you could go further inland to hit the Snug Harbor Cultural Center (there are some gorgeous flowers blooming there right now). But you don’t need to take a bus or train to get a taste of the borough. There's plenty of fun to be had within earshot of the ferry horn.

Here are my kid-tested suggestions for a day trip to St. George, Staten Island. With the amazing St. George Day Festival coming up on Saturday, April 21, you'll want to make a note of these!

What a weekend we have for you!  Seals’ birthdays on the boardwalk, a Swedish Waffle Party, puppets galore, and a School-House Rock Performance to start with...If you’re ready to get back into nature, create kites in Holmdel;  run for a great reason in Parsippany;  or search for seashells in the Highlands.  March Madness hoops have your home captivated? Then Newark’s your destination for an all-out NCAA celebration.  Indoors, outdoors, all-around—it’s March at its best for families in New Jersey.

Last week we told you how to get your city kids into growing and gardening. But we realize that some people don't have a green thumb. Families that prefer to watch Mother Nature do all the work can visit New York City's gorgeous gardens, green spaces and other fantastic flora-filled spots.

From the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Blossom Festival in late April to the New York Botanical Garden's current Orchid Show to Macy's Flower Show, which debuts this Sunday, to less well-known buds and blooms, we've got the scoop on where to get your flower fix in the city this Spring.

Spring on Long Island is in full effect and we have some great activities and events for you here. Get ready to put on your dancing shoes, wear 3D glasses or spot salamanders! With festivals, concerts and tea parties all taking place, there is something for every member of the family to get out of the house and enjoy! Read on see what awesome events are going on this weekend on Long Island!

Don't worry: The inclement weather is just temporary. Spring really is here, and there are plenty of seasonal activities to prove it. New baby goats are frolicking at the Central Park Zoo, gardening clases for kids are sprouting up everywhere (one program kicks off at the Queens Botanical Garden this Saturday) and Macy's Flower Show will be in full bloom come Sunday.

JapanNYC, a citywide celebration of Japanese culture, continues with a trio of free concerts, including Taiko drummers at the opening of the Flower Show. Of course while you enjoy yourself, don't forget about the devastation in Japan. If you'd like to help, we've rounded up easy and reputable ways to donate to the relief and rebuilding efforts.

Our best bets for the weekend are below. Be sure to browse the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar for additional options, including live music, theater, author readings and free storytimes. Have a great weekend!

Your child wants to model? Easy, right? There’s agencies and photographers everywhere, reality show castings, extra opportunities…shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Well, think again.  The good news is we’ll give you the inside track on how to get your little top model into the industry; the bad news is that there are more scams and rip-off artists lurking in wait than ever before.  So…read on, and ready yourself for the rocky road to the runway.

It's been a while since we've rounded up links to important news and interesting stories we've come across online. Since many of these articles are timely—especially the ones about pre-k and charter school admissions—we figured it was time to share.

We also found an amusing post about the top ten reasons to have a baby in NYC, a celebration of public-school lunches and a writer who offers an intriguing defense of that mom who's suing a preschool for dashing her daughter's Ivy League chances. Read on for the scoop.

Now that the weather's so lovely (most of the time, anyway), there are so many things to do, including trips to the Central Park Zoo. My toddler loves looking at all the animals, especially the babies. Even though it was cold and rainy when we visited on Monday, we were still thrilled to meet the Zoo's latest additions, four baby mini-Nubian goats that just made their debut at the Children's Zoo!

There's Cole, a spunky one-month-old, plus three other as-yet-unnamed babies: caramel-colored, two-week-old twins and another kid. Get ready to coo at the adorable photos (which were taken last week on a warm and sunny day), and find out more about these babes.