When you think of National Parks you probably think of places like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and other parklands out west. But did you know . there are actually 10 National Parks in New York City and Northern NJ, and over 30 historic sites, parks, monuments, trails, memorials, and heritage areas right here in New York State?

This week (to April 25) is National Park Week, and all 392 National Parks offer free admission in celebration of "America's Best Idea" so it's a perfect opportunity to check out some of these awesome destinations with your kids. (Tours and other fees may still apply).

Read on for everything you need to know for a family-friendly, historic, and beautiful visit to these local gems.

I love to read and most of my adult life have been in one – sometimes two – book groups.  There seems to be a under the radar trend in the city right now where girls and their mothers are starting book groups together, possibly spurred on by the popular middle grade book series: The Mother-Daughter Book Club , about a group of girls reading Little Women along with their mothers. 

There are quite a few book groups or reading clubs already established in New York City - for practically every age.  Read on to find out where and when and for our tips on starting a reading group for your child (with mommy or without.)

Sometimes you don't need a better reason to get outside than to just enjoy the beautfiul nature that CAN be found even here in New York City. Once kids get out among the flowers, grass and trees they don't need an activity, somehow they find ways to entertain themselves. And for parents, it's a refreshing change of pace from all those kid activities to just enjoy the natural beauty of Spring's flowers in bloom.

But time is running out to catch some of the more dramatic Spring displays before they're gone for another year. Here are some of our favorite places to enjoy nature's bounty this Spring:

Last week we wrote about going to a Mets or Yankees game with a baby . Of course, going to a major league baseball game is a huge expense. Tickets for a family quickly get very expensive and that’s just the beginning with more money for overpriced food, ice cream and souvenirs. And with a child meltdown (if not from fear, then from boredom), all of that money can seem like a waste.

A better alternative is to take your family to a minor league game. The minor league stadiums are smaller so children can see better (and not be as terrified by the height of the stadium); there are also entertaining mascots and lots of promotional giveaways to entertain them. Tickets start as low as $10. And finally, the games are significantly shorter.

Forget Hallmark knick knacks and stuffed animals. New York City’s mamas have other things in mind. We have assembled a Mothers Day Gift Guide with the most wanted list of gift ideas and where to get them right here in New York City. No matter what your mommy (or your mommy's) style is, we have got you covered, from crafty lessons to chic accessories starting at just $5 on up to some serious splurges, but all sure to make mom smile.

Photograph of the Week: The new 20th Anniversary Pop-Up Version of Dr Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go has some pretty fun pages, but is it lame that I prefer the baby version, Oh, Baby! Go, Baby! which eliminates the dark side of the story and replaces it wih fun, tactile and optical interactive pages a toddler or baby will love?

Read on for the news this week, sales and store openings, event news, and my personal activity pick for every day of the week:

Aaaaah the weekend is almost here, I can’t wait.  My family and I love to explore the city together and this weekend there are just so many activities to choose from, rock and roll kiddie concerts, cool new book release parties, nature activities and crafts, the opening of the children’s room at Poet House, fun and free Healthy Kids Day at all the city YMCAs, plus the really excellent sounding StreetGames 2010 – and this is just the regular stuff.  New York City is going all out in planning fun events for Earth Day with concerts, readings, creative projects and a lot more planned for the weekend.

If you are Jersey bound, check out the 33rd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival taking place in Newark. Yes, Newark, who knew, but their are more Cherry Trees in Newark than they are in DC.  Essex County has a Bloomfest scheduled for Sunday with lot of Japanese cultural activities and fun for kids. 

Plus, there are a lot more fun Earth Day activities and events on Long Island and New Jersey.  

Here are our picks for the weekend and we hope you have a great one:

Note: This show returns to NYC in July 2017 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, and to Long Island in August 2017.

Typically, this site is all about how you can enjoy the riches of the city without being rich. There are so many things to do that are inexpensive, yet amazing. But there are also some things that are worth dropping some dough on, cause they're just that fabulous. In my opinion, Cirque du Soleil is one of those experiences.