Who doesn't love California sea lions? Their cute, puppy-like faces turn up periodically at our favorite SoCal beaches, but did you know your kids can visit with seals and sea lions for free, every day of the week, at the Marine Mammal Care Center?

The San Pedro facility is a haven for injured seals and sea lions, where families can make an impact on the rescued animals' rehabilitation—all while educating kids and maybe inspiring a spirit of volunteerism.  The Marine Mammal Care Center has taken in more than 8,000 patients from local beaches in the 27 years it's been open. That includes sea mammals who needed treatment for gunshot wounds, entanglement in fishing nets, and injuries from ocean trash. If you've been to all the local zoos and are looking for a new experience, a visit here could be just the ticket. My daughters and I (all animal lovers) decided to check it out, and we were very touched by what we saw. 

When most people think of Chicago museums, they picture the Museum Campus, just south of downtown on the city’s lakefront. Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park stands alone - but that may be a good thing for parents, as fitting in the whole three-story museum in one day is a challenge.

The last building leftover from the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, the building was temporarily home to the Field Museum of Natural History until it was rebuilt for the city’s Century of Progress Exposition in 1933-34. Now, it’s filled with more than two dozen exhibits to help learners of all ages get to know more about science, technology, transportation, agriculture, biology and more.

Everything is bigger in Texas, and this motto is exemplified in Houston's massive livestock show and rodeo - from the crowds to the food selections - but your resulting credit card bill doesn't have to be. After paying the price of admission, there are lots of things to do as a whole family without spending another dime. That's not to say you won't be tempted by the smells of deep-fried goodness and adorable miniature cowboy and cowgirl hats, just that it is possible to have a ton of fun at the Rodeo that's all free.

Read on for free and fun activities!

Insectropolis, The Bugseum of New Jersey, has been on my bucket list of NJ kid-friendly museums to visit for a while. My younger son is absolutely fascinated with creepy crawlies and loves hands-on learning experiences. So, we cleared our schedules one Saturday morning and headed down the Parkway to Toms River, home of our next "bug" adventure.

Words like "mama," "dada," and "ball," may come fairly easily to many tots, but have you ever wondered how kids master more complicated concepts like verbs, adjectives, pronouns, and abstract nouns? Well, a team of researchers at NYU's LEARN Lab is eagerly looking for answers in the hopes of ultimately helping caregivers better communicate with children who have autism spectrum disorder–a condition that's often accompanied by minor to severe language delays. In order to further this important research, they need kiddos with and without the disorder to come play in the lab for an hour or so, and they're even sending the participants home with a gift card and a book.

Sun, sand, sea...it must be summer! Summer is the perfect time to learn to surf—and a surf camp can teach your kids everything they need to know. There is more to surfing than just the mechanics of getting up on the board; there is also wave selection, ocean safety, and the all-important surfing etiquette that is best learned from someone in the know. And, of course, our SoCal Summer Camp Guide wouldn't be SoCal without a listing of surf camps!

If you're dreaming of warmer weather and spending time outdoors, put these new and upgraded Jersey City parks and playgrounds on your radar: Families will have several new and improved playgrounds with splash pads and toddler-friendly features to enjoy in 2020, along with a new skate park, thanks to upgrades recently announced by city officials.