The Houston Zoo, one of our favorite city attractions, has some new inhabidants that are out of this world (or at least time period). Seventeen life-size dinosaurs have arrived at the Houston Zoo for kids to gawk at through the end of the summer. We took our kids for a trip to see if the exhibit lived up to the hype, and we're here to tell you it absolutely does!

Making a puffy, fuzzy DIY toy at Build-A-Bear is a great experience, especially for a birthday gift, but those bears are far from free. So it was no surprise last year that the company's big Pay-Your-Age Day (5 years old, get any toy for $5) resulted in lines not only out of the stores but out of the buildings—and lots of angry parents when lines were shut down. The good news? Build-A-Bear is doing the popular event again, but doing it differently this year.

Think the dog days of summer are a cultural wasteland? That's not the case when it comes to the stage—New York City's family theater scene is hotter than an unshaded sandbox during the summer months, and this year is no exception.

There are shows for all ages, interests, and budgets throughout the summer season, including FREE options such as high-quality Shakespeare, a stage adaptation of Disney's beloved animated movie Hercules, and a puppet show touring to parks throughout the five boroughs. Best of all, most tickets cost less than $25 per seat. Read on for our complete guide to the best summer shows in NYC for kids and families.

Like most parents, Mimosa Jones Tunney and John Tunney, who own and operate popular Huntington restaurants Besito and The Shed, are passionate about their children’s education. When they couldn’t find a school they thought would best prepare their young boys, they decided to build their own.

The School House, located at 106 Vernon Valley Road in East Northport, is the result of the entrepreneurial couple’s dream to bring a new way of teaching to Long Island. Enrollment is currently under way for pre-K through fifth grade. The building, the former home of a local preschool, has been undergoing a renovation in recent months. Walls were knocked down, new windows added, and the result is a bright, open, sun-filled space where children can thrive.

Morningside Heights, a homey Manhattan neighborhood steeped in history, is now one of the most desirable areas for families in NYC. Sandwiched between the Upper West Side and Harlem, and running from West 110th Street to West 125th Street, the neighborhood offers an abundance of green space, from the iconic Morningside and Riverside Parks, to the manicured lawns of Columbia and Barnard. Paired with the energy of the universities' students and the area's many family friendly-amenities, it's the perfect spot for both children and adults to live and play.

Adding to the appeal, stunning, classically New York prewar buildings like 30 Morningside Drive offer luxury living in sunny, spacious apartments with large windows, 11-foot ceilings, custom-designed furnishings by Restoration Hardware, and breathtaking park and city views. If amenities such as a 24-hour concierge, a gorgeous garden and roof deck, a gym with sauna, a motion studio, a pet spa, and a children's playroom are calling your name, you might want to consider Morningside Heights your new home.

Keep reading to find out what exactly makes Morningside Heights much more than just a "college town."

Many parents rely on the free breakfast and lunch available through the local school system to keep their kids' engines running—but what happens in the summer? Thankfully, there are still free meal programs available when school lets out.

Parents will find free breakfast, lunch, and sometimes afternoon snacks and more meals served up at certain parks, schools, community centers, hospitals, and elsewhere this summer. Many of the summer meal programs are federally funded through the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, but administered by local organizations, cities, or states. Read on for tips on how to find a free kids meal near you.

Good news for pint-sized thrill seekers in Queens: There's a new ferris wheel just for kids at the preschooler-friendly Forest Park Carousel Amusement Village, now open for the season. This leafy, old-fashioned mini amusement park in Forest Park (located in the park on the bandshell side of Woodhaven Boulevard) has long been a hidden-gem favorite of Queens families, with its historic carousel, rides, and games. The opening of a ferris wheel specifically designed with little ones in mind makes the park the perfect activity for a slow summer's day. Here's what to know before you go.

Did you know: With your hometown library card and form of ID, Connecticut residents can check out books from public libraries statewide? And libraries are MUCH more than books these days! My kids basically think librarians are superheroes: they can put together a midnight Harry Potter book launch in a single bound! And another bonus, don't forget: libraries are FREE. So what else do you need as a perfect excuse to pile the kids in the car and set the GPS for a library destination less known? We've rounded up some of our favorite libraries that stand out from the pack (though really, we love ALL libraries!) While you are out and about, make a stop at some of our other recommended free and inexpensive destinations in Fairfield County.