Flowering trees, babbling brooks, and baby animals, Oh My! Are you up for some free outdoor fun with your NJ kids? Located in scenic Allamuchy right off Route 80, Stephens State Park is a hidden gem in Warren County.  About an hour's drive from most NJ locations, it is toddler/kid friendly and offers nature fun for everyone. There are six miles of marked trails ready for walking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Bring your jogging stroller, butterfly nets, and baby backpacks!

It's back to school this week and ironically, we have no school news this time around. Instead, we've got the scoop on new zoo animals, including one seriously coo-worthy giraffe, free comic books, toy recycling and more. Plus one scary article that struck fear into my heart about 10-year-olds and puberty, two things that definitely should not go together.

Over the past several weeks, Mommy Poppins has delved into the mysterious and at times overwhelming world of public school choices available to families who reside within the boundaries of LAUSD (the Los Angeles Unified School District). We've sung the praises of great neighborhood schools, given an overview of options if the assigned neighborhood school is not a great fit for your family, and taken a closer look at the history, philosophy, and reality of independent public charter schools. Today we look at the attraction of the magnet programs, and what you need to know to get your child into one.

Last week we told you about 13 wonderful kids' shows playing in NYC this spring. Today we're sharing the best kids' bands rocking out on city stages this season.

My four-year-old daughter and I love seeing live concerts, and some of our favorite family bands are playing over the next few months, like the Deedle Deedle Dees and Alastair Moock. I'm especially excited to introduce my kid to a few groups she hasn't heard yet, like Bing Bang Boom and the Bari Koral Family Rock Band, at the annual Kindiefest concert. Here are 13 NYC kids' concerts to put in your calendar, including FREE shows from Hot Peas N' Butter, Elizabeth Mitchell and The Rockdoves.

I really enjoy spring cooking. It beats spring cleaning, and the fresh flavors of ramps, asparagus, tiny potatoes and tangy rhubarb offer a nice light palate after the heavy, robust dishes that dominate winter. New Jersey has hundreds of Farmers' Markets offering everything from honey to local crafts, and loads of veggies and fruit. Now if your kids are anything like mine, the beauty of a local farmer's market is as much about the cookie selection as it is about the 'what's this' when examining the kohlrabi. These mixed feelings extend to dinners during which they laboriously extract every speck of green from their plates, but the following recipes for homemade pizzas, simple chicken dishes, and salads often help temper the finicky-ness. Of course, there's always the option of putting them to bed and making your own beautiful dinner, eaten in peace, with no dropped forks or ketchup. Now, that's a blissful spring meal!

As we continue featuring some of our favorite Long Island towns to visit, this month we're spotlighting Cold Spring Harbor. Located on the North Shore, just across the Suffolk border, CSH is about as charming and delightful as any small town can be. Don't be fooled by its size, though; this town, famous for its rich whaling past, has an equally rich present. With its diversity of shops, magnificent coastline and world-class science exhibits, there's more than enough here to keep an inquisitive family busy for days. We've got you covered with all the best ways to take it all in for a fantastic spring outing.   

Now in its fifth year, the Cambridge Science Festival is bigger than ever before.

Navigating the complex schedule of over 200 events over a nine-day period, April 20-29, can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to figure out which activities are best for your kids. I’ve picked a few great events for kids and families – read on for details about a few family-friendly highlights of this year’s festival.

Spring Break is gone and it's time to be dreaming about summer vacation plans and long Spring weekends. Perhaps a special Mother's Day trip, hint, hint? This week's round up of family travel deals features some big dream vacations to places like Thailand, China, Mexico and a sweet road trip package to the Southwest US. Because some of these deals are so good, these vacations might become more than just a dream.