How to see Chicago's best museums and other attractions on a budget with kids.

Free museums and free museum days abound at Philly's finest institutions. Browse our list of all the times museums in Philadelphia are free. 

Making a museum visit a part of your family's routine is easier than you think! Philadelphia and its suburbs are chock-full of amazing institutions and lots of free museums. Whether your little ones are interested in art, science, or history, there's something here sure to ignite young imaginations without stretching the wallet too thin. Get ready for some incredible fun at no cost.

Take note that this list features museums that are always free, or offer regularly-scheduled free or what-what-you-wish days. Other museums in the area often offer free entry on national holidays or as part of special events. Keep an eye on our events calendar to see when museums are offering free museum days throughout the year. 

For more free fun, browse our Free Things To Do with Philly Kids Guide, featuring our favorite free indoor playspaces and more. Don't miss our Guide to Philly Museums for Kids, filled with reviews and roundups of the city's amazing museum scene.

Mohonk Mountain House in New York’s Hudson Valley feels like stepping into a real-life fairy tale—one with hiking trails, crackling fireplaces, and activities for every generation. This historic Victorian castle resort sits high above Lake Mohonk and is surrounded by more than 40,000 acres of protected forest, offering families a rare mix of outdoor adventure, cozy relaxation, and thoughtful programming for kids, parents, grandparents, and everyone in between.

Whether visiting for the day or staying overnight, Mohonk Mountain House provides a fully immersive experience that makes it easy to unplug and reconnect. Read on for highlights of what families can expect at Mohonk Mountain House, and tips for planning a multigenerational getaway. For more activities around Mohonk Mountain House, check out our list of 50 things to do with kids in the Hudson Valley.

Between tuition, room and board, textbooks, school supplies, and more, being a college student is expensive. And all those hours spent going to class, hitting the books, and doing extracurricular activities don't exactly leave much time for earning money.

But that doesn't necessarily mean your college kid has to live on ramen noodles and wear their high school wardrobe. There are tons of stores, restaurants, technology companies, entertainment venues, subscription services, and other businesses that offer student discounts and free stuff for college students. Many of these deals are available online through student discount apps, while others are offered in person with a student ID.

Here are 70 of the best college student deals, student perks, and free resources for college students to help your kiddo save money and still enjoy life. Our list of free stuff for kids and teens in the mail can help college kids get even more freebies. Be sure to also check out our Guide to Free Activities, Events, Classes, and Camps. 

Looking for more than mindless hanging out and screen time for your teenage daughter this summer? Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science fields, is once again offering its FREE summer program for girls and non-binary kids entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school. Called Pathways, the 6-7-week STEM summer camp is completely virtual and accepting applications now.

Keep reading to find out who is eligible, how to apply, and when this Girls Who Code STEM summer programs is happening in 2026. Hurry, because the early application period for this FREE summer program is already open.

Find more STEM activities in our Science and Tech Guide for Kids, or check out more summer programs for teens and kids in our Camp Guide. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.

The Big Apple is home to several world-famous ballet institutions, including the renowned New York City Ballet. Housed at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, NYCB was founded by renowned choreographer George Balanchine and arts patron Lincoln Kirstein in 1948.

My family and I recently attended the New York City Ballet’s Family Saturdays program, an interactive one-hour presentation designed for kids ages 5 and up. It was the perfect entrypoint to live ballet for my budding ballerina. Read on for everything you need to know about the kid-friendly ballet event, and be sure to bookmark our full NYC Kids' Guide to Live Theater and Shows for more fun cultural activities for kids in NYC.

As much as we love ice skating outside, sometimes it's just too cold, hot, or rainy for New York City's seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks. Indoor ice skating rinks in NYC let kids skate year-round. Some in-the-know parents with young ice skating enthusiasts say they prefer indoor ice skating rinks in NYC because the ice's quality is better, making for a smoother glide, which is especially helpful for newbies.

Here are six indoor family-friendly ice skating rinks in NYC to consider the next time your kids want to go for a glide. Find more indoor places to play in our NYC Kids' Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.

Explore the top free (and fun!) things to do in Connecticut!