There may be snowflakes a flying, but it's officially summer camp searching season in New York City. While the metro area and surrounding suburbs don't lack for choices, there's always something new on the horizon for our kids!

In 2018, we've found a number of new summer camps, from cooking to outdoor nature and even coding and science. Without further ado, we present seven new this year camps for city kids.

Well, it depends on which groundhog you ask--Punxatawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter while Connecticut's own Chuckles the groundhog predicts an early spring. Either way, we all know that even though February is the shortest month it can feel endless at times. Sure we've got the Super Bowl shaking things up this weekend, but it's still cold, it's still getting dark pretty early (though if you're like me you get excited when you realize it's 5:00 pm and still a little dusky) and it's all too easy to succumb to a case of cabin fever. In order to stave off any seasonal meltdowns, I've rounded up 10 family events and activities around Connecticut and the best part is they're all FREE! So when the road conditions permit, bundle up the fam and get out while the getting is good! For even more free stuff to do all year round, check out these 50 Free Things to do Indoors!

If the internet really is just a vehicle for cat videos, then LA gets the ultimate internet cafe this weekend. Cat cafes have been a thing in New York for a while, but Angelenos have had to wait for someone to jump through the hoops required to open a haven of kitties and caffeine here in LA. This weekend CatCafe Lounge opens its doors in West LA, inviting cats and cat-lovers to curl up together over a tasty drink and a toy mouse.

Take your kid to a birthday party and you expect to see other kids—but what about a flamingo, a bearded dragon, a chinchilla, or a kinkajou? If you have a young animal lover in your family, you can bring more to the party table than safari-printed plates and plastic animals. These New Jersey companies bring over live animals—from ponies for riding to alligators for ogling—that will have your guests talking for weeks, if not years. Some of the animals can be handled and petted; others can be observed up close. Either way, kids will learn a lot and have a ton of fun along the way.

Read on to find out how to transform your home into the petting zoo of your child's dreams for his or her special day. Find more New Jersey kids' party ideas in our Birthday Guide.

When I heard Pasadena's popular Neon Retro Arcade was opening a second location in Northridge, I was psyched. I figured it would be a big hit with CSUN students as well as grown-ups of a certain age (ahem) who fondly remember joysticks and token play. What I wasn't sure about was whether little kids who are used to playing console games on living room wide-screen TVs would be as interested in their parents' pixelated playthings. 

It's no secret that living in New York City and raising kids here isn't cheap. So one of my favorite finds has been the IDNYC program, which, among other things, offers FREE and reduced-price memberships more than 40 cultural institutions across the city.

Since the municipal ID program launched in 2015, more than 1 million people have turned up at IDNYC centers to get their free ID cards and the benefits that being a card-carrying citizen of this great city brings. In 2018, the city introduced several new institutions to the program, including two that might interest NYC families: Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn and Chelsea Piers are now IDNYC partners. At Aviator, you can nab an individual membership for 20 percent off and score 15 percent off party bookings. Chelsea Piers invites you to enjoy 2-for-1 admission at its indoor ice skating rink as well as discounts at its driving range.

The IDNYC card offers more than cultural benefits: Families can take advantage of discounts on prescription drugs, car-share memberships, movies, sporting events, and more. It even acts as a public library card and can help you open an account at a bank or credit union.

I've put my card to use to take advantage of these benefits and more, so read on for a dozen reasons to sign up for your FREE card, including discounted admission to some of the city's best children's museums and zoos.

There are plenty of summer camp options on Long Island, and choosing among them might be dizzying.

But if you have a budding athlete on your hands or one who is trying to improve his or her skills, you might want to consider a sports camp. We've rounded up a few for you. In addition to the camps listed below, check out your local YMCA, community center or township office for programs offered at reasonable prices. And be sure to check out our Long Island Summer Camps Guide for more camps in the area.

Hiking around Houston and its surrounding areas is one of our favorite active pastimes; there's just nothing quite like exploring the great outdoors with your little ones and watching as they discover new things happening in their environment. Our city is full of great trails to tackle with the kids in tow, however sometimes having a guide lead the way is the best option for budding explorers and naturalists. We rounded up four of the best options for getting out and about in nature with your toddlers and preschoolers, turning hiking into an activity that is both educational and fun.