Spring is in the air and (weather permitting) it's a great time to get outdoors. Become closer to nature this weekend at the Annual Thar She Blows festival at The Whaling Museum or on a Family Seal Walk in Montauk. Or head out to the South Fork Natural History Museum to learn how ocean animals use light.

If it's science you're interested in, Science Saturdays are in full swing at the Long Island Science Center, as are Nano Days at The Maritime Explorium.

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The Big Apple Circus makes its annual trip to town and has set up its tent in City Hall Plaza; the Harlem Globetrotters bring their world tour to the TD Garden for two performances; and Drumlin Farm hosts Woolapalooza 2014. (For more places to find the wooly animals, check out our post with a complete lists of Sheepshearing Festivals.) These big events, plus The Sound of Music, Family Opera, Lights Off, and a calendar full of events means there are plenty of ways for families to keep busy this weekend.

Also this week on Mommy Poppins Boston:

• Celeste explores Franklin Park with toddlers;
• Our partners at Appalachian Mountain Club’s Kids Outdoors Boston offer 10 Boston-Area Nature Centers for Young Children; and
• Tara has 10 Super Easy April Fools' Day Pranks to Play on Your Kids

Finally, our Wee Works projects continue to receive rave reviews - you can see the entire series here. If you’ve enjoyed the projects, why not sign up to get WeeWork activities delivered to your inbox?

Enjoy!

Wow. Another beautiful spring weekend ahead. What a perfect time to go on a hike to see wildflowers. Such pretty colors! Such fresh scents. I think I'll just sniff that one over there... wait a minute. It's not going to squirt water at me, is it?

You see, my kid is suddenly all about April Fool's pranks. I have no clue where she got the idea. She's getting an early start, because apparently April Fool's jokes are even funnier when you're not expecting them because, you know, it's not April 1.  (Preschool humor!)

Now I don't know what to trust. Black is white, day is night, and make way because the Easter Bunny is I'm not kidding hopping down the trail. (As if! Easter is totally weeks and weeks away.)

Don't keep reading because you certainly won't find some of our favorite picks for the weekend... or will you?

March 20th marked the first day of spring and hard as it may be to believe, we can soon look forward to warmer weather, spring flowers, opening day celebrations, bike riding and street festivals. We can also look forward to new museum exhibits through the Garden State. From Bob the Builder to Frogs to Honeybees to a world-premiere exhibit centered around the famous Rubik's Cube, there's something for everyone this spring!

It's an exceptional weekend for cool kids' culture with an interactive indoor ArtPark, the final weekend of the New York International Children's Film Festival and a slew of family rock concerts heading our way, including one of our top picks for March: Brooklyn Kids Rock.

Although it doesn't quite feel like spring, you can still enjoy seasonal fun like the opening of two popular carousels. You can also enter the lottery for the NYC Parks Department's FREE spring swimming lessons for kids this weekend. And who knows, if the rain holds off it may be nice enough to hit one of our fabulous parks and playgrounds—they've been dormant way too long.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar. Before heading out on your adventures, be sure to download our FREE Mommy Poppins Kids on the Go app so you can find the best family destinations wherever you happen to be in NYC.

Spring is fighting its way tooth and claw into Boston, and what better way to celebrate than to bring the kids out into nature? This weekend we put on our rain boots and prepared to get muddy in Franklin Park. Boston's biggest park  sprawls through Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Roxbury with lots of great areas to explore.

Who doesn't love chocolate--especially kids? Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or trying to recover from a bad day, chocolate (milk, white, dark--take your pick) makes everything sweeter. The next time a craving hits, skip the store-bought variety and indulge in some handmade chocolates. Suffolk County is home to some pretty exceptional chocolatiers, so whether you're looking for party favors or just want to surprise your family with a sweet treat, you're bound to find something at one of these five great shops.

And if you're craving for other types of goodies, check out Cool Candy Shops on Long Island and Top 10 Candy Stores in the Hamptons and North Fork.