They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, but there are certainly plenty of places in Connecticut where you can enjoy free admission throughout the year. In no particular order, below are some favorite and worthwhile destinations that will entertain and educate your family, whether your preference is sports, history, art, nature, or hands-on play. Considering free access to state beaches (and many parks and forests) before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, and local library passes that provide discounted or free year-round admission to many state attractions, it's easy to see that having fun doesn't require a fortune -- or crossing state boundaries. 

Spring is springing and there is just something about the baby animals that come with this season: downy ducks, luscious lambies, and beautiful bouncy bunnies. Who among us does not love cuddling a rabbit, especially with Easter on the horizon? Talk about a cute photo op. If your kids love bunnies, we know a few places where they can go to meet them, hands on. A word to the Margaret Wise Browns: as anyone who has read The Runaway Bunny knows, bunnies are fast on their feet. These sly little puff balls can be here today and gone tomorrow; while all of the following places have bunnies today, it's a good idea to call first just in case it’s not hoppening tomorrow.

If you have a child in your household, chances are Disney's animated romp Zootopia is on your must-see list. What kid can resist a movie about adorable, anthropomorphized animals? The good news for grown-ups is that these creatures, cute and cuddly as they are, are never cloying, and neither is the movie. Zootopia is a fast-paced and funny (or is that furry?) tale of tolerance—a buddy detective story that touches on timely societal issues and champions our ability to evolve and get along, regardless of what kind of mammals we are.

Not that young kids will care about most of that. They'll be too busy laughing at the adventures of Judy Hopps, the cosmopolitan city of Zootopia's first-ever bunny cop (voiced with perpetual optimism by Ginnifer Goodwin). Fate throws her together with Nick Wilde (the wonderful Jason Bateman), a fox con man who helps her crack the case of the missing predators. Although they dislike each other at first, they inevitably bond. These two have much more in common than they initially realize, including fighting against being stereotyped and childhoods scarred by taunting.

Those bullying flashbacks, especially Nick's, are two of the scariest scenes in the film, which is rated PG with good reason. Worried your preschooler might not be up for it? Here's what you need to know before you book tickets (or a babysitter), and whether it's worth splurging on IMAX 3D.

One of my family's favorite Connecticut winter traditions is maple sugaring. We don't happen to have any maple trees on our property so we head to the New Canaan Nature Center, for their Adopt-a-Tree program (already underway for 2016, but registration is available until the end of February). A few times a week we visit our tree and haul sap back to the Sugar Shack. At the end of the season, we are rewarded with our very own delicious maple syrup. If you're eager to be a part of the maple sugaring tradition hear in New England but looking for a more low impact experience, here are some great events to check out in Fairfield County.

Whether it's in healthcare, manufacturing, or another forward-thinking industry, robotics is primed to a play a large role in future innovations. And by robots, we mean less BB-8 from Star Wars and more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning. In Greater Boston, parents have a handful of good choices to look into if their kids want to experience the fun and technology behind robotics. Let's run down some options:

Swimming pools, movie stars. If there are two things we all know about Beverly Hills, it's the swimming pools and the movie stars. And, oh yes, we know the zip code, too. (When I used to live in 90211, out-of-towners seemed to think my zip code was hilarious.) Guests come to visit, and they always want to see Beverly Hills; but for young kids, walking up and down Rodeo Drive is not much of a crowd-pleaser. Avoid the stress of controlling tots in Tiffany's by knowing a few low cost, high entertainment, kid-friendly activities in this suburb to end all suburbs, the gateway to the Westside, the home to the stars' homes, the small town where people dress up to go window shopping. Check out our favorite 25 things to do in Beverly Hills; even if you're a BH High graduate, there are bound to be a few items you haven't done yet.

Planning a birthday party for a tween or a teen? As your child heads into the teenage years, it can be difficult to find the right way to celebrate a birthday. Chances are, she's well beyond the princess or super hero thing, and going to the movies with friends may not be special enough. Since a hallmark of young adults is that they try to be more like adults, a spa party booked with professionals and a few close friends at a salon can be just the right answer.

While some spas specialize in massage and facials, others only do manicures and pedicures—it pays to do some research ahead of time. Here are few of our favorite spots to book your teen’s next birthday or get-together in Westchester.

A brand-new, multi-borough kids festival with magicians, hands-on preschooler art and a Paris-trained circus troupe kicks off Friday, March 4 in New York City. It's not every day that a monthlong cultural fest dedicated to kids arrives, especially in the dead of winter, so we were excited to learn more.