Spring has definitely sprung in NYC, and this week some of our favorite warm weather activities are starting up for the season. Albee Square kicks off its concert series with Funkytown Playground, Wagner Park's mellow Sunset Singing Circles return and families can hop a ride on the Bronx Culture Trolley to see the borough in a whole new light.

Although we only highlight one event per day in this post, you can find plenty of other options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide.

Spring has sprung with an excellent array of travel deals for families. May and June are typically quiet months in Orlando, and Downtown Disney Resorts are responding with slashed hotel rates. East Coast families looking for a weekend getaway can tour a farm in the Catskills, explore seaside Newport or stay at a new hotel in the center of Portland. If you’re craving the beach, Montauk has early season discounts. A vacation or staycation in the Big Apple can be yours for a bargain price. Farther afield, consider a resort in Arizona, a dream vacation in St. Lucia and wallet-friendly flights to Iceland.

Reading to children from an early age helps nurture a love for books, supports brain development, and offers a chance to quietly connect with rambunctious little ones. Library story hour is a time honored tradition carried on at many locations in the Hartford area. To keep those minds growing and occupied when story time ends, head over to our Classes and Activities Guide for all the enrichment you need.

There is something new at the American Museum of Natural History, and it is bigger than the blue whale: Explorer, the brand new app.  Explorer is a mobile GPS, personal tour guide and virtual exhibit hall all in one. Created for iphone/pod/pad, Explorer puts the entire (massive) museum in the palm of your hand, and you don't even need to own an iphone to try it out.

I recently toured the amazing dinosaur collection on the museum's fourth floor using Explorer as my guide and it is, in a word, awesome. State of the art technology, easy to use and a lot of fun, Explorer is a big hit with kids.

Read on to learn about this exciting new way to experience the museum and download your own Explorer:

We recently rounded up free outdoor film screenings for New York City families. But with temperatures stuck in the 80s and 90s, there are days when all you want to do is spend a few hours in a nice, dark, air-conditioned movie theater—you just don't want to shell out $30-plus to do it.

Happily you don't have to. Wonderful family flicks are playing at a theater near you, and the tickets are free (or inexpensive). Now all you have to do is dip into your 401K to pay for that popcorn.

One of the things about raising your kids in NYC is that your neighbors are just as likely to be famous writers, artists or scientists as they are to be the more run-of-the-mill, US Weekly celebrities. In our building, giggling teenage girls hang out in the lobby hoping to get help with their physics homework from our resident celebrity astrophysicist.

Besides homework help, having a resident astrophysicist means you know about all the really big, life-shaping astrological happenings. So I share with you, my faithful readers, the astrological tip of the month.

When it comes to Mother's Day, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to giving presents. Some moms prefer a massage at the spa ("I need some alone time!"), while others want to go out for a big family brunch ("I don’t want to cook!"). But if there's one thing we mamas are all suckers for, it's a handmade gift from our kiddos. Don't worry if you're not the artsy type who can whip up something awesome at home on your own. Check out these places in NJ where kids can get creative, have fun and give mom a truly one-of-a-kind gift come Mother's Day morning.

You know it's spring when the festivals and fairs come to town! And that's not all happening this week. We've got a slew of family entertainment, with block parties, a dance parade and a big museum opening.

Get ready for some seasonal fun this Saturday at the Cherry Blossom Fest on activity-packed Randall's Island. Or take advantage of the beautiful weather with a fishing trip to Long Island. Kids can also compete in the Dogwood Dash or Mini Dash races at the 80th Annual Dogwood Festival in Connecticut, complete with live music, arts, and crafts. Got a football fan at home? Well, you won't want to miss the Jets Draft Family Fun Day in nearby New Jersey. Kids can watch the remainder of the 2015 NFL Draft, get player autographs and even tour the locker room! Also on tap, the opening of Lightscapes, a walk-through art and light installation, in Historic Hudson Valley. The illuminated garden fantasy features larger-than-life handmade sculptures of flora, fauna and whimsical creatures.

Looking for a family weekend of outdoor fun? Our Travel site has details on the best things to do with kids in the Lake Regions of New Hampshire.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: