What…pack up and head to Florida for February break? Never!  Nope, this clan is staying put for the upcoming school vacation.  And while the idea of spending some time in Florida is tempting, I love the chance to enjoy local adventures with my kids.  These are the some of the things we’ll be doing over February break here in Fairfield County.

What do climbing, skating, swordsmanship, batting, and swimming have in common? They are all great birthday party options for kids who like to keep active. Sure, indoor playspaces are awesome locations for kids’ birthday parties, but we’ve found some unique places west of Boston that kids - and parents - just might want to consider.

Of course, they all come with all the advantages of hosting a party indoors and not in your home - plenty of space, no weather worries, no mess to clean up afterwards, and minimal preparation required for parents. Read on for details about 10 indoor birthday party places west of Boston where you can host a party and be assured that kids will be able to channel their energy and excitement in a safe, entertaining environment. And check out our Birthday Party Guide for more places to have a kid’s birthday party in MA, including our roundup of indoor birthday party places for active kids in Boston.

Before this week I thought the polar vortex was something Captain Picard battled on Star Trek. But now we know it just means winter can be really cold. The weather certainly impacted our posts this week: At first we were all about sledding and other snowy activities, but soon we were sharing fun places to play indoors as the temperatures dropped into the single digits. (Yeah, I know, let's not relive that.)

We really don't have it all that bad in NYC—just imagine if we lived in Montreal, Canada. Of course there are plenty of wonderful things to do in Montreal with kids, even in winter as our Travel site proved this week. All of our other Mommy Poppins sites were focused on winter fun, too, both indoors and out. Here in NYC, we updated our lists of drop-in indoor play spaces in Manhattan and Queens. Connecticut added a roundup of great family ski resorts to its Winter Fun Guide. And New Jersey has a slew of seasonal sports posts in its Winter Activity Guide.

And a quick plug for one last fun indoor activity for next Saturday, January 18: Join Mommy Poppins at a special performance of the cabaret-style kids' show Still Awake Still! at the New Victory Theater. There will be interactive pre- and post-show activities, plus Mommy Poppins readers can save 20% on tickets.

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

We are very excited to present our 'New Jersey Indoor Play and Rainy Day Activity Guide'! Whether it's too cold, too rainy, too hot, or just too outside outside, we hope this will help you NJ parents to find fun things like indoor playspaces, our favorite museums, indoor sports, and much more. And if you like all your information and possibilities in one chunk, don't miss our other great Guides like our Winter Fun and Activity Guide, Day Trips Guide, and the wildly popular 100 Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids Before They Grow Up. We're so happy to be to Guide you to fun, NJ!

This weekend, head to the Long Island Children’s Museum to learn about maritime culture on Long Island, and to enjoy an interactive performance with Lena and the Happy Clam Band. In the mood to get crafty? Learn how to draw like a master at The Heckscher Museum of Art, and create abstract watercolor paintings at Gallery North. For those who enjoy nature, head to the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center. Learn how animals are fed, or go on a walk to observe seals. Also on tap: Flying Model Competition at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, and Rubber Duckie Party at The Whaling Museum & Education Center. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family.

It's no secret that buying a family membership to one of NYC's kid-friendly museums can be a real money saver, especially if it's your go-to bad weather play spot. (My child has spent many a rainy day romping around the Hall of Gems at the American Museum of Natural History, just like I did when I was her age.) But some museum memberships come with more than just free admission to the one institution—they also get you access to other culture spots at no additional cost.

While recently researching our post on ways to save on the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, we were reminded of one of the best bargains like this for families: the Association of Science-Technology Centers' Passport Program, which potentially gets you free admission to hundreds of museums around the world. However, as with any good deal, there's some fine print. We've got the scoop on the rules and restrictions for the ASTC Passport Program to help you decide whether it's worth it for your family. All you need to do is a little math.

Showers in the forecast? Really? As we continue to ride this weather roller coaster, we’re working on filling our Events Calendar with things for Boston families to do both inside and out. This weekend outdoors, families can check out Winter Trails Day, meet Olympic stars at the Frog Pond, or visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Indoor options include a puppet show with Galapagos Puppets and performances by Veronica Robles, Bob the Magic Guy, and Ben Rudnick. Read on for our top picks.

Also this week on Mommy Poppins Boston:

• Escape from winter in New England - five fabulous Indoor Garden Spaces;
• Find more than books at the public libraries - Free and Discounted Admission to Boston Attractions;
• Plan ahead - Summer Camp Fairs start this weekend;
• Read about our 13 favorite Boston parent blogs

Whatever you choose to do this weekend, enjoy!