Enjoy Swashbuckling Action and a High-tech Scavenger Hunt at The Mark of Zorro

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Seeing The Mark of Zorro last week was an eerie experience. That's because my daughter and I went the night of the blizzard and there was barely anyone in Times Square, let alone the theater. So it's a testament to the three energetic performers that the show was still totally engaging. In fact, my daughter liked it so much, she spent the entire weekend running around the apartment pretending to fence with chopsticks.

While this kinetic show about a masked hero who defends the poor with his sword and whip is certainly worth seeing on its own, part of what made our experience so memorable was the post-show event TXT Marks the Spot. After it ended, we got a map and a number to text, and soon we were running all over the theater, answering questions, making art and completing various challenges, all related to the show. It was super fun, kind of like a digital scavenger hunt meets theater workshop, and was free to audience members.

There will be another TXT Marks the Spot event after this Friday's performance of The Mark of Zorro as well as new editions of the game after select performances of other New Vic shows this season. Read on for my thoughts on Zorro and the scoop on TXT Marks the Spot.

See Free Animated Movies at the National Museum of the American Indian this Winter

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The National Museum of the American Indian, which is located in the stunning Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, is a great destination on any day, literally. It's one of only a few NYC museums that are open every day throughout the year (save Christmas) and admission is always free.

But this winter, there's a new reason to visit: The institution's first-ever Animation Celebration! Looking North. Instead of bundling up and listening to traditional tales around a fire, families are invited to experience the vibrant stories and culture of Native Americans from Canada’s Arctic and Subarctic regions in the museum's toasty second floor screening room.

February Vacation Week 2013 with Kids in Boston Part II: Museum Programs

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Welcome to Part II of our February Vacation Week coverage. We’ve highlighted puppet shows, dance and theater performances, one-day events, and nature programs in our first post, and continue our coverage with a roundup of the many museum programs available during the break. Note that many of the area museums participate in library pass programs, which allow library patron to borrow passes to museums and other local attractions for single-day use. Most - including the Boston Public Library and Cambridge Public Library - have online reservation systems for these passes (plan ahead!)

Have a great break!

Best Free Annual Parades for NYC Kids: Dragons, Mermaids, Bonnets and More

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Aside from my curmudgeonly husband, I have never met anyone who doesn't love a parade. And in NYC, we have plenty of processions choose from. During the warmer months, there are parades practically every week celebrating a wide variety of cultures and causes, and all of them are FREE.

While it's always cool to watch the colorful costumes, floats and performers pass by, there are certain annual parades that are particularly great for families. These processions are either exceptionally vibrant like Chinatown's Lunar New Year Parade or the Three Kings Day Parade, or invite costumed kids to get in on the action (no pre-registration required) like the Earth Celebrations: Hudson River Pageant and a variety of small Halloween Parades that are much less intense than the big one in Greenwich Village.

Of the parades we're highlighting, I've been to five of them personally with my daughter (some we attend every year). The others all come highly recommended by families I know and are on my bucket list. This year, I'm putting all of them in my calendar in the hope that we can do them all!

Join Us on Presidents' Day for a Creative Batik Bash at Hiho Batik

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Everybody had so much fun at our recent New York Kids Club event that we knew we had to do another gathering soon. And with the Presidents' Day school holiday coming up next week, it seemed like a great time for another fun meet-up for NYC families at one of the coolest creative spots we know: Hiho Batik.

We reviewed Hiho Batik back in October soon after it opened in Park Slope, and we really loved what we saw. Now we're partnering with the batik boutique/DIY design studio to create a special event that will be fun for kids of all ages as well as their grown-ups.

Geocaching with Kids: Scavenger Hunts Wherever You Roam

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If you've got a smartphone, get ready to change your ringtone to the Indiana Jones theme; the adventure of geocaching is within your grasp, and it's one of technology's greatest gifts to modern parents. A free activity that can be done pretty much anywhere, anytime, geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt open to anyone with a GPS device or smartphone. Have half an hour to kill and a kid who's climbing the walls? There's probably a treasure hidden within walking distance of where you are. Need an activity that gets the whole family outside for the day? Pick a spot in the hills and hike there in search of secret booty. Either way, you won't be hearing anyone say, "I'm bored!"

GIVEAWAY: Sahara Sam's Oasis Water Park--Win One of Two Family Four-Packs of Tickets!

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When the weather is cold, snowy and depressing, what's better than a day at the beach--indoors? If you've never been to an indoor water park, you are truly missing out; the warm temperatures, the warm water, the warm lifeguards watching your children's every move--heaven! We are excited to be able to offer two winners a family four-pack of tickets to NJ's premier indoor/outdoor water park, Sahara Sam's Oasis. Read on for details on this incredible family adventure location and how to win!

Strawberry Shortcake Live: Follow Your Berry Own Beat - Review

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Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat is a sweet, good-hearted show bursting with good will and friendship. Strawberry and her friends encourage kids with catchy songs and inspirational truisms.  Kids leave the theater knowing anything is possible if you follow your heart and are true to yourself. Even knowing all of this, it helps to have a few more details before bringing little ones to a large scale touring show. (That's why our Parents Reviews Guide covers so many touring shows.)

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