My kids love to get free stuff, and to be honest, I get pretty excited about it too. Here are some of our favorite birthday clubs for kids, with great freebies like ice cream, burgers, and gift cards.  I’ve chosen birthday clubs that offer free stuff to kids (and often to their parents), plus some that give you BOGO or free with purchase deals for your child’s birthday. 

Even when it's not your child's birthday, kids can visit these museums at no charge and eat free at these area restaurants. See more no-cost activity ideas in our Free Fun Guide for Boston Kids!

If you're looking for a first museum experience for your kids, the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers is one of the best local options. It's not huge or overwhelming, but it offers plenty to do to keep kids engaged and learning. 

The largest cultural institution in Westchester County, the Hudson River Museum includes galleries, a planetarium, amphitheater, historic mansion, picturesque outdoor space, and plenty of family-friendly events and activities. My dad and I took my 5-year-old and 2.5-year-old for a visit on a recent Saturday afternoon, and it was a perfect outing. 

A trip to Tel Aviv delivers crystal clear beaches, mindblowing museums, history and modernism meeting on every corner—and some of the best food you’ll ever have. All of it makes Tel Aviv the ultimate blend of beach lounging, historical sightseeing, and urban exploring.

The Israeli city is kid-friendly to boot! My husband is Israeli, so although we live in New York, my family rents an apartment in Tel Aviv for a few weeks every year. Kids are welcome anywhere adults are and public playgrounds are ubiquitous. Just about everyone speaks English, the weather is phenomenal, and the area is super walkable, meaning touring Tel Aviv is easy even with kiddos.  

I might be a bit biased when it comes to this beautiful city, but there are plenty of fun things to do in Tel Aviv, so I think it makes a great vacation spot for families. Find more fun cities to visit in our Family Travel Guide, including Stockholm or unique trips, such as exploring Iceland.

While there are a plethora of fun things to do with kids in San Antonio and the surrounding areas, on a recent trip from Houston, my husband and I took our 5-year-old to explore LEGOLAND Discovery Center. If you’ve been to a LEGOLAND Discovery center in another region, such as Westchester, Boston, or Philadelphia, you’ll find much of the same type of interactive fun at the San Antonio location. We took a break from our adventures down the Riverwalk to find an entire world of LEGO magic tucked away inside of the Shops at Rivercenter, and I am incredibly glad we did. 

Keeping kids educated and entertained can cost a pretty penny, so we've rounded up FREE and low-cost classes offered by local stores—including STEM programs, crafting, cooking, and more. We’re big fans of the $0 price tag, but we’ve also included a few that allow for one-time visits up to about $30. 

Many stores have various locations, so be sure to check with these to confirm local schedules, offerings, and rates.

Looking for more? We’ve previously rounded up 60 FREE Places to Play, which include stores, nature centers, play spaces, and other venues. Of course, libraries are also a great resource, and many offer one-time and recurring classes in coding, yoga, knitting, and more. Most importantly, keep tabs on our Event Calendar, where we curate the best local events with a heavy emphasis on FREE and inexpensive.

Park Slope's bustling Fifth Avenue welcomes another cafe to the area, and this one is distinctly different from our other favorite neighborhood eateries thanks to its extensive selection of board games. Sip N' Play, which opened January 2, brings a new board game cafe to this corner of Brooklyn.

So grab your favorite pint-sized foe and read on for all the details on this new addition to the city's board game cafe landscape.

Philadelphia's known for its culture, history and museums, and the Franklin Institute is no exception. Whether you're planning your first-time trip to this popular Philly destination or returning again to see what's new, check out this article to make the most of your day.