The Montclair Art Museum is a great place to introduce kids to the visual arts. My 6-year-old daughter and I moved to Montclair last year, and when a Sunday afternoon opened up on our calendar recently, we finally got a chance to visit. Even my very active daughter, whose idea of culture is cheese (as in Chuck E.), was eager to go inside the big building she sees on our frequent trips to the Whole Foods right across the street.

To be honest, art museums plus kids doesn't always equal a successful day of art appreciation. For me, it's more about exposing my daughter to art and culture, even in small (or local) doses. That being said, the Montclair Art Museum absolutely did not disappoint! Plus, a visit to MAM makes a great post-brunch stop during a family-friendly day in Montclair.

Read on for our day—well, 90 minutes—at this awesome Northern NJ museum.

It’s a total cliché to say something is a hidden gem, but in the case of Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens, it’s hard to find a description that’s more apt. For years, I drove right past the park, which is somewhat concealed behind a tall fence on Vernon Boulevard and Broadway, on the way to my daughter's school. Finally, my family decided to investigate.

We weren’t expecting to find a five-acre, open-air art park with amazing views of the East River and Manhattan. The artwork on display changes regularly, and visitors can easily spend a day here wandering among the sculptures, sunbathing, reading, or strolling the gardens.

Best of all, Socrates Sculpture Park is totally FREE, and is open year-round for amazing waterfront views, public art, and cool family-friendly programs and events. Read on for even more reasons why you should go. 

Spoiled as we are by world-class museums in Boston, it can be easy to overlook smaller, suburban spots like the EcoTarium Museum of Science and Nature in Worcester, MA. But a recent visit to the EcoTarium proved that this unique science museum belongs on every Massachusetts parent's must-visit list. Just a short drive from Boston, the museum offers both indoor and outdoor activities, including interactive exhibits, live animal habitats, nature trails, and more. It's ideal for a day trip, but if you have limited time, we'd recommend hitting these 10 exhibits—plus one bonus seasonal activity (think: bubbles!)

Got super curious kids? Check out our guides to the Museum of Science, Boston Children's Museum, Discovery Museums of Acton, and more in our Boston Museums Guide.

Whether you're stocking up for school clothes or dressing up a wee one that changes in size every couple of months, kid clothes can really add up. Luckily, there are kid-centric consignment shops and special sales across Long Island, where you can buy barely (or never) worn kids’ items at a discount. You can also sell your own gently used items to get some extra cash.

For more ways to your family can fun together without breaking the bank check out the affordable activities listed on the Long Island Events Calendar.

Looking for a fun way to enjoy dinner and a movie as a family? Knock both items out in one fell swoop when you visit a dine-in movie theater around Houston with your kids. While watching a movie at home might offer you and your kids the chance to enjoy a meal with your show, dinner just tastes better when you don't have to cook it. At these local theaters, you can enjoy more than just the standard popcorn, candy, and soda from the movie theater snack bar. From bite-sized appetizers and tapas-style small bite plates to full-blown dinner menus (with kid's menus, too!), you and your kids can enjoy an elevated food experience served right to your seat all while catching the latest flick. 

If you've never been to a dine-in movie before, here's a run down of what you can expect. With only a couple of slight exceptions noted below, most dine-in theaters work the same way. You'll want to make a reservation online or by phone ahead of time to secure your seat as most dine-in theaters offer quite a bit fewer seats than traditional theaters. When you arrive, a server will take your order right from your seat and deliver it to you. They'll generally come back around another time during the movie to take dessert orders or refill drinks. You'll receive a check to pay for your meal when your movie is finished, just like you would at a traditional restaurant. It's a pretty fun way to see a movie and enjoy a great meal.