Mother's Day Freebies in New England

Want to do something fun and festive for Mother's Day without spending lots of money at a brunch?  There are lots of free offers around Boston and New England for moms this Sunday!

Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT - Moms get in free with their buy one ticket, get one free promotion.  This available online only!  Plus, moms get to relax in our “relaxation zone” while kids make a special gift for mommy!

Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, MA - Moms get in free all weekend!

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI - Moms get in free with a paying child.

Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA - Free zoo admission for moms and samples of KIND bars!  Yum!

Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, MA - Not only do moms get in free, but it is also Star Wars Day at the Franklin Park Zoo!  Dress up in your favorite Star Wars gear and enjoy!

Santa Banta in Waltham, MA - This new Indian restaurant is offering free meals to moms Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend!

Providence Children's Museum in Providence, RI - Moms get in free and kids can make flowers for their moms.

Other stuff to do: 

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, MA - I love the Arnold Arboretum!  While it's always free, this Sunday is its very special Lilac Sunday.  The arboretum has one of the best lilac collections in the US.

Kids Fun Fest in Newton, MA - This annual carnival is a great way to spend an afternoon this weekend.  With rides, concessions, crafts, and entertainment, it's fun for all.

Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, MA - Half price admission for moms.

Stopping Between Boston and NYC

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

I grew up in New Jersey have a lot of family and friends in the NY/NJ/CT area, so we drive down that way frequently.  Sometimes we like to make stops on the way there or back to break up the drive and give my son the chance to stretch his legs, especially if we aren't in a rush.

For anyone else who does the drive regularly or plans to make a trip down there, here are some places on the way to help break up your trip.  I will add this as I find more activities.

Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT - This is a great aquarium and a bit cheaper than other aquariums in New England, like Mystic or the New England Aquarium.   You can easily spend several hours here.  The best part is the hands-on activities, like the ray touch tank!

Stepping Stones Children's Museum in Norwalk, CT - If you are a member of the Museum of Science or Boston Children's Museum, your membership card will get you into Stepping Stones!  This is a really fun children's museum.  It's spacious, clean, and has a lot to do.  We've been here a few times and would love to stop there again.

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, CT - This is a little pricey ($30 for out-of-staters to park their car) but it's pretty cool.  It has a nice lighthouse, a beach with lifeguards, a carousel, a splash pad, and concessions.  Pack a picnic and stay for a few hours.  Build it into your trip!

Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT - This is another museum that you can get in for free with a Museum of Science membership.  Otherwise, it's only $7 and kids 5 and under are free.  It's part science museum and part art museum.  It's not a big museum and you can get through it in less than an hour, but my son enjoyed it on our way home after Christmas last December.

Chip's Pancakes in multiple locations - After years of seeing billboards for Chip's, we finally stopped there a few months ago.  The billboards say they have the best pancakes in Connecticut and I must say, they were quite good and I am very picky with my pancakes!  Super kid friendly, inexpensive, breakfast all day, and a good place to stop for a quick bite when driving to or from NY.

Mystic, CT - If you take 95 home, stop by Mystic.  You don't need to spend money on the aquarium (which is quite costly) and you could just head to downtown Mystic.  There are restaurants including the famous Mystic Pizza, ice cream places, gift shops, and a draw bridge.  Nearby Stonington also has a lighthouse museum.

Lighthouses - You can check out my lighthouse blog that I haven't updated in years.  My husband and I love lighthouses and here are some that you can visit in CT.  Note:  you need to take 95 home to see most of these.

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI - Another place you can get in with your Museum of Science membership.  It's a really nice zoo and you could spend hours there.  It's also great for a day trip.

SKYBOKX 109's Kids Eat Free and $6 Happy Hour Appetizers!

Dino chicken nuggets at SKYBOKX 109

Earlier this week, we went to SKYBOKX 109 in Natick for dinner and had a great time!

Last year I listed all of the Boston-Area Kids Eat Free restaurants but I didn't realize that SKYBOKX 109 also offered kids eat free.  I had noticed it before when going to Burlington Coat Factory or the Natick Mall, so I'm glad I finally go to go.

The offer Kids Eat Free on Mondays.  They have bunch of fun kids options, from pizza to mac and cheese to dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, which was Isaac's choice.  Meals come with a drink and either fruit or french fries.

On top of that, SKYBOKX 109 also offers $6 happy hour apps from 4-6!

SKYBOKX was a fun place to visit - it's totally kid-friendly, but has a fun, modern feel.  Isaac already asked when we could go back!

Maple Sugaring Season

We love maple syrup!  And March is maple sugaring season in New England.  There are lots of sugarhouses in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Maple Weekend in New Hampshire and Massachusetts is March 22 and 23, with lots of sugarhouses having open houses so you can see what goes on behind the scenes.

Many of the Mass Audubon locations have maple sugaring events, too!  Note that advance registration is required for most of these events.  The following locations offer maple sugaring events:  Ipswich River, Blue Hills, Drumlin Farm, and Moose Hill.

But, my family's favorite place to go is Parker's Maple Barn in Mason, NH, just over an hour from Boston. The wait can be long on the weekends, but you can get tours of where they make the syrup, drink coffee and eat maple donuts, and browse their gift shop.  (The maple donut stand is only open on weekends, so that's my favorite time to go!)  The restaurant is cozy and the food is tasty.  I love their stuffed french toast, which varies depending on when you go.  The pistachio is the best!

Visiting Parker's Maple Barn has been a family tradition for us since before we had Isaac.  It's even more fun now that we bring him there!

Isaac learning about the maple syrup-making process.

Groupon and LivingSocial Roundup!

Together in Motion is a fun for babies and toddlers. 

Good afternoon, everyone!  For future "Groupon Roundup" posts, I will also be including my favorite LivingSocial deals!  This will help me find my readers the best, most awesome deals on the internet.   Here's what deals are going on this week.  Enjoy!

• Four hour introductory sewing class at Newton Sewing Studio.  Learn to "sew like a pro" and create a patchwork pillow and stuffed animal, hand puppet, or pencil case!
  
• Boomer's Playland and Laser Tag down in Carver.  Kids can enjoy mats, slides, tubes, a ball fountain, and more - a great idea for these never-ending polar vortexes...
  
• Truck on down to Providence for the New England Family Fun Festival in April!  This event includes dancing, music performances, magicians, storytellers, clowns, contests and games, Lego building, Zumba, and lots more!
  
• Together in Motion's drop-in play in Arlington.  The Groupon says for ages 0-6, but I think it's better for the younger set, like newly mobile babies and toddlers who need a safe, soft place to run and climb.  It doesn't expire until August, so it's great for really cold days, April showers, and heat waves!
  
• Sandwich Works in Newton Centre is super yummy!  This friendly deli has really good sandwiches and breakfast.
  
• 16 Handles - froyo in Coolidge Corner!  Mmmm, cider doughnut yogurt!
  
• Newburyport Whale Watch.  Available May through October, enjoy New England whale watching!  Kids under 3 are free on weekdays.
  
• Do the tourist thing and check out Cambridge Historical Tours and a Freedom Trail Tour.  Play tourist with your family or buy these for when you have out-of-towners visiting for a fun way to enjoy historical New England together!

• Body Worlds Vital -Faneuil Hall.  The Body Worlds exhibit has 200 authentic human specimens, including individual organs, transparent slices, and whole bodies.  I hear it's really fascinating.
  
• Kids Fun Stop in West Roxbury.  Visit this indoor playground (perfect for ages 6 and under) for half price.  Since this winter seems never-ending, you may as well buy some more indoor play passes...
  
• Drumming lessons in Arlington.  Half price drum lessons for kids aged 5-12.
  
• Monster Mini Golf in Norwood.  Monster Mini Golf is an indoor, black-lit mini golf course with music and of course, MONSTERS!  There's also a Groupon for its Danvers location.  If you miss the fun of playing mini golf in the summer, this is a great option.
  
• Kidsports in Stoughton.  This Groupon is for indoor play passes, with the option to add bowling and plaster painting.  Fun idea if you're down near Stoughton!
  
• Animal Adventures in Bolton.  It's a bit of a drive, but totally worth it if you have a kid who is really into animals.  We've gone twice because my son liked it so much the first time. You get up close and personal with all sorts of animals.
  
• Jump Around in Framingham.  I bought one of these already and might buy another.  I'm kind of burnt out on these jumping places, personally, but these jumping passes have been a great thing during the miserable weather.  Anything that gets us out of the house and gets my son some exercise!  

Tuesday Nights at Regina Pizzeria in Allston

Regina Pizzeria's Kids Eat Free is on Tuesdays!

Last night we went to Regina Pizzeria in Allston for their "Kids Eat Free" night.  We really like their pizza and I'm also a fan of their baked cheese ravioli.  Yum!

To our (pleasant!) surprise, they also had someone making balloon animals there.   She said that they have balloon twisters there every Tuesday night.

It was a fun way to end a frigid Tuesday in February - with warm, yummy Italian food, kids eat free, and fun balloons for Isaac!  (And the kids' meals come with a push pop for dessert!)

TEN Inexpensive Indoor Ideas to do this Week!

Jump Around is a great place to get some energy out!

Updated on 1/27/14!

It's another cold week ahead of us, so here are ten (inside!) things for you to do this week.  I tried to find some good deals or otherwise inexpensive things to do.  Some of the indoor activities are so expensive - one thing I found was an indoor play area for $15!  That's more expensive than the Children's Museum!

So, here are some cheaper options to keep you warm while getting out of the house.

1.  Grab a Groupon for Jump Around in Framingham.  Seriously.  Do it.  I bought one and we went on Friday when the temperature was only about 12 degrees.   Isaac really needed to get some energy out and this helped!

2.  Or buy a Groupon for Kids Fun Stop in West Roxbury.   The deal is $30 for five drop-in play visits, so it's half off.   Best for kids 6 and under.

3.  Visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Their regular rates are quite affordable, but they also offer times to go for free for Massachusetts residents.  If you get there Sunday morning from 9:00 am to noon or on Wednesday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, you will get in free.  (Side note:  Free Sunday mornings happen year-round, but free Wednesday mornings are only from September until May)

4.  Spend Friday evening at the Boston Children's Museum.  Courtesy of Target, it's only $1 from 5-9 pm.

5.  Visit the Boston Fire Museum on Saturday morning.  It's only open on Saturdays, but there's no admission - just bring a donation.  It's not a big museum, but it's fun, especially if you have a kid who likes fire trucks!

6.  Stop at Kelly's Roast Beef for Kids' Night. It's every Monday in Saugus from 5-8 pm, every Tuesday in Danvers and Medford from 5-8 pm, and every Wednesday in Natick from 5-8 pm! There's storytelling, face painting, balloons, arts and crafts projects, and ice cream!  It's free to enjoy the activities, but the food is not free of charge.

7.  Skip cooking one night and go to one of the Boston-area kids eat free nights.

8.  Go to a Tuesday morning story time at Pottery Barn Kids.  It's going to be in the teens tomorrow (ugh) so head to an indoor mall with a PB Kids and maybe grab lunch and hit up the play area to kill some time.

9.  Meet Dora the Explorer tomorrow at the Patriot's Place story time inside Showcase Cinema De Lux.    (Showcase Cinema De Lux has these story times every Tuesday with a different character appearance!)

10.  Paint something at Plaster Fun Time.   You can keep this low cost by picking out lower-priced items.  They have magnets for under $4 and regular pieces start at about $9.  If you join their email list, you'll get coupons sent to you.   They have 9 locations.

Kids Eat Free Around Boston

Happy Monday, everybody!

Let's make this week happier by going out to eat one night.  And make it even better by getting a free meal for your kids.  Here's where you can go...

Mondays

British Beer Company - Framingham, Cedarville, Westford
Halfway Cafe - Dedham, Watertown, Marlborough, Canton, Holbrook, Maynard
John Brewer's - Waltham and Malden

Tuesdays

Captain Marden's - Wellesley
Halfway Cafe - Dedham, Watertown, Marlborough, Canton, Holbrook, Maynard
Moe's - Hanover, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Natick, Chelmsford
Pizzeria Regina - Allston
Turner Fisheries - Boston (only 5-7 pm)
Brewer's Coalition - Newtonville
Miller's Ale House - Watertown
Qdoba - Multiple locations in Boston, also Wellesley, Dedham, Medford, Braintree, and more
IHOP - Cambridge, Dedham, Brighton
IKEA- Stoughton.

Wednesdays

Moe's - Waltham
Turner Fisheries - Boston (only 5-7 pm)
Friendly's - Watertown, Waltham (Okay, this actually isn't free.  Kids meals are $1.99, but I thought I'd add it.)

Thursdays

Turner Fisheries - Boston (only 5-7 pm)

Fridays

Turner Fisheries - Boston (only 5-7 pm)

Saturdays

Turner Fisheries - Boston (only 5-7 pm)

Sundays

Samba Steak and Sushi - Framingham, also free cotton candy and magic show between 5 and 8.

Other 

99 Restaurant offers Kids Eat Free the day after a Red Sox win.

Know anymore?  Let me know.