The American Girl Store

• If your little girl loves these historical dolls that bring history to life, visit the New York store at 49th Street and 5th Avenue. For no cost at all, you can browse inventory and look at displays of the latest doll collections. The store often offers free activities, so you'll want to visit www.americangirl.com to make sure you're in the know. They typically offer more free activities surrounding the premiere of new dolls.
  
  

Central Park

• Nature is always free, but this park is world famous. Take your kids on a picnic at one of the many grassy areas or visit any one of the several play structures. Between 71st and 74th streets at Central Park West is Strawberry Fields, a small area dedicated to the Beatles. You'll often find fans playing Beatles songs on their guitars on warm spring and summer afternoons.
  
  

New York Bontanical Gardens

• Nestled in the Bronx, you'll find hundreds of species of flowers and trees. Each Wednesday, the park offers free admission. Stop by the Children's Adventure Garden for hands-on activities and neat topiaries. The garden is located on Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road.
  
  

Brooklyn Bontanical Gardens

• You can enjoy Brooklyn's own slice of nature for free from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Take a gander at special exhibits or just enjoy a peaceful walk around the gardens. The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are located at 1000 Washington Ave.
  
  

The New York Jewish Museum

• At 5th Avenue and 92nd Street, families can enjoy spending the day exploring their heritage, or learning about a different one. Special exhibits are always going on and the Jewish Museum offers a Kid's Zone with Jewish arts and crafts. The museum is free to the public on Saturdays.
  
  

The Staten Island Ferry

• Venture downtown to South Ferry (on the 1 metro line) and take a relaxing ride to Staten Island. The ferry itself is free, but beware of rush hour traffic--many New Yorkers use the ferry to get to and from work.
  
  

Downtown Boathouse

• At West 26th Street and the Hudson, you can go and attempt to kayak for free on Pier 64. You can also give it a whirl on Pier 24 at the Hudson River between Chambers and Canal.
  
  

SummerStage

• From world class opera to spoken word artists, you can see it all for free during the summer months in Ramsey Playfield in Central Park (at 5th Avenue and 72nd Street). Check their website (www.summerstage.com) for information on who is playing and when.