Everything is bigger in Texas, and this motto is exemplified in Houston's massive livestock show and rodeo - from the crowds to the food selections - but your resulting credit card bill doesn't have to be. After paying the price of admission, there are lots of things to do as a whole family without spending another dime. That's not to say you won't be tempted by the smells of deep-fried goodness and adorable miniature cowboy and cowgirl hats, just that it is possible to have a ton of fun at the Rodeo that's all free.

Read on for free and fun activities!

February is here, and it's a good thing there's an extra day added on thanks to the leap year - it's full of things to do all around Houston. Get lost in the magic of "Finding Neverland" at the Grand Theatre in Galveston (which really is magical in of itself), and while on the island, take a look at which eateries are participating in Galveston Restaurants Week.

Play with puppies at the Children's Museum, enjoy a free Beethoven concert at the Wortham Theater Center, and take the kids to see their favorite puppets come to life at Sesame Street Live! at NRG. Main Street Theater's "The Diary of Anne Frank" is also running this month through Feb. 16.

And if you're the planning type, you may have started thinking about summer plans, like what in the world you're going to do to keep your kids busy all day. Check out our summer and vacation camp guide for ideas on things they can do out of the house. Read on for the best things to do with the kids this month.

It's a new year, so start it off right by getting out at one of these fun events around Houston. Who knows if we will actually get a winter this year, but just in case you need ideas for fun indoor activities, check out Houston's best indoor playgrounds and rock climbing gyms, or a unique experience like free classes for kids - from painting to coding - at your favorite area stores.

And while Christmas is technically over, many holiday festivals are still up and running through the first few weeks of January, so you can still check out the beautiful holiday lights at Zoo Lights, Festival of Lights in Moody Gardens, Sugar Land's Holiday Lights, and Magical Winter Lights for a little while longer. The stunning White Christmas at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, where you are surrounded by hundreds of white tropical butterflies, also closes soon - on Jan. 5! Read on for the best things to do around Houston in January with the kids.