"Free time" can have two meanings for young folks and their parental units during the upcoming spring breaks. There certainly will be plenty of endless hours of leisure while school's out. Happily, the Twin Cities offer a plethora of freebie activities and/or attractions to fill those hours.

• The Minneapolis Institute of Arts remains that rarity, a world-class museum with no admission fees, only donation requests. Contrast that with the Art Institute of Chicago, which has raised its entry fee to $18 (airfare to Chicago not included). An MIA exhibit on "American Masterworks" does have a fee for nonmembers, but most of its treasure-trove-packed spaces are there for the strolling (612-870-3131, www.artsmia.org).

• The Como Zoo and Conservatory: From giraffes to geraniums, tigers to tiger lilies, this dual attraction offers something for pretty much everyone (651-487-8200, www.comozooconservatory.org).

•Speaking of flora (but not fauna), the downtown Minneapolis Macy's "A Dream of Color" begins April 5, highlighted by two 10-foot-tall flamingo topiaries and flowers from Greece, Russia, Italy, Spain, France, South America and Japan (612-375-2200).

•Puppet-o-rama: The St. Paul Central Library hosts a variety show poetry program by the Lokie Puppet Players at 11:15 a.m. next Saturday (651-266-7000). On the other side of the river, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater offers several free workshops from April 4-11 on float and puppet building in preparations for its May 3 parade (612-721-2535, www.hobt.org).

•Get all syrupy: Learn about maple syruping at 1 p.m. today at Maplewood Nature Center (651-249-2170) or at 4 p.m. Sunday at Eastman Nature Center in Maple Grove (763-559-6700).

•Going global: Several events can transport you to exotic locales. the Mall of America -- no, that's not the exotic locale -- is hosting "Passage to China," an interactive program touching on aspects of Chinese culture, history and geography. Times are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 4-5 at the Rotunda, with performances in the Sears Court (952-883-8800). At St. Paul's Landmark Center, "Urban Expedition: Latvia" explores the customs, rituals and expressions of that Balkan nation from 1-3 p.m. on April 5 (651-292-3233).

•More from the mall: The MOA's multiplex offers a free kids' movie -- first come, first served -- at 10 a.m. every Saturday (theatersmoa.com). And today from 9:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m., there's an Easter Bunny Spring Festival with a petting zoo, cookie and basket decorating and other activities at Nickelodeon Universe and West Market Square (952-883-8800).

•Strollin' on the river: The Mighty Mississippi provides lots of options: Stroll across the Stone Arch Bridge and then tower above it on the Guthrie Theater's "Endless Bridge"; enjoy a fabulous park on either side a few miles downriver, at Minnehaha Falls on the west and Hidden Falls on the east (plus Crosby Farm Park closer to downtown St. Paul); or in between, hike or bike along St. Paul's Mississippi River Boulevard or Minneapolis' West River Road.

•Speaking of cycling: The Twin Cities boasts one of the nation's most extensive series of bike trails (www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/where-to-ride.asp), plus wonderful options for urban bikers. One favorite: Traversing St. Paul's Summit Avenue, starting next to the river and finishing with a walk through the St. Paul Cathedral.

•Park it: Only some of the playgrounds have opened, but there's still plenty to do -- and great places for a picnic -- at Elm Creek, Hyland Lake and other locales in the Three Rivers Park District (www.threeriversparkdistrict.org).

•Gawk party: You'll have to pay to park, but check out some fabulous interior spaces in downtown Minneapolis (City Hall with its "Father of the Waters" statue, the new Central Library) or St. Paul (Landmark Center, the James J. Hill Business Library). Another cheap thrill: watching planes take off and land from Post Road, just southeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

•Finally, if your kids miss school: There are a raft of events, from teen writing clubs and computer labs to storytime and video games, at the Hennepin County Libraries (www.hclib.org/pub/events/AllEventsAction.cfm).

Bill Ward • 612-673-7643