<p>In a few weeks, we are touring DC schools and then up to Philly to see Bryn Mawr / Haverford. We’ll actually be staying up in the Northeast / Huntingdon Valley area but will have a car. We’ll have a Sunday at our disposal and I’d love some ideas for something FUN. </p>
<p>My kids have been to Philly numerous times since I grew up there and still have relatives there. They have seen the downtown historic sites, so I’m not looking for suggestions of Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, the constitution center, the Art Museum, etc. And they’re not going to want to see Penn, particularly, as it’s not on their list (<em>I</em> would, but this isn’t about me). I really need something that’s a break from “intense” college visits and will really be fun for them. But still within the metro area – I considered Hershey but that’s farther than I want to go.</p>
<p>If it’s a nice day, Valley Forge Military Park is awesome. I used to hang out there in high school. It’s historical, but beautiful and you can walk all over the place. King of Prussia Mall is nearby, too, which is my favorite mall in the country.</p>
<p>I second Valley Forge Park. Stop at the visitor center to watch the film first. </p>
<p>We did a tour of the Eastern State Penetentiary (sp?) recently. They have a self guided tour with headsets. Spooky and fun (it’s cold though!). They also have guided talks at certain hours and take you to places you can’t go to on the self guided tour. There are good restaurants nearby…and it’s in a nice part of Philly. </p>
<p>Longwood Gardens has gorgeous grounds and a beautiful conservatory…if they like flowers and nature, it’s a good spot. </p>
<p>Manayunk has good restaurants and funky shops. A great place to stroll. </p>
<p>If you ski, there’s Spring Mountain. Doesn’t compare to the Poconos but it’s still fun. There’s also a nice ice skating rink in Philly, near the river. </p>
<p>If you go to the King of Prussia mall, there’s an IMAX across the street. And head down 422 and there’s a good outlet mall (in Limerick). </p>
<p>I might be more helpful if you tell me what they like…</p>
<p>Since you’re going to be in Huntingdon Valley, how about going to New Hope/Lambertville, which is about half an hour away? If it’s a nice day, they’re lovely towns to walk around, with fun shops and some very good places to eat.</p>
<p>And I second Longwood Gardens if they like that sort of thing. It’s absolutely beautiful there, no matter what time of year it is.</p>
<p>If they haven’t already been there/done that, the Franklin Institute is pretty cool. You could go over the river to Camden and see the aquarium and/or the battleship New Jersey. Valley Forge is, as others have noted, a wonderful place to explore.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine recommending Camden to anyone under any circumstances, Aquarium notwithstanding. Camden is to be avoided at all costs. (seriously)</p>
<p>Camden can be scary…I’ve been lost there (they’re doing lots of construction) and the cops are unfriendly and most areas are unsafe. Now, if you go in the warm months, you can take the river ferry to the Aquarium and avoid the inner city…we’ve done this with kids…it’s OK. Seriously. </p>
<p>Another idea is to check what’s going on at the Keswick Theater. Fun venue. I saw a Beatles tribute band there recently. It’s not too far from where you’re staying.</p>
<p>I second New Hope and Lambertville. Really cute shops to check out. I would eat at one of the historic old inns in the area if your group would like that sort of thing (my kids did). Here is a good one (The Black Bass Hotel):</p>
<p>Princeton is about twenty minutes away from New Hope and Lambertville. The Nassau Inn has a nice brunch. There are great restaurants, candy and ice-cream shops, and clothing stores in the town itself and a big mall (it is NJ after all) on one of the adjacent highways. If you eat downstairs at the Annex restaurant you can see where kids carved their names into tables. Also at PJ’s Pancake House. And they didn’t get taken away in handcuffs!</p>
<p>You might want to drive to Seaside Heights if your crew likes Jersey Shore. I know most parents do not watch it but a lot of young people think it is hilarious. SH is probably only ninety minutes from Philly (a short hop in that part of the country). Everything is closed down for the season, but the beautiful ocean is still there. The cast of characters they might want to check out is probably back home in Bayonne or Bloomfield until the weather gets warmer, however. BTW…if your student does go to school in the Philly area, they will likely not stay at SH in the warmer months (more likely Ocean City, Sea Girt, or another more reasonable spot for the collegiate crowd).</p>
<p>And oh dear…do not go to Camden. Even if George Clooney is there handing out candy. If you want to see an aquarium or military ship, there are many other places to do that.</p>
<p>My D had to go to Camden for a Cities class at Bryn Mawr. She said it was a learning experience. </p>
<p>I don’t know Philadelphia well enough to make too many suggestions, but last May, D1 and I went down to help D2 pack up her stuff at the end of the school year. While D2 was packing and finishing a final, D1 and I went on a tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary. The tour/visit was quite interesting and a fun way to spend an afternoon. There were also interesting cafes nearby.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for your suggestions. I think my 17 yo S would rather have bamboo shoots under his fingernails than go antiquing in New Hope / Lambertville :-). I agree Princeton is charming (I have business there periodically and stay at the Nassau Inn) but they’ll rebel at seeing a college campus that isn’t on their list given that we’re chugging down 18 (!) of them this spring.<br>
VF and the Eastern State Penit. are just the kinds of things I was thinking of! Thanks again!</p>
<p>^^ Do you know what Dave and Busters is Pizzagirl? Sounds like your 17 might think it is great fun. It’s a pier along the Delaware River, has a restaurant, and tons of amazing arcade, with state of the art video games, pool tables, games of skill.
Dave and Busters is a chain, at night probably filled with older crowd, but during the day very wholesome. For teen Dave and Busters = fun.</p>
<p>Folks, Camden isn’t THAT bad, at least the central part of it. Not that I would recommend anything there for a teen’s one day in the area, but I go to the shed auditorium there sometimes (f/k/a Tweeter Center, forget what it’s called this year), to the Aquarium, to Wiggins Park, to Cooper, and to Rutgers Camden, and I haven’t gotten cooties yet. I’ve even WALKED between the High-Speed Line and the waterfront (gasp!), exposing myself to four whole blocks of unmediated Camden. Gosh, if you walk past the jail at just the right time, you get to see all the “conversations” using arcane hand signals between people on the outside and people on the inside. So educational!</p>
<p>Re The Keswick. My kids would have a laugh at that! They card at the door . . . for the AARP. Seriously, I think it’s against policy to book anyone under 45 to play there (unless it’s a tribute band for someone from 40 years ago). It’s the home of “Gee, I didn’t know HE was still alive!”</p>
<p>On the other hand, Philly has the best (and cheapest) all-ages rock scene that I know of. Check out the web site for R5 Productions if you are going to be here at night. It’s the one thing my kids had trouble adjusting to in Chicago – paying three times as much, and not being able to get into shows until they were 21 (or at least had a believable card that said they were).</p>
<p>And Dave & Buster’s . . . “wholesome”? Crab fries and a zillion expensive arcade games? Can’t you find some other adjective? (Yes, teens love it. Yes, I’m sure there’s something, maybe five things, just like it in Chicagoland.)</p>
<p>LOL on the Keswick. H and I went with our son recently and he loved it (Genesis Tribute band). I noticed an older, mostly overweight audience, dressed like they just rolled out of bed (and mostly men too…there was a LONG line at the mens room…lol). But…quite a few parents with teenagers too…who seemed to be enjoying the show despite the horrors of being seen with their parents. </p>
<p>Anyway, I think we know, JHS, that you adore urban environments and like to argue against any increased risks. Maybe you’re related to the cop I ran into there…who was disgusted with the fact that I seemed to be worried about being lost in Camden, my normal route torn up by construction. He yelled at me and told me to go on my way before he gave me a ticket for driving too slowly! Honestly, the crime rate is high there and certain areas are to be avoided. That said, the aquarium has good parking and is a decent (not great) attraction. Just don’t get lost!</p>
<p>I just looked at the Keswick web site. They’re currently promoting concerts with: The Drifters, Kansas, a Neil Diamond tribute band, and Keith Emerson & Greg Lake. 'Nuff said. If you can get your teen anywhere near that, you’re a more effective parent than I. (The Keswick is a lovely medium-sized theater in a lovely non-snooty suburb, Glenside, with a cute little “downtown”. If you are interested in Arcadia University, that’s there, too, or at least pretty close.)</p>
<p>As for Camden, I just bristle at the “avoid at all costs” shrieks. It’s not my favorite place to hang out. I don’t REALLY recommend you take your teens to watch prisoners have “gesture sex” with their girlfriends, or talk about escape plans, or whatever the heck it is they are doing. (But if you did, I’m sure they would learn something. I did!)</p>
But I can’t hate on anything that offers skee-ball. Skee-ball rules.</p>