It's Christmas Time in the City!

Ahh, there is nothing like Christmas in the city. Something about the hustle and bustle, the decorated store windows, and numerous festivals and events that to make the holidays feel extra special. A favorite family tradition of ours is to visit Philadelphia to get into holiday mood! The magic of Christmas is always around and will leave everyone smiling and feeling festive.

The Macy's Grand Court Light Show 
13th and Market Street
Show is every hour on the hour
FREE 
http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/xmas.php 
Friday, Nov. 25 - Friday, Dec. 23: 10am-8pm
Saturday, December 24th: 10am-5pm Christmas Day: Closed
Monday, Dec. 26-Friday, Dec. 30: 10am-7pm
Saturday, December 31: 10am-5pm.
Crowds are thinner Mon.-Thurs. and after 4pm Fri. thru. Sun. 

A perfect family outing, the Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert at Macy’s is a Philadelphia tradition that dates back half a century. Come to the famous Center City store — housed in the historic Wanamaker Building — to watch snowflakes, ballerinas and reindeer float beyond the four-story-high velvet curtain of the Grand Court atrium. During the light show, more than 100,000 bright, energy-efficient LED lights combine to create fantastic holiday images. The lighting display is accompanied by festive music from the world-renowned Wanamaker Grand Organ.

Dicken's Village at Macy's
13th and Market St.
3rd Floor (Holiday Lane)
FREE
http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/xmas.php  
Friday, Nov. 25 - Friday, Dec. 23: 10am-7pm
Saturday, December 24: 10am-5pm
Christmas Day, December 25: Closed
Monday, Dec. 26 - Friday, Dec. 30: 10am-7pm
Saturday, December 31: 10am-5pm.

A Philadelphia tradition for more than 20 years, the third floor of Macy’s is transformed into “Dickens Village” for the holiday season. The 6,000-square-foot Village brings Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol to life with more than 100 fully animated figures reenacting 26 of the story’s most memorable moments.

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 2011
1701 John F Kennedy Blvd
One Comcast Center
10-8pm, on weekdays it is until 5pm
Show runs every hour on the hour, lasting 15 minutes
FREE
http://www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/the-comcast-holiday-spectacular/ 

A holiday spectacle unlike any other! It is shown on the state-of-the-art Comcast Experience Video Wall and is filled with sights and sounds of the season. New this year, enjoy scenes from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” performed by the renowned Pennsylvania Ballet along with updated scenes of the holiday.
The Holiday Spectacular also features a magical sleigh ride through the snow covered Pennsylvania countryside, the majestic sounds of a 64-piece orchestra, and more.

 
The Reading Terminal Holiday Railroad
12th & Arch Streets
Friday, November 25 – Saturday, December 31
Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm & Sundays 10am-5pm
Closed Christmas Day
Location: Piano Court in the Market
FREE
http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/events/

Kids and adults alike will delight in this 500 sq.f. model railroad display with almost a third of a mile of track! Twelve working train lines rumble through a multitude of miniature scenery including Center City Philly, a Christmas Village, and snow-covered countryside.

Christmas Village
1500 Arch Street, LOVE Park

November 24 – December 24, 2011
Sunday-Thursday  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday  11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FREE
http://www.philachristmas.com/28-0-About.html

Philadelphia will once again transform into European wonderland during the third annual Christmas Village at Love Park. More than 50 vendors from all over the world will occupy over 80 quaint, wooden booths for the month-long Christmas Village at Love Park. Browse for the perfect gift, like Christmas ornaments from Germany; enjoy European food, sweets and drinks, such as Bratwurst and “Lebkuchen (gingerbread); and watch to performances from area bands, dance groups and more.Don’t Miss the massive Kathe Wohlfarhrt tent features popular Christmas gifts from Germany, including glass ornaments, music boxes, nutcrackers and incense smokers.

Stellwag's Hidden Acres Farm

Location:116 Hartford Rd. Delran, NJ

Website: http://www.stellwagshiddenacresfarm.com/

Bathrooms: Yes

Eating area: Yes

Attractions: Rose Garden, animals for viewing, short hiking trail, garden center

Fee: $5 per person for the hayride to pick a small pumpkin.

Cost of the pumpkin is included in the $5 price.

Click HERE for the price guide to other pumpkin picking farms !

This past weekend the family and I took advantage of the nice weather and finally went pumpkin picking.  This year, we tried the much talked about Stellwag's Farm not far from our home. This was our first time on their hayride, although we have visited the garden center several times to purchase plants. We couldn't beat the price of only $5 per person,  including the cost of the pumpkin! Oh...and did I mention there was hot cider when we returned? Sweet!

We went to the farm at about 11am on a Sunday and found it to be very quiet. There was hardly any one there, and no lines to wait in. We paid our $5 for our hayride and pumpkins, and off we went. However, the ride to the pumpkin patch was a very different when compared to previous pumpkin patch trips.  You don't take a ride around a farm, but instead you ride through a heavily shaded wooded area.  It was so cool! The kids kept saying, "We're off to find the witch's house, which house? The witch's house!"  It wasn't scary by any means but it was shaded, making it darker and a retreat from the bright sun. Along the way, you will find various decorative scarecrows in the woods for some visual entertainment. I never knew that Stellwag's had that much property! I could imagine a hayride at night would be pretty awesome through the woods and I wonder why they haven't ventured into that market?

After the ride through the woods, the tractor stops at the pumpkin patch where loads of pumpkins are waiting to be picked.  I liked the fenced in area...perfect for little ones! So easy to watch them, they could run free and I didn't have to worry! The pumpkins were small, but again it was the perfect sized for my 3 and 4 year old to carry themselves. That was real nice! I imagine that these small pumpkins would not satisfy older children who hunt for the "great pumpkin," but I think it should satisfy most kids about 10 and under. Within the patch, there was even a setup to take pictures of your kids with their chosen pumpkin.

When you are finished picking, the tractor will take you back to the garden center/gift shop and you are free to explore the rest of the farm...for FREE!!  Yes, viewing the animals, the nature trail, and rose garden are all free! You will find goats, various pheasants, sheep, wild turkey, and more! Make sure to stop and smell the roses in the rose garden maze, and enjoy a nature trail that will take you over the a bridge and through the woods leading to the animal pens. There is also a covered area with picnic tables for eating. Make sure to call ahead if you need those tables, because that is also where the birthday parties are held.  You may be out of luck if there is a party. Also, the garden center does not sell food, so you do need to bring your own. Inside the garden center/gift shop you will find the restrooms.

If you are looking to pick pumpkins without breaking the bank, have little ones, and don't want to spend all day looking through a huge pumpkin field for pumpkins, then Stellwags is for you. Your kids will enjoy it, they will get a pumpkin, a hayride, see some animals, run through the woods....and you can just take it all in and relax. Everyone wins!

Happy Fall!

Just My 2 Cents: The Weekends Best Events (Oct. 8th and 9th)

So much to do this week! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this week! 

Great weekend to pick pumpkins! Before you go check out the pumpkin picking blog post!

Saturday Oct.8th

Haddonfield Farmer's Market. Haddonfield, NJ. 8am to 12pm. Free Admission. Enjoy a friendly market experience that’s fun for the whole family. The Haddonfield Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, May thru October and Oct. 8th is the last day until it reopens in the spring! Supposed to be a beautiful day! After shopping the Farmer's Market take a stroll through downtown Haddonfield!

Autumn in Moorestown Festival. Moorestown, NJ. 9am to 4pm. FREE Admission. Downtown Moorestown will welcome the fall season in a big way - from fine arts and crafts to antique and classic cars, scarecrows and pumpkin painting - our Main Street business distict will be alive with activities for all ages and interests. Again this year, the Lakes Corvette Club will host the annual Antique and Classic Car Show along Main Street.

Apple Festival. Historic Kirby's Mill in Medford, NJ. 9am. FREE Admission. This is THE event for all apple-lovers! Enjoy home-churned apple ice cream, apple cider donuts, which are made right there at the festival, apple cobbler, and other yummy treats. Visit numerous unique crafters, live entertainment, and  tour the historic Kirby's Mill, the last operating commercial mill in New Jersey, operating right up until 1969!

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic. Local Lowe's Stores. 10am. FREE.  Build and Grow kid's clinics are a great way to help build kids' confidence! Bring the kids into any Lowe's store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. This week create the Monster Machine, just in time for Halloween.

Rainbow Fish at the Scottish Rite Auditorium. Collingswood, NJ. 1pm and 3:30pm. $5 tickets.  This is a brand new musical adaptation of the story of Rainbow Fish, the most beautiful fish in the ocean, based on Marcus Pfister's award winning book, "The Rainbow Fish".  With a  lively and refreshing musical soundtrack, and sparkling, specially created costumes, cute puppets and a wonderful underwater world, it's a musical presentation for the whole family.  A fun and lively story, with colorful characters for the young ones, and an interactive and funny script for the older ones.  And a lesson for all - young or old. Could combine theatre and dinner in Collingswood for the 2nd Saturday event!

 Sunday Oct.9th

Eureka! Make Art Together. Abington Art Center. Jenkintown, PA. 11am to 3pm. $5/per project. Each month Abington Art Center hosts EUREKA! a fun workshop for families of any size, shape and artistic ability to play and make art together. This month's workshop will feature mask making! Come make a funny, scary or artistic mask. All art supplies will be provided. Drop-in anytime between 11am & 3pm! No reservations are required.

Lenape Village Tours. Churchville Nature Center. Churchville, PA. 1:00pm and 2:30pm. $5. Take a tour of the Lenape Village and experience a 1500’s era working village. The village is  a hands-on, living history exhibit that gives students and other members of the community the opportunity to experience first-hand what is was like to live in our area as a Native American, just before contact with European settlers. Each week there will be a different craft or skill featured.  Reservations are requested in advance. This weekend learn about Lenape cooking.

Have a great weekend!

Just My 2 Cents: The Best Weekend Events (Sept. 24th and 25th)

So much to do this week! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this week! 


Saturday Sept. 24th

Museum Day . Various Locations. All day and FREE. In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket...for free. View the list of 2011 participating museums.

Sculpture Saturdays. Along Kelly Drive, Philadelphia. 10am to 2pm. FREE family-friendly SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS, iPOD TOURS, and LIVE MUSIC along Philadelphia’s Kelly Drive.  hands-on activities for all ages, including artist-led sculpture workshops for kids, self-guided iPod tours, and live performances from The Adam Monaco Band, Trinidelphia, KyoDaiko and more. There’s something for everybody to enjoy while discovering public art in in Philadelphia. Live performances at 11:00 and 1:00pm.

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic. Area Lowe's Stores. 10am.FREE From project basics to giving your child the opportunity to say, "I built it!", Build and Grow kid's clinics are a great way to help build confidence! Bring the kids into any Lowe's store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. This week create a firetruck with stickers and a working siren!

Oktoberfest. Saturday 12-8pm and Sunday 12pm -5pm. Huntingdon Valley, PA. FREE. German food, music, dancing, beer garden, activities and games, crafts, hayrides and pony rides. We went last year and had a great time. Some portions have a fee for participation.

Fall Family Fun. Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ. Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm. $5, children under 3 are free. Come to Terhune Orchards every weekend this fall for great farm fun, great food and great music, celebrate the harvest with the  Mount family and see your neighbors and friends. Pony rides, tractor drawn wagon rides, pumpkin painting, visiting our barnyard of animals, the Corn Stalk Maze, and exploring the Farm Trail are some of the delights that await you each weekend.

Sunday, Sept. 25th

Hipster Henry Firetruck Tour. 4th and Girard (Northern Liberties) 10am. FREE. Kids grab your cameras, your parents and join hipsterhenry.com “A Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia” for a tour of the Engine 29 Firehouse. Meet the firemen and get behind the wheel of a real fire truck. RSVP by emailing henry@hipsterhenry.com so we know how many kid’s to expect! All families are welcome!

Eurkea! Art Workshop. Abington Art Center. Jenkintown, PA. 11am to 3pm. $5. Each month Abington Art Center hosts EUREKA! a fun workshop for families of any size, shape and artistic ability to play and make art together. This month’s art activity will be inspired by Lonnie Graham’s African photo journey.

Manayunk EcoArts Festival. Manayunk, PA. Saturday 11am to 7pm and Sunday 11am to 6pm. FREE.  A two day event along historic Main Street in Manayunk celebrating  artistic, sustainable, and local green initiatives where eco-minded artists, green businesses, and ecologically-concerned community groups gather to share resources and education about green and healthy living.

Just My 2 Cents: The Best Weekend Events (Sat. Sept. 16th and Sun. Sept. 17th)

So much to do this week! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this week! 


Saturday, Sept. 17th

 Sculpture Saturdays. Along Kelly Drive, Philadelphia. 10am to 2pm. FREE family-friendly SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS, iPOD TOURS, and LIVE MUSIC along Philadelphia’s Kelly Drive.  hands-on activities for all ages, including artist-led sculpture workshops for kids, self-guided iPod tours, and live performances from The Adam Monaco Band, Trinidelphia, KyoDaiko and more. There’s something for everybody to enjoy while discovering public art in in Philadelphia. Live performances at 11:00 and 1:00pm.

Touch a Truck. Silver Diner Parking Lot, Cherry Hill, NJ. 10am to 2pm. $7 p/p or $20 per family.  Fun for everyone! Construction vehicles, emergency vehicles, classic cars, big rigs, tractors and more! Access to over 30 vehicles, the Fun Bus, face painters, live music, auction items, food and drinks and more! To Benefit the building of Jake's Place Playground!

Apple Day. Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ. Saturday and Sunday. 10am to 5pm. $5 pp. Children under 3 are free. Fun for  the whole family, including face painting, pumpkin painting, pony rides and our popular corn maze.  Live music, homemade food, and pick your own apples. On Saturday, Herman Parish, local author of favorite children stories Amelia Bedelia, will be signing his new book Amelia Bedelia's First Field Trip as well as Amelia Bedelia First Apple Pie. 

Kids in Center City Playdate. The Market & Shops at Comcast Center, 1701 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia. 11:30 to 1:30pm. FREE. Enjoy a special Kidsincentercity.com Saturday Playdate with Sephora and Wilhelmina Philadelphia. Families can enjoy kid-friendly fashion focused activities, as well as a children’s fashion show. Children are encouraged to to wear their favorite fall inspired designs and participate in the children’s fashion show. Wilhelmina Philadelphia will be on site to take pictures and scout future models (Ages 5 years and up). Market Merchants will offer fashion themed kid-friendly treats and crafts. Parents should stop first to watch The Comcast Experience screen show before descending to the lower level Market area where the event will be held. 

Indian Acres Annual Septemberfest. Indian Acres Tree Farm, Medford, NJ. Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. fCraft Show with over 45 crafters showing off their unique Handmade crafts, and a kids' Fun Fair to benefit American Cancer Society (Relay for Life) of Medford. Featuring Live Music and a fun, FREE play area for the kids. Pumpkin picking wagon rides, barrel train rides, jumpin' pumpkin, face painting, pony rides, zipline, and more!

Sunday, Sept. 18th

Kidzfest. Challenge Grove Park, Cherry Hill, NJ. 11am to 3pm. Free entry. Fee for Participation in the fun-a-thon 3 event competition. Bounces, crafts, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, games. Hockey and soccer shootout, and basketball hoops. Appearances by Captain American and Iron Man! Fun for a good cause...help fight pediatric heart disease, cancer, and premature birth.      

My Gym Open House.  Cherry Hill, NJ. 9:30am to 11am. FREE. Everyone is welcome to attend.  Bring a friend and enjoy the gym.   Parents/Adults wear socks. There will be rides, games, swings, zip line and more.  Invite your friends. Also as a special bonus New York Life will be providing a Free Child Identification Card complete with photos and fingerprints to those parents who would like to have this free service. Check the site for additional open house times!

Exclusive Offer for Family Penny Pincher Fans!

 Click on the coupon for a larger image and to print!

Our good friends at Children-More are offering fans of the Family Penny Pincher a special dollar off coupon for their upcoming event!  Purchase your tickets at the link below and then bring your payment receipt and print out of the coupon above.  Thanks Children-More!

LET'S TALK COLORS! A MULTILINGUAL PLAYDATE

Wednesday, September 14

Kid Junction, Mt. Laurel

10am to 12pm

$8.00 per child, adults free (with the coupon..only $7.00 per child)

Enjoy learning about numbers in multiple languages through play.  Each family will receive a sample of EasyLearn's new book filled with at home activities for children. A great event to enjoy prizes, fun and learning! Light snacks and refreshments will be available.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Have a great time and thanks Children-More!

Just My 2 Cents: The Best Events (Week of Sept. 5th)

So much to do this week! (Monday Sept. 5th to 9th ) ! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this week! 


Monday, Sept. 5th
Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day Celebration: Franklin Square (Philadelphia) 12pm to 3pm. FREE. All-American fun for kids and families with traditional lawn games.  Prizes include tickets to Philly Mini Golf, the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, and more! 

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Tuesday, Sept. 6th

• Kids eat Free: The Pop Shop (Collingswood, NJ) FREE. through Thurs. Sept. 8th. Back to school time is exhausting -- forms to fill out, new schedules, homework! Who has time to cook? Give yourself a break, bring the kids to The Pop Shop and their entree is free. For kids 12 and under ordering off the Squirt menu. Does not include beverage or dessert.
•  Espresso Yourself: The Treehouse Coffe Shop (Audubon, NJ) 10am to 11am. $5 sugggested donation. 10am to 11am. That's right, kids ages 5 & under are instructed in self expression through music. It is highly interactive and educational. Not to mention . . . parents get a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy a hot beverage for once. Teaching the wee ones is Sara O'Brien of Studio Luloo.
• Kids Klub: Voorhees Town Center (Voorhees, NJ) 10am. FREE. VOORHEES TOWN CENTER IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A BRAND NEW KIDS' KLUB…A PLACE WHERE IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD! Join us the first Tuesday of every month in Macy's Court at 11am for awesome adventures and play-a-long fun! Plus, members of the Kids' Klub receive discounts at participating merchants every Tuesday!
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Wednesday, Sept. 7th

WOW! Wee Ones at Winterthur. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library (Wilmington, DE) 10:30am to 11:15am. 5 per nonmember child with 1 free adult. This early childhood series intended for children ages 3-5 incorporates active learning through music, movement, and the exploration of objects in a warm and welcoming setting. This month's theme is Those Shoes, by Maribeth Boelts. Everybody in this story wants a special pair of shoes.  This story will help us think a little about both shoes and sharing.

• A First Look at Monarchs. Norristown Farm Park (Norristown, PA) 1pm to 2pm. $4 per child.  Get a close up look at the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly.  We'll search for eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult butterflies in our abundant field of milkweed.  Learn about the fantastic migration of Monarchs.  Hear a story and make a butterfly craft. Ages 3 and up.  $4 per child. Pre-Registration required. Meet at the picnic pavilions.
• 
  Target First Wednesday at Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia) 5pm to 7pm. $2 admission. $2 admission from 5-7 p.m. today! Come play the night away at Target First Wednesdays! Check out more info at a Family Penny Pincher Post.

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Thursday, Sept. 8th

• Dora Playdate by Children-More. Jellybean Jungle (Marlton, NJ) 5pm to 7pm. $ 7.00 per child, adults are free. We will offer games, Spanish music and free playtime! Activities for ages 7 and older at the sitting area and Gym playtime for younger ones! Come and enjoy prizes, fun and a great way to start the school year and end of the summer. Click here for a special coupon exclusive to Family Penny Pincher fans for $1.00 off this event!


• Music Training Center Playdate. Marlton Crossing Shopping Center. (Marlon, NJ) 10am. $10 per child/adults free. Discover the best play facilities in South Jersey.  The second stop on our tour is an exclusive event for SuburbanMomma & Mom2MomNJ fans & members on 9/8 at Music Training Center, a state of the art music facility at the Marlton Crossing Shopping Center. You and your child(ren) will have the opportunity to participate in a full Makin Music class, limited to just 20 participants. Your kids will learn fun, catchy songs and get to bang away on instruments as they sing and play along.


• Just Mom and Me Playdate. Macy's Court at Moorestown Mall. 11am. FREE. Come and welcome the Fall Season with songs, poems, and reading!  Kids and Parents will enjoy kicking off the season with creating apple stamps and leaf prints. Just Mom & Me Play date, entertainment and crafts provided by the Garden State Discovery Museum. Special giveaways and treats for everyone! This month Sahra Sam's joins us for the fun!
  

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 Friday, Sept. 9th

• • Secret Cinema Prison Movies. Eastern State Penitentary (Philadelphia). Doors open at 7pm. $10. ADULTS. Secret Cinema, a Philadelphia rare movie screening project that shows old films on 16mm film on a giant screen, is returning to Eastern State Penitentiary for the 12th time with two prison-related films. The films will be shown directly outside Al Capone’s cell. First up is Millionaires in Prison, a 1940 comedy/drama featuring Lee Tracy, Linda Hayes, Morgan Conway, Raymond Walburn and Truman Bradley. Next is Types of Inmates from the 1960s, a very rarely-screened grim training film whose opening titles declare its viewing is restricted to prison professionals.  Don’t miss this unique event! 
  
  Movie Night in the Park. Wood Park (Cinnaminson, NJ). 7:30pm. FREE. Come out to the park for a free showing of "Toy Story 3".


• Family Movie Night. Dominique Johnson Recreation Center. (Pemberton, NJ). 8:00pm. FREE. Showing "Rango"Free Admission, Free Popcorn and Free gift for children in attendance!

Have a great week!

Fort Medford at Bob Meyer Park

Location: 2 Commonwealth Rd. (Off Gravelly Hollow Rd), Medford

Bathrooms: Yes

Eating area: YES 

Attractions: Native American themed playground,Basketball courts, baseball/softball fields

Wheelchair Accessible Playground: YES

Fee: FREE

Click on any of the pictures for a closer view!

After being cooped up in the house due to Hurricane Irene, we were all itching to get out and play outside without wind, water, and threats of tornadoes! Thankfully, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to explore the Fort Medford playground and the new wheelchair accessible playground at Bob Meyer Memorial Park.

Fort Medford is actually two playgrounds in one. The first is the original Fort Medford, a Native American themed wooden playground complete with teepees, totem poles,and Native American decor. The other is the "J and I Samost", the more recent and modern wheelchair accessible playground. Both playgrounds will occupy your children for HOURS!

Fort Medford

Fort Medford is the wooden playground with lots of nooks and crannies for your children to hide.  My son hid so well that I grew a little frantic when he didn't answer my calls. Finally, he emerged from his "best hiding place, ever!"

My kids LOVED the large sandbox (note to self...next time bring sand toys!). There is another sandbox in the handicap accessible playground as well.   Off of the sandbox area is a place called "Tot Corral" where the baby swings reside and an additional fenced in area for the little ones.

 The teepees were a hit! The kids were playing "house" and pretending to cook and had fun eating their snacks inside like it was a tent!

 The kids had so much fun on the numerous slides, the wooden bridges, the hidden tire swing, rockin' canoe, and so many other areas! I think the sign on one part of the playground says it all, this is a playground where your kids will become explorers and discover a whole new world of fun!

J and I Samost Wheelchair Accessible Playground

To the left of Fort Medford you will find "Burlington County's First 100% Handicapped Accessible Playground" with its large wide ramps, special swings, easily accessible equipment at various heights, and rubberized surface that is good for wheelchairs, walkers, and kids falling down! This is truly a park where kids of all abilities can play together.

My kids had ball with the various rock walls, the sandbox, the sway chair, and making music on the drums! Another really cute addition is a hidden puppet show area. Another note to self...bring toys for the kids to put on shows!

 Click on the collage for a larger view

At this area of the playground you will also find the covered pavilion with several picnic tables set up.  It was the perfect place to have snack/lunch and to take cover from the sun! A little bit behind this playground is a path leading to the bathrooms.  When we went, the bathrooms were locked, however, I am assured by several of the moms present at the park that day, that the bathrooms are usually open. 

The covered pavilion, great for playdates and birthday parties!

My only complaint was the maintenance of the park. It and the surrounding fields, are in need of a good mowing, weed picking, new mulch and a general clean up. It always saddens me to see awesome playgrounds, that must have cost a good penny, to go into disrepair. After talking to several moms at the park, they had said this has been brought up several times, yet nothing has been done. One mom said that someone had come out to pick the weeds, yet a large pile of those weeds was still in view and within reach of the kids.  I know towns are facing budget woes, but the cost of letting a playground fall into ruin, seems to me, more costly than putting forth daily maintenance. I will be visiting again and will hope to report that the playground has been attended to and refreshed. Should this keep you from playing at this playground? No, but maybe if more people bring this to the attention of the powers that be, maybe something will be done.

Tips:

• Bring sand toys.  The sandboxes are a big hit and your kids could play in them for hours with some toys, buckets and shovels.
• Bring puppets or stuffed animals and have the kids put on a show at the puppet show area
• There are plenty of picnic tables and seating for a birthday party, but you will need to check with the Medford Parks and Recreation for information on possible reservations.
• Bring sunscreen...most of the playground is in the sun
• Don't forge the wipes...I did! My kids were playing in sandbox and were very sandy. Wish I had wipes to clean them and their clothes a little.
• Bring a bat, and any ball and play in the fields (if not in use)

See you at the Fort!