Morris Arboretum

Click on the pictures for a larger view

Location: 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Phialdelphia PA

Website: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml

Bathrooms: Yes, some with changing tables

Eating area: Yes, Compton Cafe on site, and vending machines, 

Attractions: 92 acres of lush gardens and sculptures, Out on a limb tree canopy walk, miniature village and Garden Railway, various historical buildings, and refreshing fountains

Around the Area: Quaint town of Chesnut Hill and Wissahickon Valley Park (Forbidden Drive)

Fee: Kids under 3: Free, Kids 3-17: $7.00, Adults: $16.00

 Or get FREE passes for the whole family with your Library Card with their Museum Pass Program

The kids and I took advantage of this gorgeous summer day to check out the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.  We scored FREE passes for 2 adults and 4 children for FOUR days by checking out the passes through our local library's Museum Pass program.  That is a savings of $184 for our family!! I LOVE the Museum Pass!  

                

We were most excited to explore the "Out on a Limb" exhibit and to climb 50 feet above the ground into the trees! The kids had a great time pretending to be birds sitting on the eggs, and  jumping on the rope netting and seeing how far they were from the forest floor! The kids also had a great time putting the huge megaphones on their ears to listen to the sounds of the forest! 

Our next stop was to see the miniature Garden railway exhibit. This seasonal exhibit features renditions of storybook and historic buildings made of natural materials set in the garden complete with naturally made tunnels and overhead trestles.  The kids had a blast following all the trains and watching them appear over their heads,  moving under trees, and crossing over small waterways.  Of course...there is a Thomas train for fans! 

Our next favorite stop was the Log Cabin.  This exhibit provides some much needed cool shade, a refreshing dip in the stream and a splash of water from a old fashioned water pump! Parents will find some much needed R&R on the chairs while the kids tidy up the cabin, play school, build with Lincoln logs, or splash around and explore the stream! The kids LOVED this historic building.

Throughout the arboretum you will discover various species of trees and flowers, interesting works of art and sculpture, cool insects, and refreshing fountains and streams! 

Tips:

• Check the weather before planning your trip.  It's all outdoors!
• Check the event calendar for lots of fun activities!
• Wear comfortable shoes, there is a lot of walking!
• Strollers and wheelchairs are fine! Most of the walkways are paved.
• Visit the Visitors Center and get your "passport".  The kids get them stamped at various exhibits. The passport also has great educational information and activities related to the exhibits. Also, pick up some Family Fun cards for extension activities!
• If you kids are anything like mine, you might need to dress them in bathing suit trunks!  Or at the very least bring a change of clothes and maybe some towels...in case someone gets wet!
• Wear sunscreen!
• Two words....insect repellent!
• Pack snacks and lunches and eat at the dining behind behind the Visitors Center. There is a cafe on site and drinking and snack vending areas scattered throughout the arboretum if you are in a pinch.
• Before or after your trip, head down to the quaint town of Chestnut Hill! The kids can eat and play at the Little Treehouse Cafe, and enjoy ice Cream from Brendenbecks! Bruno's is another great spot for food (right on the corner of Germantown Ave.and Northwestern Ave.) with easy access to  Wissahickon Valley Trail (Forbidden Drive). 

Have fun exploring The Morris Arboretum!

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!

Haddon Lake Park

Location:Haddon Heights, Audubon and Mount Ephraim

Website: http://www.camdencounty.com/parks/parks/haddon-lake 

http://www.ccparks.com/events/eventsbyvenue_list.php?vnu_id=56 (special events calendar)

Bathrooms: Yes (at amphitheater during special events)

Eating area: YES

Attractions: Outdoor amphitheater, playground, bike/walking/running paths, fishing, Haddon Lake

 Fee: FREE

This summer, my kids and I discovered a new park...the Haddon Lake Park.  We have been spending quite a few mornings there because of their wonderful variety of summer programs.  We saw a reptile show, a magic show, and a theater production.  All of these were located in their amphitheater called the Mc Laughlin-Norcross Dell.  In addition to Camden County providing these special events, they also provided water and ice tea and we even had cookies at one show!  Bathroom facilities are also available at the amphitheater location but are only opened during showtime.

                                                                                                  

Close to the amphitheater is a playground area, picnic tables, fields to run or play ball and biking/running/walking/trails.  After the performances, my kids and I would take our snack and head to the playground. There are two main play areas with slides, monkey bars and lots of swings. In addition, a small creek runs in front of the playground and my son has a ball taking his shoes off and putting his toes in the water (be careful some areas of the creek are deep!). Follow the trails and you will even find a little bridge!

The whole playground is pretty much shady, which was really nice on those hot days.  There are picnic tables and tables in a covered gazebo. The only bathroom facilities, however, are port-a-pots, when a show is not going on at the amphitheater.   There is a small parking lot at the playground area but spots will fill up quickly on amphitheater show days.

Getting to the park should have been relatively simple, however if you use Google/Mapquest for directions most will tell you to find 13th Ave. I found that when driving the 13th Ave sign is covered by a tree and it was difficult to see the sign. I was able to see the sign above it saying Mc Laughlin Ave, but of course, I wasn't looking for that street. Twice going to the park, I completely missed the turn onto 13th.

On one of those days, when I missed the 13th Ave turn, I learned just how big Haddon Lake Park was (73 acres!). I located another playground in Haddon Lake Park. When asking a Mom at the park, she notified me that I WAS in Haddon Lake Park but in the Mt. Ephraim section! That park of the park also has a playground and trails around the lake.

The Mt. Ephraim Playground area

Haddon Lake Park is a wonderful park to watch a show, take a walk, and play. I wouldn't make a special trip just for the playground areas, but it is the perfect location to take the kiddos when there are shows at the amphitheater. When there are special programs, you could definitely spend a morning or an early evening at this really quaint park tucked into the town of Haddon Heights. Check out the programming calendar and we'll see you at the park!

Pennington Park

Location: Delanco

Website: http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/pages/pages.aspx?cid=590

Bathrooms: Yes

Eating area: YES with pavilions (rentable for parties)

Open: 7am to Dusk

Attractions: Hiking/Biking Trails, playground, Wildlife observation piers, community gardens, dog parks

 Fee: FREE

The kids and I visited Pennington Park after hearing so many good things about it.  It is a pretty large park...140 acres big!  The kids had a lot of fun at its cool playground! There are your typical playground equipment but the giant climbing tower, the farm hide out, and the large animal sculptures were some of their favorites!

A view of one area of the playground

The Turtle was just one of the large animal sculptures.

There are benches to sit on and a large expanse of grass to bring a ball or a blanket.  There are also several covered pavilions and bathrooms nearby for snack and lunch breaks.  Check the website for information on renting the pavilions for speical events.

My only complaint about the playground is that it is right out in the sun. There is very little to no shade. Trees have been planted but they are not mature yet to provide shade.  So,  I would avoid this park on hot days.

In addition to a fun playground, there are several trails for walking, running, and biking that lead to wildlife observation piers. The kids loved running over the bridge to check out the wildlife and views of the Rancocas Creek. Again most of the trails, except the boardwalk areas, are out in the open with little shade, so make sure to bring hats, suntan lotion, and lots of water when out in the heat.

Trail to the overlook with views of Rancocas Creek



 I think you could definetly spend a morning at Pennington Park.  The kids could play forever at the playground, bring bikes and you could ride the trails, and walk to the observation areas for views of nature. Have a snack or lunch at one of the many covered pavilions and you could definetly look at spending several areas here.  Its a playground and nature preserve all rolled into one. Also, don't forget that there is also a fun dog park for fido, too!  We will definetly be visiting this park again soon!

Here are more pictures of the park:

Have fun at the park!

Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area

Location: Creek Rd. in Moorestown, NJ

Bathrooms: Yes

Eating area: Yes

Attractions: Hiking trails and boardwalks, viewing plaforms, butterly and hummingibird garden

Hours: open 7am to dusk

Fee: FREE

On a recent snooze cruise, I discovered Boundary Creek Park. It is literally maybe a ten minute drive from my house, so I still can't believe I hadn't seen or heard of this amazing park before.  I was looking for a place to take the kids for a morning walk since they had gotten up so early and wanted to play outside.  Not wanting to upset the neighbors with their early morning screaming, I packed up the kids, their bikes, and Grandmom, and headed to Boundary Creek.  

The kids riding their bikes on the trails

We arrived around 8:30 am to the sounds of birds and just a handful of other walkers. It was a beautiful morning and we parked immediately at the welcome pavilion where you can pick up a trail guide and use the restrooms.  There was no changing table, but the restrooms were very clean!!  This is also the general location for a picnic, however there are other locations along the trail that you could also decide to rest and eat.  I think eating along  the platform overlooking the Rancocas Creek would be fabulous!


Overlook shaded pavilion with pond



Anyways, just a short distance from the parking area, are the trails.  The Trails is set up like a double circle, one that goes to the right and one that goes to the left.  We started on the right, and found lots of lush and colorful vegetation, tons of birds singing, and numerous colorful insects.   The fields are full of milkweed plants, so look closely under the leaves and you could be looking for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars, chrysalis, and butterflies soon. Also, on the right hand side is the pavilion overlooking the pond filled with fish and frogs.  This would also be a great place for a snack! It is covered too, so it would protect from the sun.  Speaking of the sun, the trails do take you into some shaded forest areas, but also into lots of field areas so bring a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats to for protection.

One of several boardwalk trails and viewing areas

If you take the trail to the left you will be lead to the Rancocas Creek observation platform which is beautiful.  It was so quiet, with wildlife everywhere.  They even provide non coin operated binoculars so you can see the creek wildlife up close.

Just some of the beautiful scenery

 

Beautiful coneflowers that were attracting butterflies

Boundary Creek is a beautiful nature preserve that is not big and not overwhelming but a perfect place to   take a leisurely morning/evening walk, let the kids get "one with nature", and just take it all in.  We will definetly be coming back for more strolls!