A night of romance and partying without a child in sight was just was we needed as leg #2 in our water adventure this month continued. Mark and I were invited onto the Ben Franklin, a party yacht docked to the left of Dave and Busters on Delaware Avenue in Philly.
Forget the Spirit of Philadelphia; the Ben Franklin is the hip place to be on a Saturday night. Three decks of music, drinks, food, and great views make this boat trip a must for summer 2009.

This is a party yacht, folks, so get everyone organized, pick a night and take advantage of the beautiful summer evenings to let loose with your family and friends. Do you have a birthday or special event coming up? This is a guaranteed way of setting your function apart from all the rest. The low cost of a ticket: $49.99 gets you three hours of drinks, food, music and cruising. The scenery was very cool. As the sun set the sky filled with deep blues and purples and the city seemed to come to life with a million colored lights.
The first floor of the yacht held a bar, buffet table and nine tables of eight with huge silk flower arrangements and elegant linens. The second level had its own bar, café tables situated around a dance floor and the DJ, who spun a mix of oldies and current dance music.
Upstairs was an open deck with canopy. More café tables surrounded yet another dance floor and of course, a bar. Lush greens hung from the canopy creating a tropical feel, especially when the soft summer wind blew across our faces.

On June 13th the Philadelphia Orchestra will be holding a Children’s Corner Concert. Come and enjoy enchanting children’s stories like Mother Goose and Hansel and Gretel accompanied by original arrangements by the Philly Orchestra. Tickets range from $6 to $46; taking place at the Kimmel Center on Broad Street, call (215) 893-1999 for more information and details.

For any family getting ready to spend some time down the Jersey shore, here are some entertaining and fun events to consider when planning your trip. On June 13th, North Wildwood is hosting a Mummers Brigade weekend parade beginning at 4:45 PM. Sunday June 21st get ready for annual Wheelin' the Wildwoods Fathers Day Bike Ride, a non-competition family bike ride throughout the Wildwood's and surrounding scenic areas. Call (609) 523-0202. The weekend of June 27th, The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their annual North Wildwood Italian American Festival, held all along Olde New Jersey Ave. Come and enjoy live entertainment and food. Call (609) 729-4676 for more info on festival events.

July 4th always proves to be a busy weekend for south Jersey shore spots, interesting events include- a great flea market taking place on the Wildwood boardwalk, as well as an international kite festival. That same weekend, the Wildwood Convention Center will be hosting a sports card, comic book and toy expo, certainly something entertaining and free for any families with young children. Families with dogs get ready for the Pooch Parade, free to participate begins at 9am, show your pooch's pride. Registration is free - call (609) 374-0562. For our older adults, The New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival is an entertaining event taking place July 10 through July 12 on 2nd and Olde New Jersey Ave. from 5 to 11pm. Come and enjoy live music, good food and cooking demonstrations. Call (609) 523-6565 or visit www.angleseablues.com for more information.

The Disney Princesses in Concert will be at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center July 8 through July 10. Disney Princesses is a musical show featuring great songs and dances from The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Aladdin, Cinderella, Mary Poppins and Enchanted. Tickets start at $5, call (610) 622-1189 for more information.

Saturday July 11 come check out, or register for the Sidewalk Chalk Competition. All ages, free to participate, prizes will be awarded! Starting at 9:45 am at 8th and Central Aves in North Wildwood. Visit www.northwildwood.com for info or call (609) 522-2955.

For all shore visitors, the city of North Wildwood hosts a FREE event series- Concert Under The Stars every Thursday and Saturday night throughout the summer. Come enjoy live music at the Lou Booth Amphitheater starting at 8pm, rain or shine. With an eclectic gathering of musical influences, last year’s series brought in such artists as Shirley Alston Reeves, former lead singer of 1960’s girl group The Shirelles. For more information and the most current Concerts Under the Stars schedule, call 800-882-7787.

The Phildelphia Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. Cool family events include their Rock and Roar concert series taking place every Tuesday at 11am on the Impala lawn. Call (215) 243-5276 for more details.

Family Fun Phone Book:
Splash Zone- (609) 729.5600 www.splashzonewaterpark.com
Delaware River Tubing- 1.866.WET.TUBE www.delawarerivertubing.com
Philadelphia Zoo- (215) 243.5276 www.philadelphiazoo.com
AMC Theaters- (800) 262.4849 www.amctheatres.com
Please Touch Museum- (215) 581.3181 www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
MacDade Bowl- (610) 532.9044 www.macdadebowl.com

The New Jersey shore is calling, and the surf is hitting the sand just waiting for your tootsies. Ocean City officially opens the season on May 22 at noon, at the Moorlyn Terrace St. Beach, with the Unlocking of the Ocean and the Businessperson’s Plunge. Participants dress in business suits, carry their briefcases, and march into the ocean to the strains of “Pomp & Circumstance” to welcome the new season. Call 609-525-9300 for details.
If you think you’re up for it, stop down the weekend before, on May 17th for the Ocean City Triathlon/Duathlon at 6am, beginning at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, 17th & Simpson Ave. Take part in a ¼ mile Swim (Pool), 2 mile Run/16 mile Bike/2 mile Run; there’s also a half-the-length Kids Course. Neither is a full triathlon, but enough to get the season started (609-525-9317 or lrumer@ocnj.us). Continue the theme with a visit to the Wellness Fair, noon-5 pm, to learn more ways to a healthy lifestyle at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk. Top off the day with an Ocean City Barons soccer game, 7pm at Carey Stadium, 6th St. Tickets at the gate. Adults $6/Youth $4; (609-525-9999). The end of the month, May 30-31, enjoy the Boardwalk Spring Family Fun Fest with a juried craft show, face painters, bands, pony rides and more, at 11th St., 9am-6pm.
June 5th-7th is the Ocean City Flower Show (609-525-9300), with beautiful commercial and amateur displays at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terr./Boardwalk, Fri. 2pm-9pm, Sat. 10am-9pm and Sun. 10am-4pm. June 13th features the Eastern Surfing Association Surf Contest at the 7th St. beach. Participate or watch. Registration is at 7am, first heat 8am (609-884-5277 or www.surfesa.org). The July Jubilee (609-525-9300) starts June 22nd and is a fun-filled week of contests leading up to July 4th complete with taffy sculpting, treasure hunts and more, 11am at the Music Pier. Stop by that week on June 27th for the Antique Auto Show with over 300 vintage vehicles, on the Tabernacle grounds, 6th & Asbury Ave. 9am-2pm. There’s a Boardwalk Parade afterwards. Keep July going with the July 2nd Fourth Annual Sindia Miniature Golf Tournament, 10am - 4pm, at Playland’s Castaway Cove on the Boardwalk (609-399-1801 or www.ocnjmuseum.org). Have freckles? Round out the day at the Freckle Contest (609-525-9304). Registration begins 6pm at the Music Pier.
In the Wildwoods, go to the 17th Annual East Coast Boardwalk Car Show May 7-10, with cars displayed on the Boardwalk, at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Free (609-523-8051 or www.Thundermoto.com). May 26th start the family off at Pirate Day with Captain Kidd and a pirate costume parade at 26th and the Boardwalk, 11am. A treasure hunt follows for kids 12 and under. Prizes include $1,000 savings bond, bikes and more (609-522-2955 or www.northwildwood.com). The Wildwoods International Kite Festival is part of this shore town’s own Unlocking of the Ocean media event on May 22nd, starting at noon, on the beach behind the Wildwoods Convention Center. That night at 9 there’s also a late kite fly with some kites illuminated, spotlighted kites, cool music and the official launch of the events for Sat. and Sun. The Festival runs through May 25th (732-822-4884). The Boardwalk Craft Fair, with all handmade products, coincides that weekend May 23rd – 24th on the Boardwalk at Rio Grande Ave., 9am-5pm. End the month with Thundermoto’s Spring Thunder in the Sand Motocross Pro/Am, on the beach between Schellenger and Spencer Ave., Wildwood, featuring AMA-sanctioned professional and amateur races. Sat. at noon, Sun. at 10am.
June features the 86th Annual National Marbles Tournament at Ringer Stadium, Wildwood Ave. and the beach, Wildwood, June 22nd – 25th. This is the official national competition for boys and girls ages 8-14 who’ve qualified by winning local tournaments throughout the U.S. From 8am-1pm daily. Free to spectators (304-337-2764 or www.nationalmarblestournament.org). Stay the next 3 days and enjoy North Wildwood’s famous annual Italian-American Heritage Festival, June 26th-28th , with food, fun, activities and music held on Olde New Jersey Ave. Fri. 4pm-11pm, Sat. noon-11pm, Sun. noon-6 pm (609-729-4676 or kofc2572.org/festival.html). Then round it out June 29th (and every Tuesday through August 31st) and take in the Authentic Irish Pipe Brigade Parade on the Wildwoods Boardwalk. 7 pm-9 pm (609-523-1602 or www.dowildwood.com). The July 4th weekend catch the Sports Card, Comic Book and Toy Expo at the Wildwoods Convention Center (free, 732-422-9365 or www.RKSportsPromotions.com), and the Fourth of July Freedom & Craft Show at Rambler Road and Ocean Ave Gazebo-by-the-Sea area, with crafters of all kinds, food, live entertainment, and kids’ activities (free, 609-522-1669 or www.wildwoodcrest.org).
What’s a trip to the shore without a stop at the Cape May Zoo, 10am-4:45pm, and admission is free (609-465-5271). Have a wild time as you explore nearly 80 acres of beautifully maintained exhibits and almost 200 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles totaling nearly 550 animals; and a visit to the Cape May Lighthouse (609-884-5404) where you can walk the 199 steps up to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the land and bay and sea. If you didn’t see any from the Lighthouse, go whale watching with the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center (609-898-0055 or www.capemaywhalewatch.com), offering various whale, dolphin and bird inshore/offshore cruises and guaranteed sightings starting at $18 juniors (age 7-12), $28 adults. Online discount coupon and registration at www.zerve.com/JJCBoats; or 800-979-3370 and mention coupon WEB09). Also available out of Wildwood Crest. Don’t have your sea legs? Let the kids sit inside a fighter jet instead. The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum (609-886-8787) at the Cape May County Airport has over a dozen vintage aircraft from World War II and the Vietnam War, including a TBM Avenger torpedo-bomber and Cobra Helicopter gun ship, as well as vintage jeeps and an interactive display from the Franklin Institute, with computer flight simulators. Climb on in. Hours 9am-5pm, $5 adults, $3 kids age 3 to 12.

The World Champion Phillies return from spring training for their home opening April 5th against the Braves, with seven days of home games starting April 17th against the Padres and the Brewers. Promotions at April games include 2008 World Champion pennants, T-shirt, key chain, Cole Hamels MVP baseball, and Charlie Manuel bobble figure. Ticket prices range from $16 to $70. For more info, call 215-463-1000 or go online at www.phillies.com.
Less expensive baseball alternatives are the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Camden Riversharks. The Blue Rocks have six home games also starting April 17th, including one of nine “Stimulus Package” games this season on April 19th. These “bailout special” games cost just $5, with more in-stadium discounts; purchase tickets at 302-888-2015 and don't forget to mention the bailout. Other promo games include fireworks, cap giveaway, and Gilligan’s Island X-Men nights. Ticket prices range from $6 to $10. For more info, go online at www.bluerocks.com.
The Riversharks begin their home stand May 1st with fireworks and a week of home games. Sunday games are family fun days with pre-game all-team autographs and post-game sundaes. Kids run the bases after the games on Saturdays. Tickets start at $5, with most $11. Call 1-866-SHARKS9 or go online at www.riversharks.com. On June 26th, the Riversharks will host “A Wedding at Campbell’s Field,” and is soliciting couples to have the baseball wedding of their dreams customized by the Riversharks, for only a minimal reception fee. All interested couples must write why they should be chosen as the lucky couple and email their entry, with all pertinent contact info, to poorya@riversharks.com. Get your entries in now.
Not into baseball? No problem. The Free Library Festival takes place on the Parkway in Philly April 18-19, featuring a burst of books, live music, kids’ entertainment, talks by award-winning writers, and much more. On Saturday the 18th, see and hear Father Goose blend folktale, reggae, rap, and calypso pop music suited for a lively, all-ages dance party inspired by his childhood in Jamaica, and see John Cassidy perform comedy, magic, and balloon speed sculpting. Many authors of children’s books will also be there. For more info, call 215-567-4341 or go online at www.freelibrary.org/bookfestival to see the full schedule for adults and kids for both days.
Weekends at 10am through June visit the MilkBoy Acoustic Café for “Milk & Cookies” with Miss Scherling and Sally’s Music Circle, a community-building variety hour featuring singers, musicians, storytellers, artists and educators who specialize in fun, quality entertainment for the whole family, especially kids. Join music educator, host and Milk & Cookies creator Miss Scherling as she sings her hits and welcomes scheduled special guests and our adorable "cookies" to the stage, Sundays at the 2 Lancaster Ave, Ardmore location (610-645-5269), or with the music educators of Sally’s Music Circle, first and last Saturdays at the 824 Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr location (610-527-0690). For more info, go to www.milkandcookiesshowpa.com.
The Outdoor Sculpture Program at the James Michener Art Museum (138 South Pine St., Doylestown) features Philadelphia sculptor Barry Parker and runs through May 17th. His works are inspired by folk tales, literature, poetry, mythology, and culture and travel to such places as Japan and Hungary. Parker's sculptures are constructed of hammered and formed bronze sheets and he allows the welds to remain visible because they can be read almost like “scars.” Tickets are $6.50 (adults), $4 (kids/students), free under 6. Call 215-340-9800 or go online at www.michenermusuem.org.
And don’t forget Charlotte’s Web, with audience involvement, runs through May 23rd at the Hedgerow Theatre in Media. Tickets are $9 (kids), $11 (adults). Call 610-565-4211 for tickets.

It’s springtime and that means thirty-four Phillies spring training games in and around Clearwater, Florida through April 2nd. Home base is Bright House Field, and its concession stand is one of the few with hometown food favorites: Philly cheese steaks among them. A kid’s play area helps keep the little ones busy. You can view their schedule at www.FloridaGrapefruitLeague.com/phillies.html. Ticket prices are $11-$30. The closest airport is Tampa Bay, just across the waterway, but flights into Orlando (2 hours away) will be less expensive. Call (727) GO PHILS for more info.
Clearwater also has great beaches. Nearby is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, one of eight facilities in the United States authorized to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals, offering personal encounters with bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, sting rays, local fish, coral reefs and more.
Closer to home is the Kixx professional soccer team’s fan appreciation game on March 22nd at the Wachovia Spectrum. The family 4-paxx at $69 gets you 4 corner seats, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas. Call (888) 888-KIXX or go to www.kixxonline.com for tickets and info.
The Battleship New Jersey Museum in Camden reopened its doors after battening down its hatches for the winter. Explore what life was like aboard the country’s most decorated battleship on your own or by guided tours, including the “City at Sea” focusing on little seen parts of the ship. Ticket pricing varies, including some free entry. Call (866) 877-6262 or go to www.battleshipnewjersey.org for more info.
Want weekend story time with the kids? Go see Charlotte’s Web at the Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Road, Media. The children’s classic of the friendship between Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider runs every Saturday at 11 am starting March 14 to May 23 (except May 2), and features music and audience participation. Afterwards greet your favorite characters and animals with juice and cookies in the lobby. Call (610) 565-4211 or go to www.hedgerowtheatre.org for tickets (kids $9, adults $11) and info.
Then on Sundays through March 31 go to Story Time with Betsy Ross at her home on 239 Arch St., Philadelphia. From 11-11:30 am Betsy will read 18th century kids’ tales and tell stories from her life and times. Cost: Free. Call (215) 686-1252 for details.
March 14th and 15th take the family to the Go Green Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and learn about environmentally friendly goods & services for use in modern living. Over 200 booths/exhibits featuring all things ecological--kid events, eco-travel, home supplies, electric/hybrid cars, energy, foods, eco-fashion, health products, interactive seminars, films, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more. Tickets are $10 for a 2-day pass. Kids under 12 and seniors over 65: Free. Visit www.gogreenexpo.com for details and tickets.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Theresa Flanagan’s Irish Band, a Media native, courtesy of The Arts Guild at Neumann College in Aston (610-558-5626, www.neumann.edu) on March 12. The Irish Celebration starts at 1:30 pm and these spirited musicians feature Irish classics and contemporary and will take you on a jeweled song journey to the Emerald Isle. Tickets are $7; Neumann students with ID: Free.

ELEPHANT ALERT! February may be the last time you can take the kids to see the largest mammals on Earth at The Philadelphia Zoo, and with lower admissions ($12.95 for ages 2+, rates go up March 1) the Zoo is one of the best all-day outings around, even in the winter. Due to costs and new recommendations of increased acreage for captive elephants, Bette and Kallie are going to their new, state-of-the-art conservation center on the other side of the state. The Zoo is open every day from 9:30 am-4 pm. Call 215-243-1100 to make sure you won’t miss them before they leave.

Staying warm at the Zoo is easy in February as it has six fully-heated indoor exhibits of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. A child favorite, the Reptile and Amphibian House allows visitors to step, slither and slide through 47 naturalistic exhibits, including rainforests, deserts and aquatic destinations, as well as thunderstorms in the Everglades (yes, it actually rains inside the alligator and crocodile exhibit, but call ahead for show times). The Rare Animal Conservation Center is home to a wide variety of colorful, unique and endangered animals. The Primate Reserve has our primate cousins in all shapes and sizes. The Small Mammal House features vampire bats, sloths, meerkats, aardvarks and much more. Venture the cold outdoor grounds and gardens to see how winter animals, including polar bears, penguins, Scottish Highland cattle and more, handle the cold weather, and maybe get some tips from them.

The 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show is bringing color to the region the first week of March at the Philadelphia Convention Center, with over 150 vendors and presenters taking part. This year’s theme is Bella Italia and will highlight the strong ties between Italy and the Philadelphia region. The Entrance Garden of the 2009 Show will feature the formal gardens of statuary, topiary, manicured hedges and tiered plantings of ancient Rome. Show exhibitors will also pay tribute to the many distinctive regions and cities of Italy, and daily entertainment will include operatic performances, strolling mandolin players, folk dancers and costumed actors reminiscent of those found throughout the piazzas of Italy. The show runs March 1-8, costing adults $28 for the first day, $24-$26 the others, children 2-16 $13 any day. Adult discount tickets are available online at $22, as is a discount family four-pack (2 adults, 2 kids) for $65 by joining the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, which gets you perks at the show. Call 215-988-8776 or visit www.theflowershow.com for tickets, special show presentations, and the strolling Italian entertainment schedule. Discounted tickets can also be bought at select PNC Bank branches, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Acme Markets, Borders Books & Music, Giant Food Stores, SEPTA ticket sales outlets, local garden centers, nurseries and florists. In some cases, service charges may apply.

With a lot of audience participation, kids and their parents will enjoy Hedgerow Theatre’s musical performance of The Snow Queen, based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, now playing on Saturdays, 11 am, through March 7. About an hour long, the show is fun and quite interactive, as Gerda and Kai fall prey to the evil Snow Queen and good triumphs over evil. Tickets are $9 kids, $11 adults. Birthday parties associated with the show are available for $8/$10, respectively. The theatre is located at 64 Rose Valley Road in Media. Call 610-565-4211 to order tickets and for more info.

Aside from a good ol’ fashioned snowball battle between parents and kids (rule 1: no ice balls, rule 2: no face shots, rule 3: no recriminations), and a family sidewalk clearing of snow, there are plenty of things to do in and around Delaware County during the winter.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is truly a winter wonderland. No more than a five to fifteen minute drive from anywhere in Delco, admittance is free and so is the parking. Whether you walk or bike the trails, the winter version of the Refuge features amazing views so very different from the full summer foliage and changing fall colors you’ll think it’s a different park.

If you want something more planned, the Refuge has weekend themed tours, including family programs, by expert volunteers who guide you through the Refuge in walk-and-talks about the beautiful winter birds, plants, grounds, and environment of the only national refuge surrounded by city and suburbia. Call 215-365-3118 for weekend tours and times.

Don’t want to go outside? A free Sunday at Philadelphia’s National Liberty Museum, with its visually stunning exhibits and interactive displays, is challenging and fun. NLM has one of the largest collections of glass sculptures (don’t worry about the kids breaking something) in the world. The Museum’s centerpiece is a 21-foot glass “Flame of Liberty,” a truly magnificent work and worth the visit itself. The Museum’s new program, “Truth,” is something parents may want to bring the kids to for lessons-in-disguise fun. Included in your tour is the Museum’s activity booklet and weekend Craft Corner. National Liberty Museum is located at 321 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia and is open from 10am until 5pm. Call 215-925-2800 for details (www.libertymuseum.org).

When you’re finished at the Liberty Museum head down the street a few blocks and visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Free-time tickets are required for Independence Hall (or can be reserved at $1.50 by calling 1-877-444-6777). No tickets are needed for the Liberty Bell. Visit www.nps.gov/inde for details or call 215-965-2305.

Want to go the beach instead? Well, there’s the new indoor water park right across the bridge in Mt. Laurel on Route 73. Coco Key Water Resort bills itself as a family getaway, where its 84 degrees and you can escape to a tropical winter wonderland. A family four-pack pass is $95 Monday-Thursday (individually, $29) and $135 weekends. Individual weekend, holiday, and school-break day passes are $39. Children under 2 enter free. Online ordering of eTickets is recommended, as entry is based on capacity. Visit www.cocokeywaterresort.com/Locations/mountlaurel or call 1-877-494-COCO. With over 55,000 sq. ft. of thrilling slides, water video, and water sports and activities, the kids can have a blast while parents unwind, or jump in the fun themselves.

Don’t forget the car show is coming to town! The 2009 Philadelphia Car Show runs January 31st through February 8th. Kids under 12 get in free on Feb. 8th for Kid’s Day. Ticket prices listed on the web are: adults (13 and over) $10, Kids 7 to 12 years of age $6.