The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia

Since it is only me and the little guy, we decided to journey over to the Please Touch Museum today (this was as much for me as it was for him). We got there exactly when it opened (9:00) and were told we were the first young people to come through for the day...this was a major advantage since everyone else there were octogenarians or older and couldn't do a lot of the exhibits.

The building itself is absolutely breathtaking; it looks like it could house a Smithsonian. Also, unlike the zoo, all the help was family friendly and SUPER patient with the children there. I know it's there job, but it's amazing how many staff members I heard swearing at the zoo! Anyways, the presentation is very nice and the exhibits are awesome.

True to its name, the Please Touch Museum encourages hands-on learning and constant activity. As a result, a couple of the really cool exhibits are broken/clearly worn down, but a young kid couldn't care less...they just want to see the ball rolling!

Another thing that I found great was that nothing was gender specific. They didn't offer a princess room or a construction area (though they did have a really cool ball digger--but there were more girls in line for that then boys!). I like that it didn't play into stereotypes and allowed all genders to explore together. It's something that you don't see often enough.

The website boasts that a person could spend up to 4 hours + there...but with one busy little kid, we saw everything in an hour and five minutes, so I wouldn't plan an entire day around it. Also, if you have AAA, you save $2 on each ticket, so that is worth it.

Final Say: This place makes me want to have kids just so I can bring them here.

Rating: For the 8 years and under crowd this place is definitely a 9/10

Also, I plan on posting pictures of it tonight!

Back to School

School has officially begun, so while the little guy and I will still go places and do things, the rating will become more scarce. For the time being though, I still plan on writing amusing stories and tales about my days as a Mainline nanny!

Hershey, PA

This weekend, my family and I had the misfortune of going to Hershey, PA. Now, don't get me wrong...this was something that I was looking forward to and a trip that I had to do before I ever considered leaving PA, I just wasn't ready for the crap (excuse my language) that lay ahead.

First off, the quaint little town of Hershey is long gone, replaced by a Disneyland-esque theme park, huge parking lots, and attendants that clearly come from the high school glee club. The line to merely get into the parking lot took us about 20 minutes...that is one of my largest complaints about the place--the traffic design and layout is ridiculous when anticipating as many people as they do. Anyways, putting that aside, here comes the real kicker: you cannot even take a factory tour! They have some sort of ride/interactive/3-d b.s., but they do not even allow visitors to get near the factory!

We didn't quite know this at first, so we signed up for a trolley ride through town at a stiff $12.95 per person. We assumed this trolley (since it was owned by Hershey) would take us up-close-and-personal with the factory and take us down roads that were forbidden to the public. Nope! The ticket even promised great things when it warned us: This tour contains use of smoke, theatrical noises, and strobe lights. Again, NOPE! Rather than being anything average or beyond, our tour was lead by two high schoolers who spent the entire time singing (none of the songs were relevant) and changing into cross-dressing costumes. It was the BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY EVER! Also promised were fresh samples...we got one hershey kiss and one mini reese cup. I could have gotten more at the dentist office.

The only reason why this trip wasn't a complete waste is because my family and I will talk about this for the rest of our lives as the biggest waste of time/money that we have even partaken in. So I guess in a way, it is worth it.

Final Say: Only if this is on your bucket list do you really need to go.

Rating: 1/10

Freddy Hill Farms

Being that it is the last week of summer, the boys and I have decided to live it up (read: minigolf a ton.) At first, they wanted to go to Tees again, but I suggested that we try somewhere else, so we took to the internet to look up reviews of a bunch of "family fun centers." Though Freddy Hill Farms is located in Lansdale, so it is a small journey and a toll road away, we decided that based on the website and the cheesy commercial we saw, that it would be worth it.

First off...this place was much more like the minigolf of my youth. It had all the kitsch and shoddy workmanship that I have been looking for (and it even throws in some history!). They have two courses there: the waterfall course and the Touring the USA course (we liked the USA one a little better because it featured a cave and cute names for all the holes...and it was way easier).

I was shocked when the price was lower than Tees (I would pay a couple extra dollars simply due to the fact that they have waterwheels and miniature shacks on the green!). AND when we played the second course, it only cost us ten dollars as a group. That's $2.50 per person! Can you tell I am still excited? Anyways, the boys liked it just as much, if not more than Tees and I definitely had more fun.

Final Say: While not perfect, this minigolf place is definitely nostalgic for grown-ups and fun for kids.

Rating: 7/10

Linvilla Orchards!

Today was incredibly busy!  And fun!  First, we got the dreaded school shopping out of the way (they dreaded it, but I was sooo excited...that was one of my favorite things to do as a kid, who doesn't love new markers?!?).  Anyways, we knocked that out super early and as a reward for being awesome and patient, we went to Tee's again (which the enjoyed).

In the afternoon, we headed over to Linvilla Orchards to pick some fresh fruits to make smoothies tomorrow.  I knew that this outing would be a hit or miss.  I am dealing with three boys who are all very sportly and "boyish."  When I first brought the idea up, the four year old told me it was for babies.  I asked him, "Do you think babies pick the fruit and veggies in the grocery store?"  His argument soon changed to, "I think I am too young to go."  Anyways, this was something that I really wanted to do and I needed to see it through.

We get there and instantly their defiance turns to excitement.  First of all, the farm is huge (so large that the only way to get around is on a flat bed truck covered in hay--itchy but fun).  Also, and much to my surprise, a majority of the kids there are adolescent boys.  PHEW!  We started picking apples, then moved onto raspberries, then peaches, and ended with strawberries.  The pricing is pretty fair (you might end up paying a little more than you would at the store, but it did supply almost two hours worth of entertainment).  The fruit is super delicious too...the apples and peaches are really at their prime.  It even got the kids discussing how farmers and migrant workers should be paid a lot and how they aren't.  It was really interesting.

Final Say:  While this isn't the most stimulating or entertaining environment, it is certainly a sensory experience and a great opportunity to show kids the hard work that goes into getting their favorite fruits (and have fun while doing it!)

Rating: 7/10

Herr's Factory Tour

Today we went on a tour of the Herr's Factory in Nottingham, PA.  This was a highly talked up outing because supposedly, it culminated in getting to taste hot-off-the-line potato chips.  

After driving almost an hour and a half (the boys were such troopers!), we arrive in the middle of nowhere at a rather plain looking factory (I'm used to Jelly Belly!).  Naturally, we got there early, and I was super excited because I thought the tour was going to be small and therefore it wouldn't be an issue if the boys were getting out some of their bottled up energy.  

Everything was going great until a bus load of about 70 Amish/Mennonites pulled up.  I have nothing against anyone, but I do have something against 70 more people showing up in this little factory.  I was a little bummed...and the boys were too because the previously empty atrium that they were playing "hot lava" in was filled with people.

Oh well...it's not anyones fault.  The tour begins and it was pretty ok.  Half the time we couldn't tell what we were looking at and the tour guide was pretty ambiguous when pointing out how the pretzels and chips were made.  It would have been a waste of time...had those hot potato chips never emerged.  But when our tour guide went into the factory and pulled a tray hot out of the fryer, the trip was well worth it for the boys, so much so that C announced he would throw up if he saw another chip all day (not because they were bad, but because he was eating them by the handful--thank God for their fast metabolisms).

Becky's Last Words: If I lived closer, this would have been better, but being that it took an hour to go on a 30 minute tour, I would probably never do it again.

Rating: 3/10

P.S.  This is in no way a reflection of my opinion on Herr's snacks....I love them all, especially the popcorn. 

Adventure Aquarium, Camden, New Jersey

This Thursday, we decided to check out the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey.  At first thought, I was terrified.  Camden is one of the most dangerous cities in America and is home to a street where you have a 1 in 4 chance of being shot.  No thank you.

With that being said, the boys really wanted to go (and we were going in daylight), so we crossed the bridge.  We get there without much ado (thank goodness) and waltz into the aquarium.  I am always weary of this underwater zoos because I grew up with the Monterey Bay Aquarium...and honestly, nothing will ever compare; nonetheless, I tried to remain positive and unbiased.  

I must say, I was pleasantly surprise.  For what they lacked in space and habitat, they made up with touch pools (there are 5 of them!!!) and hippos (we came right at feeding time).  How many kids can say they have touched a jelly fish, a shark, a shrimp, and a sting ray?  Any kid that has been to this aquarium.  My hands were in there too...COME ON!  HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO TOUCH JELLY FISH?!?  The only thing that "ruined" the experience was when one of the docents told us not to touch the jelly's underside because it could rip off their feeding limb and then they get fed to the turtles.  

The whole outing took almost 3 hours, which in nannying time, is HUGE!  The kids were very entertained (as was I), and the animals seemed well taken care of (expect for a bald/molting penguin that troubled both the boys and I).  

Becky's Verdict:  If your child has any interest in fish, hippos, penguins, seals, or frogs, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 7/10

The Philadelphia Zoo

So, let me start out by saying that normally I LOVE my GPS...but was an exception.  First off, my GPS doesn't have the Philadelphia Zoo programed into it, which I would let slide if it wasn't the first zoo ever in the United States!  I know for a fact that my GPS was created far after the birth of this zoo, so TomTom, you have no excuse.  And I digress...

After typing in the zoo's address, rather than taking us the easy, family-friendly, route, it drops us off smack dab in the middle of a stereotypical, terrible Philly neighborhood.  Winner!  It was the opportunity to discuss how fortunate we are s well as have a four year old ask why some man was peeing on a car.  Again, WIN!

Anyways, we finally get to the zoo.  We arrive pretty soon after it opens.  The boys, who haven't been there in two years, were gushing.  There are two huge advantages to going early: the crowds are substantially less and the temperature is WAY cooler which leads to the animals (and the kids) moving around more.

The zoo itself is pretty clean and overall sprawling (which leads to some tired legs by the end.)  The layout of the zoo is pretty disorganized and somewhat haphazardly put together, but considering its age and how many animals it holds, it's easy not to be bothered by this.  With that being said, the kids loved it.  The baby otters were on display today which was fantastic.  Who knew that the babies just screamed constantly.  It was hilariously adorable.  The zoo also features several docents at the popular animal sites to help answer questions (the kids weren't interested in these people, but I was!)

Becky's Bottom Line: While it isn't the best zoo, it is certainly not the worst.  Get some good walking shoes, and a quality GPS, and check it out.

Rating:  8/10

GPS Rating: 2/10

The "nanny notebook" that I have created for this job.  I have listed several kid-friendly ideas around Philadelphia, their cost, location, and hours.  I'm most excited about the Insectarium, but we'll see if I can persuade the kids to go.

#1: Tees Mini Golf in Conshohocken

Today we went to Tees in Conshohocken to play some mini-golf.  I will begin with this caveat--the boys that I nanny for are PHENOMENAL golfers for their ages.  The whole process was pretty cheep ($5 for kids, $6 for me).  It wasn't crowded (we went at 10:30), and the help was ok (they grumbled a lot, but the guy was really old, so I don't blame him.)  

First off, this was not the mini-golf of my youth with fun obstacles, bright lights, and Disney-esque obstacles (read: Golfland), but for the kids, who are all really good at golf, this was right up their alley.  It is more or less actually set up like little greens everywhere rather than kitschy windmills that kick up your ball and send it forty feet away.  I was a little bummed, but the bottom line was: the kids weren't.  

The water that surrounds the holes was downright disgusting though, which led to a gigantic phobia of putting the ball into the water.  The kids and I took turns guarding any holes on the course to guarantee this didn't happen.  The water was SO gross, in fact, that there was a dead toad floating in it that looked like it had been there for days (this actually upped the entertainment factor for the boys though).

Becky's Final Say: For children (and adults like me) who are more into the carnival-like ambiance of mini-golf, this place isn't for you.

RATING: 5/10

*For lunch, we went to Sam's Grill in Wynnewood.  It was okay, but pretty expensive considering everything was off the kid's menu.  Also, there were only 4 options on the kid's menu (so picky eaters, be warned!)

Tomorrow we are off to the zoo, which I am already quite partial to, but I am nonetheless excited to see the boys' views of it!

Welcome!

My name is Becky and I am a nanny on the Mainline near Philadelphia, PA.  I work with a family that has three boys.  The oldest, C, is 10, the middle child, S, is 7, and the youngest, J, is 4.  I have started this blog as a resource to other nannies and stay-at-home parents in the area who want/need ideas.  I plan on rating our adventures, sharing some stories, and talking about the trials and tribulations of keeping three young kids entertained.  I will rank every activity on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not kid friendly at all and 10 being up there with Disneyland).  I will not rank the restaurants we go to unless they directly cater to families/children.  In advance, I apologize if I offend anyone, as my sampling demographic only consists of three boys and my opinion might not always be yours.  I hope you enjoy my blog and I look forward to embarking on this journey!