20 Best Summer Programs In Philadelphia, PA (2022 Updated)

As the mom of a college student who had to leave a private, out of state institution for medical reasons, I came into contact with BCCC when my son was ready to obtain further credits. The administration was so very helpful, from applying for appropriate courses, to registering and payment. My son has not yet graduated, but the experience at the local community college was excellent. BCCC also has programs in which high school students with special skills or talents can participate in college level work. Both the high school and BCCC were extremely helpful in this regard. High school credits were obtained with no tuition payment. Finally, I am a sunset photographer. The high hill on the campus overlooking the baseball field just off Swamp Road is a very nice vista for sunset shots!!Carol Geibe

First off the price is great. The campus is really nice. I liked the professor's a ton. There were some really good teachers. When I transferred out most of my credits went to Penn state without an issue. I see a few reviews on here talking about bad teachers. This is not a BCCC problem, it's a college problem. I had just as many bad teachers if not worse teachers at Penn State as I did at BCCC. Expect it, accept it, and work harder in those classes. It's only 16 weeks folks. If you are looking to see if college is for you or just starting back up with your education I think it's a great place to start.Mike Carson

The campus itself is clean and the security is friendly. As for the professors I had in my two year stint here, many of them were awesome people and very helpful as teachers. I feel I have learned a lot from having knowledgeable teachers such as Professor Beers in the math department and Professor Bresnen in the music department. All in all, for the most part the staff here seems to care about their students' success and I have had many more pleasurable teachers here than I expected.Dan

I really enjoyed this museum. Though it was smaller than I expected, especially paying $18/ticket, I expected a bigger museum. But it did have an amazing ancient Egyptian collection (more so than anything else), and that's mainly what I came for, so I was happy. They also had an ancient Chinese exhibit and a small Mayan and Native American and African collection. Also their gift shop leaves something to be desired. My main issues were the price, even NYC doesn't charge that much and only ask for a donation of your choice. Plus their garage was expensive as well, can't remember how much because boyfriend paid, but it was close to about the same as the price of one ticket. I also didn't like that it said we had to buy timed tickets online, and we almost didn't go at the time we wanted to because we thought we missed our window and would have to wait, but when we got there, we thought we'd just go in person and see, and lo and behold, there were almost no other people there and we were able to go in as soon as we came. This was a Friday afternoon so I can't speak for weekends. Also, a large portion of the Egyptian exhibit doesn't have air conditioning, just large fans, so it was pretty suffocating. Not sure what that's about. Bathrooms on the second floor were only two rooms for males and females and were disgusting and smelled horrible. Other than that, I do recommend the museum overall. Saw lots of amazing artifacts. Plus there is a climate controlled room you can enter where you can see where they work on their artifacts. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$16–20J S

An incredible collection of historical artifacts from around the world. The sphinx in the entrance alone is nearly worth the cost of entry to see such an amazing piece of history. Well curated collections broken down into geographic and historical date which makes it easy to follow history as it occurred. The special collection was The History We Wear and was an awesome look at several styles of clothing from periods and places around the world. Staff is friendly and short briefs on specific pieces occur throughout the day to give a rich history of these artifacts. Being able to see an original peice of the Gilgamesh epic in real life was amazing. Highly recommend this museum if you are fascinated by human history. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$16–20Casey McClain

The newly renovated historic Harrison Auditorium is impressive. I attended a 1-day conference at this Penn Museum facility. The intricatedly carved ceiling is gorgeous! The meeting acoustics and technology provided were excellent. There is a patio space for relaxing and enjoying refreshments. A lush water garden leads to the entrance. The Museum is accessible by public transit and museum staff are helpful. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
NoBarb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)

I joined Drexel University as a Computer Science major with a sole aim to take transfer to a better institution. The only two things that I liked at Drexel was :- 1. Scholarship and Financial Aid 2. Math faculty (Dimitri, Jason and Pavel Grinfield) The CS lectures were aweful, so was the CS faculty. I had a 4 GPA for 3 continuous quarters (that's how long I stayed here). CS 164 was a course which taught Javascript language. However, I knew more JavaScript before taking the course than I came out learning after the course. Totally confusing. Popyack was my professor. CS 171 and 172 were fine, just because I had prior experience with C++. In 8 out of 10 lectures I fell asleep, because they were extremely boring. The professor made no eye contact what so ever. Half of the time what he says would make no sense. The labs don't really help you out, they are poorly designed. Most labs will take more time than the time allotted. You'll have to go home with extra work. The university is fraud and extremely unmanaged. There's no infrastructure compared to the good colleges. Small football field. The area is not safe at all. You keep hearing this person got shot, that person got robbed, raped etc. They do not maintain student to faculty ratio. Classes are oversized and poorly air conditioned. Drexel course registration system is very poor. Generally by the time your registration time starts most of the classes you had planned to take would be full. Leaving you sweating and worried early in the morning (around 7 am). There's something called Drexel Central at Drexel, which helps you out with general/administrative/financial aid questions. I emailed them many a times, however, out of 5 emails, I only got reply to 3 of them. Bad service. (They say they maintain a well-designed database system for all the messages/inquiries/support). They compare themselves to UPenn. (Yes, you can laugh). Also, some professors say that Drexel Dragons are much better than UPenn students. (Laugh again). Extremely expensive. (So much money for nothin'. In fact, the tuition is more than that of UPenn which is an Ivey League) There are two places where you can go and have meals, and hang out with friends too. However, the food options there is so limited that it's better you rather eat at other places and waste all your meal swipes for which you are paying about $ 2000 per quarter. Even with meal swipes you don't get everything (basically the good things). For most of the things you can't use meal swipes. For meal swipe, at one of the locations, for example you can buy Pepppperrrronnnni Pizza (You can guess the quality of the pizza! The worst pepperoni is served here.) The free refill cups are extremely small. When I joined in the Fall the cups had a good size of 16 oz, but as time flew the cups became smaller and smaller. They are now half (may be even lesser) of what they used to be. The books for the courses are at extremely high price, and are hardly used. Drexel maintains rating and review system for course and faculy, however, though it is hardly ever evaluated. (But they will send you a million emails asking you to complete course/faculty rating/review). For example, one of the Pfysics professors at Drexel, who is pathetic at teaching, asks the students to buy books if they are taking the course compulsorily, still continues this practice of making them buy books, even after so many reviews having been done against it. No action taken by Drexel. The dorm life is not bad. Except that the washrooms, toilets are not cleaned on a daily basis. The kitchen is always dirty. Laundry room is always full. Well, they do have a Subway, but the quality of service provided there is extremely poor. The guy there literally just throws everything you tell him on the bread, such that when the bread is folded, 1/4th of the sandwich comes out. Chick fil A at Drexel unlike at all other locations does not provide free refills. Again they are charging you so much for nothing. Never consider going here.Niam Tomer

Surprisingly good University, presenting a good amount of development and a few excellent professors. The co-op opportunities are very interesting, a great idea and implementation. It is, however, a very expensive education, leading to a lower prestige/cost relationship. To become a top-ranked University, Drexel still needs a lot of branding through student achievement – combined with school pride, which could be much stronger – and research projects/applications with high visibility. Both could be reached with benefits to bring more top-level students and professors and with good money usage (because there is a lot of it) and cooperations for project funding.Leonardo Rolim

I attended Drexel and I can honestly say this was the worst choice I've made in a school choice. My professors were pretty decent, but the staff are not helpful and they talk to you like you should know certain things already. I pay this damn school every month on time because I have a balance due, and they won't release my transcripts even though I am paying them upward $125 per month. Which are payments that I am never late paying. I can honestly say I regret this decision and really should have went with my first choice which was Temple and my second choice being Cheyney. The one thing that i did love was it was fast track learning.Ashley Hinton

The Bennett S. LeBow College of Business is among the elite 20 percent of business schools to be accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Drexel is a comprehensive global research university and one of America’s 15 largest private universities.Jefri Tamba

It's a great school with a well established co-op program. The lack of a fifth star is due to the price. It is a very expensive school, but you get a good education and unbeatable work experience.Sean Averill

My father began taking me to Fleisher on Saturdays back in 1961 when I was a girl of nine. I continued to attend Saturday classes for life drawing in 1965 when I entered high school. To draw nude models you had to bring a note from your art teacher that attested to the fact that you were a serious student. If you giggled they assumed that you were too immature to attend and you were asked to leave. It was a wonderful experience, one I took for granted, especially since my dad drove me there for years!Lillian Greenawalt

Fleisher has a long prestigious history , and is the oldest community art school in America. It's in the Bella Vista neighborhood close to the Italian Market. It holds art and community events annually in the adjacent Cianfrani Park which has a Mural Arts fall mural. There are 4 buildings designed by famous Philly architect Frank Furness's firm. The interior of the church is lovely, and open for visitors at events like their fall pumpkin carving fundraiser.Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)

Fantastic place! I love all the artwork and the architecture of the building. The chapel was amazing. To stand amongst all the history in that room was amazing. I very much look forward to my next visit. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I had a great time sitting outside in the quad and reflecting and looking at all the wonderful art artwork on the walls.Bud Weiser

If you love learning about science, the academy of natural science is fun and interesting. I went once when I was younger, but going when you're older you actually enjoy and want to learn more – I hope. I love seeing the dinosaur exhibit as well as seeing all the different types of animals in all different parts of the country. I love the live interaction or seeing all the different species in the museum- tarantulas and beetles may not be something you would want to see but you can see details and the environment they live in. It's great for all ages – young and old. Pro tip, if you are a family and love visiting the museums it's best to get a membership. Otherwise order your tickets online. You save a little more. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$6–10Tunhi Ngo

I absolutely loved this museum. The dinosaur hall was great for any kid or adult that loves dinosaurs. They had a cool interactive green screen and a big dig area for kids to find fossils. The abyss exhibit was super cool as well. I found this museum a very manageable museum with a two year old with just enough interactive elements to sustain his attention. The abyss exhibit has bean bags and some children books to explore which I found super cool! I returned to these museum and discovered on the fourth floor there was live animals tarantulas, scorpions, dwarf cave cockroaches, beetles. My kids loved it. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$21–30Amy Bodine

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. If you have little people, I would advise you to definitely take them. Especially to the interactive area . You and your child will be blown away by how much information you gain from this experience. Be sure to ask about all discounts because they have a few options. If you have a SNAP card you can get in for $2. Military discounts, student discounts etc. They have a food area as well but it was closed when we went, hopefully you can experience that. Definitely check it out. It’s good for all crowds ☺️. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$16–20Disha Hickman

We have had the pleasure of being part of the GA community since my son started his educational journey in Pre-Kindergarten…. and what a journey it has been – he is now in fourth grade and thriving in this environment. Where do I start… the academic program is second to none and as children thrive in different areas, there is such a focus on meeting children where they are and grouping them appropriately in math and reading which prevents boredom and leads to growth and confidence. Outside of the pure academics, the school campus is second to none in the area and the school utilizes the campus as a classroom which is wonderful for young children who thrive with hands on learning. There is a focus on arts which is so important to development and growth. The teachers and staff of the school care about these children so much and are very supportive – each year since we started six years ago, I have think how could it get any better? And yet, we meet new teachers and it always does. On the occasions that i am at the school for a performance or standard parent teacher meeting, I find myself looking around in awe of everything from the brick and mortar to the staff and the children themselves! Aside from educating our children, GA contributes to making successful members of society. I am so grateful for my son to be part of this community and look forward to the years to come!Amber Leila Esco

Exceptional school culture, academics, arts and sports programs. One of the most skilled, supportive and encouraging leadership teams we’ve ever been involved with. Both our daughters’ college outcomes were phenomenal. They were 100% prepared for the work load, college level writing requirements and time management skills. We are lifetime believers in GA. Your child will be challenged and have to work hard but, you get a well prepared young adult on the other end. This was a great investment.Carl Rapp

My son can't understand basic facial expressions because the school forces the kids to wear masks. Everyday he comes into the house, pulls off the mask and says, "I hate my life and this world," and cries because he has to wear this mask. The cruelty of it all is beyond me. When did things go so wrong. There are no options for home/virtual school for children who do not want to wear masks in school.Nichole Dickerson

Franklin Square is one of the five public “squares” (parks) of Philadelphia. Quiet and peaceful in the evenings and colder months, hustling and bustling during prime temperate weather days. The park offers much for the younger set, like a beautiful vintage carousel, an ample playground, and a Philadelphia-inspired mini golf course. There is also a large fountain at the center of the park with a light and music show every half-hour. This park has many spaces to sit: park benches, picnic tables, and Adirondack chairs. There are also areas for private parties ranging from fancy events in the large tented area along 6th Street to smaller children’s birthday parties in the smaller tents near the carousel. The park is located at 6th and Race, in the Old City neighborhood, across the street from the National Convention Center and within walking distance to the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, and many more historic sites.KGQ NYC

Overall a brilliant Concept for a park. The event planners transformed the area with tents and decorated the tents to be like a hall with several stations, dining room, cocktail lounge, bars and other areas suitable for hosting a gala. I’m beyond pleased with the host’s choice to select this spot of land to honor their top sponsors and donors for Turning Point Children Services. Our CEO was among the honorees of top donors for the evening and us as guests walked away feeling very proud to work for a company that gives back to our communities especially programs which support underserved children. Overall a gorgeous event and special thanks to the host, sponsors, musicians, decor coordinator, lighting and backstage crews, speakers and all who came together to make this a night to remember. Phil we salute you and thanks for your impactful leadership at Fulton Bank.Debbie Light Miller Curtis, Author

It's a small garden in race road about a kilo metre towards the south of Liberty Bell. Good place for relaxing with kids especially. Also pets are allowed. Entry to park is free. Playing Merry go round and entry to miniature philadelphia is through tickets available inside the park. Mini golf ground is also there. The musical lighted fountain in the centre of the park is an added attraction. Snacks and coffee bar is there. Private area marked exclusively for parties and get together is available.Venugopal K

This is a wonderfully beautiful Arboretum with numerous innovative structures, great pathways, a superb greenhouse, a miniature train structure, many babbling streams of water, and contains various animal and plant life. There is a decent amount of free parking, a gift shop, helpful and friendly staff, multiple stations to sanitize your hands, as well as restrooms throughout. There are sensible covid-19 procedures in place. Can't wait to return after the spring to see it in bloom!V. Leven

Came in the springtime to see all the cherry blossoms and other spring blooming flowers! Well maintained walking paths lead you through the park to explore all the different types of trees, shrubs, and flowers this place has to offer. Plenty of parking and restrooms on site. Kind of pricey to get in ($20 per person) but worth it if you get the opportunity to explore the entire place! Lots to learn and they have placards to help identify what you are looking at.Aimee

First time here for the Summer of swings and absolutely loved it! What a cool place to take the kids and walk around and explore. Bring a cooler with some snacks and have a mini picnic. Moms can do a lot of “sittervising” here with comfort knowing the kids are playing in a safe, enclosed space. We stopped by the cafe to grab a bite to eat. The food was decent. We will return!Holly Williams

My recent visit to the "Kimmel," as it is passionately referred to, was without exception a wonderful night of music and comfort. The Orchestra played along to the movie "Princess Bride." Obviously exceptional music as the Philly Orchestra is one of the premier collections of classical musicians today. The movie and music production were amazing, along with the technical creativity of playing the music alongside the screen as we watched the movie. One thing of importance for visiting this facility is the exceptional seating throughout. The fluid design and seating throughout give way to ambient excellence in all areas of this venue. I have had the pleasure of numerous visits to this venue and have sat in different levels and stage locations, all have given to great acoustics. If you haven't been in a while, go, sit, listen! A wonderful facility we are so lucky to have in our Philadelphia area!Robert Glennan

The Christmas Concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center was fantastic. It was my first time but it won't be the last. Had excellent seats. In fact I was in Orchestra seating. It my spirit and soul were lifted by the various musical selections of Christmas songs. Thank you to very special young lady who saw to my every need.Jane Victoria Hopkins

Beautiful building with awesome acoustics. With several tiers of seating and orchestra seating there is seating for everyone. Bathroom facilities are clean and line at the box office moved very quickly. Stop by the Encore bar for drinks before it after your show. Will be back for future concerts.Christopher Freer

This 1704 Newling Grist Mill with a 16 foot water powered wheel. It is one of the oldest grist mills in America. It has been in operation operation for over three centuries. We were watching the master millwrights using the tools of the trade that were available at the time the Grist Mill was originally built to work on building a new wooden wheel. The millwrights gave us a tour and explained what we were looking at and how it worked. The whole experience was very educational and interesting. This place is on the National Register of Historic Places. Everyone there were eager to talk with us. We enjoyed every minute there. The buildings are very cool as well.Scott

Great nature preserve; historical site. Diverse scenery & wildlife. Picnic areas, hiking. Just moved to Glen Mills; planning on visiting often. Friendly staff – Jessica (guide) is so passionate about the Grist Mill & very knowledgeable on local plants / birds. It was wonderful to spend time with her today. Thank you for an amazing visit!Tom Petrella

This mostly shaded park has a picnic area where you can enjoy the many beautiful trees and the birds that occupy them. The park office and restrooms are open during posted hours. On the trails you can walk alongside a creek, discover a snapping turtle and dragonflies in wetlands and enjoy the sight and sounds of a waterfall.Marianne J

The student body and the parents are amazing. I can't say enough good things about the people. The school does an amazing job of developing nice wholesome people. My children became much kinder people. With that being said, the actual academics underwhelmed me. I hope that with time this issue will be addressed because the other aspects of the school are truly inspiring.Alex Caroline Robboy

Our daughter has been there for 3 years and we love it! She is receiving an EXCELLENT education in a kind, tolerant, spiritual environment that emphasizes whole person learning. We are happy and proud to be part of this community.Beth Goldstein Huxen

I have 3 children at Friends. They are all thriving here. I recommend this school to anyone. My kids are getting a very strong and well rounded education. You will be very happy here!Daniel Becker

I came for the Harry Potter experience and stayed for the rest of the museum. And I would say as an adult on my own, that took me about half a day. If I had kids, it would take significantly more, I think. The Harry Potter experience takes a solid hour or so to go through. You check in and get a wristband that you can tap throughout the experience to earn points for your chosen house. It's beautifully lit and designed, with several interactive bits and photo ops. I loved most the port key and the dueling wands! From HP, you can more or less make your way from the top of the museum to the bottom, via a large central stairwell featuring Foucault's Pendulum, proving the rotation of the earth on an axis. There's a kinetic energy area great for little kids, a sport zone where you can test your skills, a 3D printer in a tech studio, walk inside a giant heart (adults can totally fit!), play with electricity, stand on a map of Philadelphia, pretend to do a weather forecast, climb into a fighter jet, and see a humongous steam train up close. It's mostly aimed at kids, but I still enjoyed walking around and touching stuff. I even caught a fun theater show about liquid nitrogen. If you're an adult and interested in Harry Potter, you might want to just do that, but if you've never been to the Franklin Institute, it's definitely worth walking around the rest as well.Sara Beth Wade

Buy your tickets ahead of time and plan your visit. There is so much to do! My kids are 14 and 16 but they still wanted to race in the sports area. They touched everything! Don't worry, there are plenty of sanitizing stations set up at the entrance and exit of each exhibit. We were there for four hours before the Harry Potter exhibit! We did not get to do everything we wanted and ended up so tired! We even took a break right before by sitting through one of the planetarium shows. Harry Potter fan? Make sure to dress up! You register at a kiosk and they take a picture which will appear on every interactive screen you swipe your special wristband on. You also earn points for your house! You can take a picture by the portrait of The Fat Lady, the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, or Umbridge's desk. And much more! I don't want to ruin it if you haven't been. But definitely plan ahead. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$31+Noemi Martinez

Visited for the Harry Potter Exhibition. The Harry Potter stuff was cool. Lots of things to see, like props, clothing and classrooms from the movies. There were a few interactive spots as well. Best of all, there are plenty of places to take pictures! Overall, I was impressed with the exhibit, but I think I expected more from it. It was very fast to go through and even though we went on a weekday, it was very busy. After we completed the Harry a potter Exhibit, we walked around the rest of the museum which probably took no more than 45 minutes. I would say the museum is geared more for kids than adults. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
Up to 10 min

Reservation recommended
YesNikki Martin

It isn't as best the students aren't kind their you see my friend cousin went to this school and she told me that theirs alot of rude people their sometimes they would force her to do stuff just because she had a lot of money doesn't mean she could be pick on or be fake friends with her..Chelsea Perez

What a great group of Nurses! These ladies and Gentlemen are what keeps hospitals running! The heart and soul of the medical system! I spent a few hours with this great group of people today for a test and they made me feel relaxed and cared for! I wish I could remember each of their names to personally thank them but sadly they gave me some milk of amnesia and I woke up no remembering my own name! Thanks for all the care and thanks for the great nap!Stanley Rucci

Pretty cool exhibit. I'd never seen so many interesting insects and arachnids in one place; be sure to hang up your coat/jacket and leave it behind because the butterfly area is literally a green house with tropical weather. The gentleman on the third floor, Joe, is a gem of a human being and teacher. He taught us all about praying mantises while he allowed us to see one hunt and eat its prey, and taught us all about a tarantula that he called granny, as he held her. We were able to hold a centipede as he told us all about her. Joe was so kind and knowledgeable, that for a second I thought, I wish all teachers were like that! If it were for Joe and the staff at reception, I'd give the place 5 stars. I'm only taking away some stars because I think the insect descriptions could give more information (lifespan, native habits, adult size etc) and because I wish we'd known the butterfly area would not have as many butterflies as we'd hoped. I'd appreciated a heads up for better times to visit if you're there for the butterflies…Julieta Rodriguez-Zemla

Pretty cool place. Street parking available. 3 floors, no elevator so be prepared to climb a bunch of steps. Butterfly pavilion was pretty, but hot. The playground on the second floor was really cool. The design is a little funky. There are a bunch of rag tag random things there that don't really fit, but I guess it adds personality. The wall art was awesome. The staff are all really nice. Overall an interesting and different experience for our family. I took my 20 mos and 2.5 yr old. They liked it. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$16–20Vanessa Malave

The Philadelphia butterfly & insectarium was very cool in general. I've never been here at all, but I went for new years eve & it was really fun. They had bar service as you walked around & you can play games & try to win tokens in order to get more drinks. Find the magicians & have them show you card tricks. They had a butterfly release at midnight right after the ball dropped. So glad I went. Visited on
Public holiday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Meagan Higgins

A great place to walk around. It's mostly in the shade. It's a great place to bring a toddler or kids. (It's great for teens and adults to!) You'll see all kinds of plants, most of which have medicinal or food qualities in some or all of their part. (I don't believe they welcome foraging. You have to contact them to know for sure.) And please, please, please do not put anything in your mouth unless you have a really solid knowledge of wild foods. In addition, in the Farm area, there are some farm animals, especially goats, which are used to control overgrown vegetation, (among other things), and which eat garden pests, provide eggs, and more . There are several miles of trails which are mostly flat. There's a hill in the meadow area, but it's not very big or steep. Most folks will not have any groovy with it. The majority of the meadow area of the Arboretum doesn't have shade. They have alot of programs and Sunday Fun Day for kids. Check out their website, it's got loads of useful and varied information. I've been there a few times on weekends and there were not alot of people walking the trails. That makes for a serene environment where you'd never expect one to be. Long story short, I'm really glad I learned about this place. I didn't even know it existed, never heard of it, before a friend took me there.Vicki A. Hagel

With outdoor space for the ceremony, reception and dancing, you have the option of having almost everything outside for your wedding which is great during COVID-19. While you can do everything outdoors, the inside space is lovely, with multiple rooms downstairs and upstairs to have guests. The porch is really the highlight of the building though and is gigantic enough to have a cocktail hour with people playing games in the front and any spill over on the side lawn. The one downside is they can't have music outside after 8pm but the inside space for dancing is very tight. Maybe 40 guests can dance and that's if they are very close together. It does make it hard to get the dancing going.Kelly Prizel

We enjoyed hiking the loop trails with our leashed dog on a sunny fall weekend. The highlight was discovering an outdoor exhibit of animal totem paintings by Ann Hopkins Wilson on the Beech Hollow Trail. The exhibit will be up for another few months. We parked at the train station or look for street parking along Washington Lane. Since the Arboretum is a popular destination for weddings, the heritage garden and area around the Francis Cope House were off limits. This park is a haven for groundhogs. We saw a critter city of holes around McNabbtown field. It's a lovely destination to enjoy fall color.Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)

My daughter is thriving at Abington Friends School. We moved her from daycare to early childhood at AFS earlier this year and we immediately noticed a positive difference in her vocabulary and personal growth. On the weekends she asks if she can go to school, she loves her teachers and new friends. I am so glad that we found this treasure of a community located in Jenkintown, PA. The staff is dedicated and focused on giving our children fundamentals to succeed in life. The value that this school has added to the quality of my daughter's life is immeasurable to me.James Calder

We couldn't be happier with Abington Friends School. Our two children are very different, and they are both thriving. They are intellectually stimulated and have developed great friendships with peers. They will be well be prepared for college and beyond. Combine robust academic, arts and athletic programs, a supportive and talented staff with a diverse student body, and you get AFS.Nica Waters-Fleming

My son goes to the triangel gym on wensday nights for the free beat the streets wresteling program. Its a great group of instructors and kids.Peter LaRue

I waffled between two or three stars. None of my friends or acquaintances had any experience with Settlement, so I hope this review is helpful to some parents. I was looking at Temple and Settlement at the same time, and happened to speak to Settlement first. Two of my kids take lessons there. The administrator makes it VERY CLEAR you have to follow strict rules in the event of absences, and if, for whatever reason, you have to leave the school, you forfeit your registration fee. You sign a contract (which is typical with most music programs) in front of her demonstrating your understanding this. So the financial burden/obligation sets the tone of the relationship you have with the school. But every parent knows that the teacher-student relationship can be a gamble. If it doesn't work out at Settlement, you are pretty much STUCK for the contracted year (their locations are not close to one another so moving to another teacher at another school is not a realistic option for city families). I hoped for the best, but that wasn't a good strategy. The school is, for the most part, dark and dated. Think reform school with instruments. But, more importantly, there's no esprit de corp. You feel you are just part of a transaction fulfilling your part of a financial obligation. But it has parking, which fills up quickly during the weekday. One child enjoys the instruction, the other doesn't. So, when the contract comes up, I'm looking for another program that is less dogmatic and more progressive in its approach to servicing families, and has an environment, at least in spirit, that we look forward to joining and doesn't leave me feeling sad.C K

this place has a great dance education. Ms. Kaye is the best teacher my daughter had for dance! I believe that there should be even more dance opportunities in the summer. For example I believe that you guys should hold tap classes! tap and ballet is my kids favourite forms of dance as of right now.Sunset Tina

Excellent school. I took both violin and piano lessons as a hold. Those wonderful memories of that beautiful building and the amazing music coming form each of those beautiful wood floor rooms.Sandra Redguard

Both my kids were pc lifers. They worked hard, played hard and learned to care about the needs of others. They were extremely well prepared to pursue demanding academics at very competitive colleges. As adults, i am proud to say they are self- sufficient responsible adults who live by the credo that there is that of God in all of us. PC was instrumental in their upbringing. Ty!c balderston