Philadelphia December Sunday Drives

January 11, 2020

With the New Year here, it’s a perfect time to create a new family tradition with your children. Saturday, January 11, stay at the Philadelphia Zoo overnight— or more specifically at the Hamilton Family Children’s Zoo and Faris Family Education Center.

Imagine you and your child spending the evening enjoying and interacting with everything from miniature horses to tropical fish. (Camp KidZooU features indoor exhibits like a butterfly sanctuary, naturalistic ant farm, an animal action lab and wildlife workshop, and outdoor exhibits including a barnyard, chicken coop and duck pond.) Many exhibits are connected by overhead walking trails for the animals and walkways and ramped paths for kids, creating an ever-engaging environment. Children will learn about nature and conservation, plus experience feeding and grooming animals, while parents will appreciate the center’s environmental aspects, from its “green” roof construction and rainwater harvesting system to its high efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system. It’s a welcoming and enriching learning experience for youngsters ages 6 to 13, and it’s completely wheelchair accessible.

The overnight fun begins with check-in at 6:00 pm, (you’re supposed to eat dinner before you arrive) and lasts till bedtime. Parents and kids will wake up to a continental breakfast, and camp concludes when the Zoo opens at 9:30am. For tickets and full details, visit the website.

Philadelphia Zoo
3400 West Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 243-1100

January 11

Ready to tempt your taste buds and enjoy some of the best handcrafted brews in the area? With more than 50 beers to choose from and 4 hours of unlimited sampling, the Ardmore Winter Beer Festival is the place to be. All the top tasting beers will be there— Brooklyn, Goose Island, Lagunitas, Tonewood, Workhorse, Spellbound, Sterling Pig and dozens more. Plus, you’ll enjoy delicious food bites and Bourbon County Stout and Mon Chéri variant pours!

Live music is on tap too, including Whiskeyhickon Boy, a bluesy, funky and folksy trio that knows how to wow audiences. Also featured are dynamic singer songwriters Rad and Kell, originally from LaSalle University, who bring their soulful harmonies and signature sound to the festivities.

The hall itself has been the scene of musical history dating back to the 1970s, hosting the likes of Dave Matthews Band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blues Traveler, Hootie and the Blowfish, and many more.

Doors open at noon for VIP ticket holders ($60) and 12:30 for general attendees ($39). Discount tickets ($15) are available for designated drivers and individuals under 21 may attend with a guardian. All tickets include a complimentary signature event tasting glass! For more details and ticketing information, visit the website.

Ardmore Music Hall
23 E. Lancaster Ave.
Ardmore, PA 19003

January 18

How many delicious foods could you or your family experience in 75 minutes? Why not take a guided walking tour of Reading Terminal Market and find out?

You nibble and nosh, exploring the entire Reading terminal (it’s an enormous market directly under what used to be the terminal for Reading railroad trains.) You’ll enjoy numerous bites at stops along the way, learn what makes cheesesteaks, hoagies and soft pretzels so Philly-famous, and share fascinating histories of Breyer’s ice cream, Hershey’s chocolate kisses and other local legends. And the terminal is just as fantastic as the food, first opening its doors in 1892.

The Taste of Philly Food Tour is frequently led by local food writer and critic Carolyn Wyman, author of such works as “The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book” and “Spam: A Biography”. Tours start at the information booth inside the market every Wednesday and Saturday at 10 am. (Private group tours can be scheduled as well.) At the end you’ll receive the “Philly Insider Eat Sheet” which covers the local restaurant scene—perfect for a post-tour lunch.

You’ll definitely want to purchase your tickets in advance. They’re just $16.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids (plus a small service fee); children under 7 eat free.

Reading Terminal Market
51 N. 12th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-545-8007, ext. 3. 

January 26

What could be more fun than deep, rich chocolate? Mmmm. How about a good cause wrapped up in cakes, brownies, cookies, candies, cupcakes, and much more. Get your sweet tooth ready for the Kennett Chocolate Lovers Festival!

The festival is full of delights as delicious as any mom could make, hand-crafted for you by professionals, amateurs and students who’ll be competing for prizes in their respective categories. Tickets include tasting tickets, so sampling is the name of the game. It’s a family-friendly event if there ever was one, with all event proceeds benefitting the United Way of Southern Chester County. Can’t get enough chocolate? There are even raffle tickets available to win a year’s worth of chocolate desserts from local bakers and chocolatiers!

Tickets are $18, or you can opt for a $50 family 4-pack (it should be noted that kids 5 and under are free.) The event officially begins at 1 pm, but you can pay more for a VIP ticket that gets you in at noon, giving you an extra hour to enjoy and digest. All admissions include free parking and 6 tasting tickets; additional tasting tickets may be purchased at 50 cents each. Purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended as this popular event sells out early and attracts more than a thousand attendees annually; be sure to order a take-home box to fill with your favorites.

Unionville High School
750 Unionville Rd.
Kennett Square, PA 19348