Philly Family Pride is hosting a trio of neighborhood potlucks in and around Philadelphia this weekend, giving LGBT parents and grandparents, as well as the parents and grandparents of LGBT children, a chance to meet and ask questions of parents in the group. These events are being hosted in West Philadelphia, Bucks County and on the Main Line. They are free and are open to everyone.
Families converging upon the area to attend these events, and looking to make a day of it, can check out the following events to round out their visits to these communities.
Bucks County
Bucks Country has a lot of family and kid-friendly destinations like Gigglebery Fair at Peddler’s Village, 166 Carousel Lane in New Hope, an indoor family fun center featuring a three-story obstacle course, a game room, rides and more. For more information, visit www.peddlersvillage.com/kids/.
The Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine St. in Doylestown, is a history museum of everyday life in America during the 18th and 19th centuries featuring collections that document the lives and tasks of early Americans. “Centuries of Childhood: An American Story” opens Sept. 16, at which children can learn about the diversity of the American experience by meeting five historical children from the past. The immersive exhibit lets kids paddle a canoe, practice early trades, ride a horse and carriage and explore an immigrant ship. For more information, visit www.mercermuseum.org.
If you are looking for something a little more physically challenging, make a stop at Doylestown Rock Gym and Adventure Center, 3853 Old Easton Road, where people of all ages and ability levels can enjoy climbing and outdoor trips. For more information, visit http://doylestownrockgym.com/.
Main Line
People of all ages will find something to fascinate them at The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., the region’s premier science museum that features numerous kid-friendly exhibitions, like a walk-through Giant Heart, the Train Factory or The Franklin Air Show. For teenage and older visitors, there are the new Escape Rooms, which transport guests to one of two fantastical worlds where a series of clues, codes, puzzles and tasks leads teams to an ultimate goal. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.
If you are in the mood to change the world or fight the power, there are many historical museums and attractions in Philadelphia to inspire you. Check out the Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St.; the African American Museum, 701 Arch St.; or the National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall, to get a healthy dose of Philadelphia’s diverse history. For more information, visit www.amrevmuseum.org, www.aampmuseum.org or www.nmajh.org.
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia is home to a lot of family-friendly activities. The Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, has two floors of interactive exhibits, a fully restored century-old carousel and other hands-on fun. For more information, visit www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.
The Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., is also a must when visiting the city. America’s first zoo, it is home to nearly 1,300 animals and features an animal travel and exploration train system that allows primates and big cats to safely move above and across the main visitor pathways. For more information, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org.
For more information about Philly Family Pride and its potluck locations or other events, e-mail executive director Stephanie Haynes at [email protected] or visit www.philadelphiafamilypride.org.