Philadelphia, PA

Out and About in Philadalphia.

Parks: Norristown Farm Park is a working farm that has been in continuous use since the colonial times. The 690-acre park is home to several species of wildlife, fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, trees, and wildflowers. You can enjoy meandering through the hiking trails, a trout nursery, picnic areas, separate forest areas of mixed oak and other deciduous trees, flood plain, old farm fields, working fields, wetlands and two streams. Rittenhouse Square is where you can enjoy several of the city’s best-loved outdoor sculptures, like the dramatic Lion Crushing a Serpent by the French Romantic sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye, located in the central plaza. Other Philadelphia area parks include the Fairmont Park Commission, Love Park, Independence Hall, and the path along the Schuylkill River, which is great for running and biking and is located right behind Edgewater with easy access. Philadelphia also boast a plethora of area dog parks as well.

Airports/Transportation: Philadelphia International Airport is a the largest airport in Pennsylvania has service to destinations in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Get around town by hopping on a train at the 30th St Station or and of the Norristown Regional Rail Line destinations.

Child Care: There are several Goddard School locations in the Philadelphia area. They offer a high quality private preschool with extended hours for dual-career families and are open year round from 7am to 6pm. The Goddard School offers a safe and healthy environment for the education and development of your young children.

Elementary Schools: Cole Manor Elementary School was built in 1956 in East Norristown Township. It is a K-4 school, which serve over 400 students and is unique in that it is built around an atrium which is seen from the center of the building. Norristown Plymouth Elementary School is one of four K-3 schools in the Colonial School District with the goal to provide students with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and to foster positive interpersonal relationships within a safe and nurturing environment. It is located in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School is located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood and takes full advantage of its position in the vibrant core of Center City Philadelphia. From collaborations with local arts and cultural organizations, businesses and associations, to urban explorations and service projects, Greenfield offers K-8 students and their families a unique and wonderful education.

Middle Schools: East Norristown Middle School has been recognized by the PA Department of Education with a Keystone Award for achieving adequate yearly progress (AYP) as stipulated in the “No Child Left Behind Act”. They have also been recognized by Standard & Poor’s Education Evaluation Services as one of 48 schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that has significantly narrowed the achievement gap among the sub-groups of students. Norristown Colonial Middle School offers specialized subjects to all students, which provides additional opportunities for the students to achieve success. They benefit from instruction in physical education, health, visual arts, music, technology education and family and consumer science at Colonial. Another great middle school in the area is the Albert M. Greenfield Middle School.

High Schools: Norristown Area High School was established in 1870 in the Borough of Norristown and relocated to West Norristown Township in 1972. The student population is approximately 1,900 students in grades 9-12. Norristown Plymouth Whitemarsh High School offers cutting-edge technology, state-of-the-art facilities, and an ever-evolving curriculum which focuses on 21st century skills and post-secondary success.

Colleges/Universities: The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest universities in America and, as a member of the Ivy League, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, that was originally founded in 1884. Temple is among the nation's largest providers of professional education (law, medicine, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, architecture) and prepares the largest body of professional practitioners in Pennsylvania. The university offers over 300 academic degree programs at seven campuses and sites in Pennsylvania as well as its international campuses in Rome, Tokyo, and London. It is the 26th largest university in the United States with more than 37,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Villanova University is a Roman Catholic, Augustinian university located in Villanova. Chestnut Hill College provides students with holistic education in an inclusive Catholic community of Pennsylvania. Cheyney University is the nation’s oldest historically Black institution of higher education. Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia.

Restaurants: Everyone knows Philadelphia is famous for the Philly Cheese Steak and two of the best places to enjoy one are: Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks. Other great area restaurants include: Fogo de Chao, Buddakan, El Vez, Chickie's & Pete's, and Le Bec-Fin, which is famous for its French cuisine.

Sports Venues: Catch a game at any of these locations around Philly: Lincoln Financial Field is home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Citizens Bank Park is home to the Philly Fanatic and the MLB Phillies, and PPL Park is home to the MLS Philadelphia Union in Chester, PA.

Shopping: The Plymouth Meeting Mall offers fine shopping at stores like Macy’s and Whole Foods. The King of Prussia Mall is the East Coast's Premier Shopping Destination with multiple levels of departments stores for your shopping enjoyment. Other great shopping destinations in the Philadelphia area include: the Shops at Liberty Place and the Reading Terminal Market. Trader Joe's Market is also conveniently nearby.

Museums: The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States and is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 and its collections comprise more than 225,000 objects. The Franklin Institute is named after the noted American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin and is one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824.

Entertainment: The Merriam Theater is an impressive venue to enjoy to live music in and is a part of the Kimmel Center, a large performing arts venue located on Broad Street, along the stretch known as the "Avenue of the Arts", in Philadelphia, It is owned and operated by Kimmel Center, Inc., an organization which also manages the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. World Cafe Live is a three-tiered music hall in which every detail has been designed to optimize the live performance experience, from sight lines, lighting and acoustics to green rooms, equipment access and concierge service, they aim to attract and inspire live musicians. You can also enjoy watching a movie at the United Artists Riverview Plaza Stadium 17.

Recreation: The Philadelphia Zoo, America's first zoo, is a 42-acre Victorian garden that is home to more than 1300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Northern Liberties Recreation Center provides programming designed to attract the participation of all residents of the neighborhood, and to lead the neighborhood in achievements toward diversity, community spirit, safety, and togetherness. You and your family can also enjoy bowling in several Philadelphia area bowling locations.