Five Kid-Friendly Alternatives To The Super Bowl In Philadelphia
With all of the hype, you'd think the Super Bowl was the only thing of significance on the first Sunday in February. But whether all or just a few family members aren't interested in the game or the commercials, watching it is not the only thing to do. In fact, there are a quite a few family-friendly alternatives available.
Blue Cross RiverRink At Penn's Landing
201 S. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 629-3200
www.riverrink.com
The RiverRink is open until 8:30 p.m. on Sundays, making it a great alternative to sitting around and watching a television. It's Philly's only Olympic-sized public outdoor rink, and this year happens to be its 20th anniversary. The rink includes a heated pavilion, game room and snack bar. Admission is $3, and skate rental is $10. Parking is $15 on Sundays.
Related: Top Places For Outdoor Winter Activities In Philadelphia
The Funplex
3320-24 Route 38
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
(856) 273-9666
www.funplexmountlaurel.com
If the family is missing the summer fun of a boardwalk amusement park, The Funplex could be a good alternative. Bumper cars, arcade games and laser tag all await families at the 10,000-square-foot entertainment center located on 25 acres. Outdoors, mini golf is the only attraction open, weather permitting and before dark. There is no admission or cost for parking, just like the boardwalk. Families can purchase wristbands for multiple attractions or pay for only the attractions or games they wish to try. The Funplex's indoor attractions are open until 9 p.m. on Sundays, and there's even a Late Night Extreme Band special available after 6 p.m.
Joseph Poon Chef Kitchen
1010 Cherry St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9333
www.josephpoon.com
If some family members are watching the game, those who don't want to could practice and serve what they learned at a recent cooking class. Chef Poon holds Cooking Class for Kids with Adults periodically, but private classes are also available. In the class, kids learn how to make dim sum from the always entertaining chef. As a special treat, the class ends with a trip to an Asian grocery store or the Fortune Cookie Factory. The regular class costs $39 for children and $45 for adults, but group or private class rates may vary.
Movie Theater
www.fandango.com
Families that didn't get to see the major movies during the holiday season may still be able to catch those movies at their favorite local theater. Kids who enjoyed the previous "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" movies or books by J.R.R. Tolkien may enjoy "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." Disney fans may enjoy seeing "Saving Mr. Banks," which tells the story of Walt Disney's attempts to gain the film rights for P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins." For home movie viewing, the animated feature "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2" was scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 28.
Rhinoceros Gamery, Activity Center and Toy Store
301 Leedom St.
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 886-8697
www.rhinoceros.co
Rhinoceros will be closed during the game, but families who plan ahead can join the store's Club Rhinoceros to bring the gamery's fun home. For a yearly membership fee of $30, families can select up to two games or puzzles from the store's library to borrow at a time. The store has a variety of games and puzzles for all skill levels, and staff will even teach families how to play the games. Families in New Jersey can visit the Haddonfield location at 7 Kings Court.
Samantha Sinclair is a freelance writer who lives in South Jersey. She has two boys who love "adventuring." Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
