The joy of warm weather and no school is almost here again. The idea of summer and summer fun sounds so exciting until you are sitting alone in your room watching Netflix because you don’t know what to do now that there is no school during the day. Luckily, Havertown and Philadelphia have great activities that allow people to get out and enjoy summer.

One of the most enjoyable parts of summer is being able to just get outside and go for walks while it’s warm. A great place to go for walks is Karakung Drive. Every Sunday, Karakung is closed for people to use for biking, walking, running, etc. It is an easy walk and has enough shade to keep you cool. For days that Karakung is not closed to traffic, one side of Karakung has trails that can also be used for biking, walking, or running. On the other side is Cobbs Creek which, if you are comfortable with getting a bit dirty, you can walk through, and even swim in some spots. Karakung Drive is a great place to go if you are looking to just enjoy nature. 

If you are interested in doing something a bit more exciting, a great place to explore is Dilworth Park, located in Center City, Philadelphia. Dilworth Park has so many interesting things to see and do and is suitable for all types of people. If you are someone who needs to entertain young kids, Dilworth has an area with little three-foot-tall fountains of water that spray up from the ground. The park also has a lawn area where people can set up their own chairs and lawn games. This is great for those who don’t have large backyards for hangouts during the summer. In addition, the park has panels and videos that people can watch to learn about the history of the city. One of the coolest parts of the park is the roller skating rink. The floor of the rink is covered in a checkered pattern and above the rink are rainbow hoops that are all connected to each other. The combination of the floor pattern, and the vibrancy of the hoops is a very exciting and aesthetically pleasing sight, and it makes roller skating just that much better. To top it all off, Dilworth has a dining area, with a cafe, grille, and a Starbucks. So, whether you are hungry after a day of excitement at Dilworth, or you are preparing for a day filled with activities, there will be food options for you. (Link to Dilworth Park’s website). 

If you are as indecisive as most people are, figuring out where to eat can be quite a struggle, but luckily, there are many great places to eat locally. Since there is no school in the summer, going out for breakfast or lunch is much easier. One of the best places to go is Hymie’s Deli, which is a Jewish deli located at 342 Montgomery Ave and is open from 8am to 5pm. Most restaurants are hit or miss, but Hymie’s is always a hit. The best part about Hymies is its pickle bar. In the back of the restaurant, there is a long table with a wide variety of pickles to choose from. The service at Hymies is always welcoming and pleasant, and the prices are affordable. After you eat at Hymies, you can also check out its actual deli, where they sell meats, condiments, and jarred goods. Hymies also sells great desserts, such as carrot cake. When you order the cake, they bring you out a huge piece that can last for days, and trust me, you will want it to last for days after you try it. Whether you want to go out to eat with family or friends, Hymies is a great local option. 

As many people know, Philadelphia is filled with all kinds of new adventures, even for local people who have already experienced the basic “must do’s” in Philly. A great place to check out is the Shofuso Japanese house and garden. The garden includes cherry trees, a beautiful traditional style Japanese house, koi fish that you can feed, and, obviously, a garden with all kinds of bushes, flowers, and other plants. Visitors can walk inside the house and observe what a traditional Japanese tea house would look like. The surrounding area is a great place to relax and have picnics. This relaxing and elegant place is located at Lansdowne Dr &, Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131, and I highly recommend that you take a trip there during the summer. 

Although you may think that our local areas do not have anything interesting to do or see, that is not true. Havertown and Philadelphia offer some very interesting activities and places to go; people just need to know where to find them!