Dorbrook Park Sprayground
The sprayground and it's nearby playground are only two summers old. The sprayground is a fenced area with pipes and other devices spraying and water on multitudes of children. There are benches to sit on and a few umbrella covered tables. Kids need swimmie diapers. The ground is mosty covered in protective material but there's some concrete. It's FREE, the kids love it on a hot day or evening. You can eat at the picnic tables just outside the sprayground.
PROS: Free, fun for a hot day
CONS: Gets extrememely crowded
Philadelphia Zoo
We have a membership to the Philly Zoo and it is well worth it. The zoo is a nice size - a little too big to hit everything in one day though. The staff is knowledgable and friendly. They gear many activities to children. Big cats will be back in 2006.
PROS: Affordable, Great Exhibits, Kid Friendly
CONS: Parking difficult on a busy day
Jenkinsons Boardwalk
The aquarium is small and situated on two floors. They have sharks, penguins, seals, a variety of fish and other sea creatures as well as parrots. The animal feedings are fun to watch and days and times are posted. You can leave and re-enter by showing your hand stamp. It's expensive to get in ($8 per adult and $5 per kid over 2). The staff are not always knowledgable about the animals. Today they misled us twice regarding scheduled program times.
PROS: Great for small children, esp. on rainy or cold day
CONS: Expensive for the size of the place
Abbate Bakery
Abbate makes the best brownies EVER. They are reasonably priced and big, topped with a layer of fudge. Abbate makes everything you would expect from an Italian bakery. We got a birthday cake from them and it was delicious, although a bit pricey. Sercice, even when it's from the younger staff, is always friendly and quick.
PROS: Best brownies, convenient location
CONS: A little expensive (but on par for a specialty bakery)
TGI Fridays - Closed
We love the food at Friday's, and this one consistently prepares the food well. The wait staff is normally comprised of teenagers/college age kids who are overwhelmed by the number of tables they are covering. Sometimes the music is too loud, or the air too cool. But the food is always tasty and plentiful, and the place is kid-friendly.
PROS: Great food
CONS: Service is questionable
Dr. Miguel Damien
Dr. Damien is on the cutting edge for infertility treatment. He thoroughly discusses the issues with the patient and spouse and does plenty of testing. He is also listens to the patient and is willing to tailor the treatment based on their concerns. Billing practices are good although they are expensive as are all fertility specialists.
PROS: Up to date on fertility treatment
CONS: Expensive
Kidzone
I have been to a few birthday paries at Kidzone. It is geared for the 2-5 year old set. The parties are 2 hours long and packed with free play and guided activities (games, dress up, etc.). The jungle gym has a small ball pit and a slide, and the kids love it. The place works best for smaller parties (10 kids or less). With one or more parent per kid, the place gets packed and seating is tight for adult bodies. The characters that you pay extra for (like Dora) are worth it and don't look like the characters. The Kidzone employees who run the parties are young and not that good sometimes.
PROS: Nice for small parties
CONS: Expensive, not the best service
Little Gym Of Morganville
Our oldest son took classes for two years, and our youngest son just started. Jeff is the owner and he is wonderful! Kristen is one of the teachers and the kids also adore her. The classes are age-appropriate. They help the kids build physical skills, gain confidence and learn to follow directions. Little Gym birthday parties are fun.
PROS: Instructors are fabulous
CONS: Expensive
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
We have taken our pets to Red Bank Vet. for years. We have seen many of the vets over time, but Dr. Trotter is a well known expert. Our dog had succesful surgery to repair a torn ACL. The staff is nice, the waiting room is decent and the vets and techs are great.
PROS: Great staff, vets and techs
CONS: Good pet care is expensive
Krop & Fleisher
I have been using Dr. Krop for several years and think his practice is great. His dental hygenist is friendly and does a panless job. Dr. Krop himself is nice. He did a filling for me once and it was not a horrible experience. His parnter Dr. Frangella put in a crown for a broken tooth when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and I have no complaints about him, too.
PROS: comfortable office, nice staff, professionalism
CONS: they are still dentists!
