One of the best indulgences as a parent is finding a spot to enjoy a night out that pleases the whole family—and as a bonus, no one has to cook or clean! When the weather is nice, Philly's outdoor restaurants are pretty much the only way to go. The kids can be as loud as they want (or nearly so), and parents are more likely to enjoy the entire meal without having to take a break to explain about inside voices and not running around the table.

As Philadelphia continues to reopen with its Safer-at-Home protocols in mind, including outdoor restaurant seating, more and more spots are opening up. The city is also opening up some streets and curbs for additional outdoor restaurant seats. Read on for a roundup of the most family-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating in the city of Philadelphia.

If you're in the mood for a beer garden dining experience, we've got a round-up for that, too.

Eleven weeks. That’s how long your Philly public school kid has off from school for this summer, and roughly the same if you are in a public charter or private school as well. While you could see this as a great bonding time with your kids (and it is!), there is one problem: it’s just so. much. time! And if you're a working parent you need a way to fill the days that doesn't mean sitting in front of a tech device vegging out while you try to get work done. That’s where summer camps come in to save the day. Teaching your kids new skills, helping them form new friendships, and burning off the copious amounts of energy.

But summer camp can be a major burden on the wallet. Fortunately, there are a number of local summer camps and programs that make enrollment much more manageable. Whether they want to learn more about science and technology, grow as an artist, or gain athletic skills, there is an affordable camp for every age and interest.

To help you make your selections, we’ve rounded up a great list of free or affordable summer camps (using the cap of $350 per week as the highest limit) that you can use to help keep your kids entertained and engaged all summer long. Most camp registrations are on a week to week basis. For more ideas, check out our Camp Guide.

Philadelphia is home to the Flyers and some intense sports fans. So for many, hockey is serious business, and it comes as no surprise that kids want to take to the ice and learn to skate and play like the pros. Fortunately, there are a number of local programs that are NHL Learn to Skate USA partners. The program is designed to build skills and make hockey a positive experience, and the only thing you need are basic ice skating skills. If your kid has the eye of the tiger and is dreaming of growing up to be the next Bobby Clarke or Claude Giroux, we've put together a roundup of some Philadelphia-area rinks that offer ice hockey lessons for kids.

Want to check out other lessons in the Philly area that might interest your kids? Take a look at our Philly Classes and Enrichment Guide.