French Creek State Park
The park—just an hour from City Hall—sits in the largest chunk of forest between New York and D.C. and has 35 miles of trails, two lakes for fishing and boating (rentals available), a vast swimming pool, and disc golf and orienteering courses. As for the sleeping arrangements, if pitching a tent is a bit too rustic, modern cabins and even some yurts are available to rent. 843 Park Road, Elverson, PA 19520, dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/frenchcreek.
Linvilla Orchards
You don’t need a license, and they provide the gear, the bait, and a lake that’s well stocked with trout, striped bass and catfish. Want to keep what you catch for dinner? Just pay by the pound. Only downside: You’ll have to clean it yourself. Ew. 137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063, linvilla.com.
The Great White at Morey’s
There’s nothing quite like screaming your head off on a classic wooden coaster while the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean unfolds before you. 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260, moreyspiers.com.
Quintessence Theatre Group
After just five years, this small repertory company has earned a reputation for creating beautiful adaptations of classic works for the modern stage, like last season's The Three Musketeers and Alice in Wonderland. In their sixth season, you'll want to see Romeo and Juliet, Saint Joan and -- for the kids -- Hansel and Gretel. (They're in residence at the Sedgwick Theater in Mount Airy.) Quintessencetheatre.org.
The Arden Theatre Company's Children's Theatre
Ask any first-grader: The show that really took the local theater scene by storm this year was the Arden's production of Beauty and the Beast. The year before that, it was Sideways Stories from Wayside School; before that, it was Cinderella. The truth is, the Arden always nails it, telling wonderful stories in creative ways, speaking directly to pint-size audience members without dumbing anything down, and stacking the stage with real talent that takes its viewing public seriously. 40 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, ardentheatre.org.
Petruce et al.
The Citywide Special, a shot of cheap whiskey and a PBR, goes up-market at Petruce, where it's transformed into a shot of Angel's Envy and a bottle of barleywine. If you survive that, explore the rest of the smart cocktail list. 1121 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, petrucephilly.com.
Parlor
The Neapolitan pies at Suburban Square's family-friendly pizzeria are legit -- even the nontraditional Buffy, with its shrimp and Fresno chilies -- and the pastas offer serious bang for your buck. At $9 for a hearty half portion of spaghetti with crab and baby tomatoes, this place makes it hard to justify cooking at home. Suburban Square, Ardmore, PA 19003, parlorardmore.com.
La Colombe in Fishtown
The new La Colombe flagship is basically the Rolls-Royce of coffee shops, with two kitchens, a distillery, beer, wine, rum, the best La Colombe coffee you've ever tasted (with lattes on draft!), and a full menu of things like tartines and shrimp-and-grits. Sorry, regular coffee shops. 1335 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, lacolombe.com/cafes?city=0.
Helm
Forget too many cooks in the kitchen. Dual chefs Kevin D'Egidio and Michael Griffiths have hit the exacta: idea-crammed cooking that's in lockstep with the foraged-and-fermented zeitgeist, in an atmosphere as relaxed as your living room. 1303 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19112, helmphilly.com.
Barbuzzo Upstairs
In March, the ambitious brains behind this 13th Street favorite debuted a new, absolutely beautiful private dining space on the second floor that holds up to 65 seated and 100 standing. This ain't your average banquet space: There's a vintage piano, an open kitchen (including a chef's counter), which chef Marcie Turney uses as her test kitchen when the room isn't booked, and they'll customize your menu to include dishes from any of their restaurants, so you can get carnitas from Lolita, charcuterie from Jamonera, meatballs from Little Nonna's, and, of course, the ever- popular salted caramel budino from downstairs. 110 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, barbuzzo.com.
Ubiq
If you're the type who won't give up your trainers for anyone, pluck any pair of sneakers off the wall displays at Ubiq and you'll still look pulled together. This Walnut Street cult shop sells more than new-release Jordans and Yeezys: There are subdued retro New Balances, eco-friendly Vans and reflective suede Onitsuka Tigers. 1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, ubiqlife.com.
Norman Porter
The jeans that come from this small Kensington company are of the thickest Japanese and American selvage denim, with hand-hammered rivets, custom stitching, house-embossed leather patches, and cuts that can be tailored to you. Make an appointment to visit the studio; you'll never go back to Levi's again. 150 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Studio 301, Philadelphia, PA 19122, normanporter.com.
Louella
Employ a smart strategy when shopping at this Main Line boutique: Grab as many whale-dotted Vineyard Vines shorts, Alice and Trixie tunics and Two Bees Cashmere sweaters as you can, and you'll never have to search for an occasion-worthy ensemble again. 227 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, and 335 East King Street, Malvern, 19087, louellastyle.com.
Anh Mai, @maistylepages
One glance at the photos from this local stylist -- all bleached-out hair, a modern wardrobe of mostly black and white, a bunch of Celine -- and you'll regret ever posting those stupid pictures of your cat.
Classic Auto Fitness
There's a reason auto dealerships and gearheads from as far away as the Main Line send their rides to Ryan Kates's Classic Auto in South Jersey. He's just as obsessed as they are with their cars, transforming each one personally. Got a beat-up Honda? A 1963 Corvette Stingray you love more than you do most family members? He'll treat both with equal amounts of TLC. 447 Commerce Lane, Suite C, West Berlin, NJ 08009, .