Stuck at home over spring break? Have no fear! There are countless great spots around the Main Line and Philadelphia to spend your afternoon. Even if one of the projected sunny days next week turns into fouler weather, this mix of indoor and outdoor activities will surely keep you busy.

Go Local With…

The movies

• There are lots of great movies out now! See Oculus, with Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan, or an intense drama, like Noah. Other popular films include Divergent, Insidious, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Check out the Bryn Mawr Film Institute for lesser-known gems.

The library

• Lower Merion has one of the biggest library systems in Pennsylvania, so why not use the lazy days of break to read for pleasure from their wide selection? Take a break from Things Fall Apart and long synthesis essays and pick up a new mystery, adventure, or biography. You can even take out movies or audiobooks.

All the parks

• Our area has lots of great parks for hiking and observing the beginnings of spring. Some spots are Rolling Hill Park in Gladwyne, South Ardmore Park, the Haverford College Arboretum, and Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne.

Take a Ride to Philadelphia To…

The Philadelphia Zoo

• Take a trip back to your childhood and visit the zoo! The Philadelphia is the United States’ oldest zoo, and has lots of exotic animals from polar bears to flamingoes. Aside from being a nostalgic and unique afternoon destination, the zoo is a great place to learn more about the natural world and the importance of preserving it.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

• PMA is probably one of the most recognizable spots in Philadelphia; with its steep steps and majestic columns, the building itself is a piece of art. Even if you are not an art aficionado, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the museum. See one of Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings in Impressionism or view century old helmets and spears in Arms and Armor. Count all of the hats or dogs or cups. You might get inspired to paint your own abstract piece.

Edgar Allen Poe House

• Are you pondering, weak and weary, over an interesting place to see? Then check out Edgar Allen Poe’s old house and learn more about the mysterious wordsmith. See where he penned his gothic tales and learn about what his life would have been like in this historic home.

The Philadelphia Mint

• Does money really grow on trees? You can find out the answer to that question (nope) by going to the Philadelphia Mint and learning from their informative tours. Watch coins being made before your eyes and learn about the history of American cash.

The Academy of Natural Sciences

• The Academy of Natural Sciences has a variety of options open for the public. From the enormous dinosaur hall to the animal dioramas on the third floor, the Academy has many interesting attractions. Other interesting aspects are the Academy Library, which has an original Audubon bird book (museum staff turn a new page every day), and a live butterfly room where you can get up close to butterflies.

The Mutter Museum

• The Mutter Museum’s exhibits, though macabre, have still managed to be a source of wonder for many Philadelphians and tourists. This medical museum has slides of Albert Einstein’s brain among its diverse holdings. With its extensive collection of plaster casts, preserved limbs, and other medical oddities, the Mutter Museum would provide you with unforgettable selfies and great models for your next Halloween costume.

The Reading Terminal Market

• Even veterans of Reading Terminal will discover something new among its many twists and turns each new time they go. Reading Terminal has almost every food imaginable for sale, and the bustling crowds and wonderful smell that permeates the whole market create a wonderfully distinctive atmosphere. This Saturday will be its first Spring Fest, with family activities and seasonal shopping opportunities.

Philadelphia Theater

• Broadway Philadelphia’s latest show is almost over; The Phantom of the Opera’s last shows are tonight and tomorrow afternoon/evening, April 11 and 12, at the Academy of Music. Grab your tickets on the Kimmel Center website now! If you miss Phantom, try Arsenic and Old Lace at the Walnut, here until April 27.

“Catching up on sleep and TV,” is what the average person staying home will say when asked about their plans. Do not be average – come back on the 21^st with amazing stories from your adventures at home. Check out uwishunu.com and the events sections of the Main Line Patches for even more fun.