Day in the life of a Reading, PA mom?? (Lancaster: high crime, homes)

[kpa214]

Can anyone help me with what a typical day in the life of a Reading mom is like? What do you do with your kids? Where do you shop? how are the schools? Any details at all would help!

Thanks!

[hc7612]

Hi,
I am a mother of a 7 yr. old son. I actually live in Exeter Twp. outside of Reading. We have a nice new public library. There is a minor baseball league if you like going to games. Unfortunately, we do not have a children's museum, however, there is one in Lancaster. Also, in Lancaster a fabulous train museum. We do have some indoor sports facilities and of course Chuck E Cheese's. Please ask if I can answer any other questions you may have.
Heather

[Icy Tea]

A good day trip would be Roadside America miniature train village in Shartlesville, a top 10 must see Pa attraction. On the way would be Cabela's sporting good store in Hamburg, which is technically the most seen tourist attraction in Pa. Hopewell Furnace historical area and Hopewell lake, Daniel Boone Homestead, Reading Public Museum, the Schuylkill river trails, The Pagoda atop Mount Penn, Grings Mill historical area, swimming at Blue Marsh Lake, Hawk Mountain sanctuary. Shopping : Berkshire Mall and nearby Vanity Fair outlets, the other Wyomissing malls, the 3 Boscov department stores.
Schools outside Reading vary from very good to excellent, Reading is not great although it does have an outstanding music program.
But I'm not a mother, so take this info for what its worth.

[loose cannon]

No self respecting Mother with children spends anytime in the city of Reading. It is a pit! There is nothing but drug dealers and thugs.

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by loose cannon

No self respecting Mother with children spends anytime in the city of Reading. It is a pit! There is nothing but drug dealers and thugs.

This is why I avoid Downtown Reading at all costs. But there is good to found around this area. We have lived here for 3 years and are now having to move. But it is not all bad. If you are given lemons....make lemonade. I am sure some will protest. But personally, if you can, avoid downtown Reading.

Heather

[loose cannon]

Yes, drive to Kutztown and hang out at the diner. Walk around the University with the kids. There is nothing preventing anyone form doing this during regualr business hrs. Stop in to the radio station and visit the PD Mike Regensburger. He'll give you and the kids a tour of the station. He will also engage in productive small talk as he himself is a father.

[Berksby Annie]

There are a lot of nice places in the county. Not all of the city is bad either. You can go check out a hockey game or a baseball game in the city. My kids love going.

[killyforever]

To clarify above comments, Reading as a city-a NO-NO. The rest of Berks County is a great place.

Actually, West Reading is pretty nice, so that's not entirely true. Stay out of the inner city and you'll be fine. Things to do: Reading Royals (hockey) and Reading Phillies (baseball), shows at the Sovereign Center (major music acts, ice shows, etc.) there are lots of nice playgrounds, Gymboree if your kids are young enough, Reading Public Museum, Reading Fair, Berks County has library branches everywhere with all sorts of family activities. It's a short trip to Philly or Lancaster for activities there. I have lived in two different townships and get all over Berks County in my travels and I can't think of a spot that isn't convenient to a grocery store (usually Giant). You've got Berkshire Mall, Broadcasting Square (Target, Babies R Us, Dicks, Barnes and Noble)and the VF outlets. Nice little shops all along Penn Avenue. There is every franchise of restaurant that you could think of and many, many great independent restaurants.

[UrbanPottsville]

A mother could take her kids to Hiester Lanes AMF, Neversink Mountain, or Mount Penn. Although Reading does have a high crime rate, most crime has went down dramatically. EXCEPT FOR ARSON! If you want to move to an Urban neighborhood and not worry about crime (Well, almost), then Pottsville, PA is for you. Take the kids to Pottsville and see the Classic Cars Museum.

[preschooldelight]

I have lived in the Reading Area for the past 8 years. I have lived in a lot of other places too and like everything else it is the general area. I lived in reading for 5 years just inside the line. I could not stand the taxes and schools but there was no crime to speak of in our area. I now live in Wyomissing just outside of Reading and it is great. We love the schools. One of the public libraries does several story times that we enjoy, sports teams are plentiful, there are some lovely parks; including local, state, and national. Shopping is convenient. My kids love Ozzy's on Rte 61 - it has more for the bigger kids than Chucke cheese.