Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Philadelphia, PA

Wintertime in Philadelphia does, upon occasion, offer that perfect type of winter weather: soft, juicy snowflakes that make for perfect sledding and snowman building! So where are the best spots in Philadelphia that are safe for kids and near to purveyors of hot chocolate? Here are the top five sledding spots in the city and suburbs.

1. Clark Park, 45th & Baltimore. This awesome park in the heart of West Philly offers the very safest sledding spot in the area. The center of the park is actually a large bowl, with two sides of varying steepness. Both hills are fairly short, making them ideal for little kids, and the hills end in the bottom of the bowl, safe and sound, and no where near fences, trees, streets, or any other obstacle that might put your kid in danger. Best of all, right near the park are plenty of coffee shops that offer toasty drinks that will warm you up.

2. Off Kelly Drive, behind the Art Museum (near the playground, west of the ball fields). For this spot, your best bet is to park on Fairmount Avenue (Kelly Drive offers no parking). This hill is pretty big, and pretty steep, but is also great fun. Best with more than one adult, so someone can be at the bottom of the hill because there is a roadway nearby.

3. Walnut Lane Golf Course. Located in the Roxborough/Manayunk area just off Walnut Lane and Henry Avenue, this spot has been used for years and years. The best spot is at the 16th hole seen along Henry Avenue.

4. Juniata Golf Course. Located in the Northeast section of Philly, in Tacony Creek Park, this golf course has some great hills. Be careful, however, of the creek at the bottom--bring a sled with brakes and plan to tuck and roll.

5. The Art Museum steps. Made famous, of course, by Sylvester Stallone running up them in the first Rocky movie, these steps become a wild sled ride when we get enough snow. Only for the true daredevil, however--and best with an inflatable sled, NOT a hard sled. If nervous, stick with the hill behind the museum.