As an Allentown mom, I’m always looking for fun, budget-friendly ways to keep my kiddo occupied during school breaks—especially Thanksgiving week when routines are off and everyone’s snacking nonstop. This year, I pulled together some of my favorite local hidden gems, free resources, and little-known hacks to help you save money, spark creativity, and keep the whole family entertained.
Here are my top local finds you’ll want to bookmark:
🍽️ Food Savings & “Too Good To Go” Treats
If you haven’t tried Too Good To Go, this is your sign. It’s an app that lets you rescue “surprise bags” of leftover food from local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries at a huge discount—while helping reduce food waste. "Bags" go for $4.99 and up depending on location, but you'll get a mashup of whatever freshly made food did not sell due to reaching the end of the day.
You can often grab pastries, dinners, or snacks for just a few dollars. Perfect for feeding hungry kiddos during break without blowing your grocery budget. You'll have to find which venues provide the best "surprise bag" for your buck. Hint: Whole Foods surprise bag is always sold out!
🔗 https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us
🍎 Using SNAP/EBT for Low-Cost or Free Fun
If you have a SNAP/EBT card, don’t forget about the discounted or free access programs available at museums, zoos, and cultural sites across Pennsylvania. Many places participate in national access programs that reduce admission to $3 or less for families.
A few you can look up near us are these two big programs:
1. Art-Reach ACCESS Program
This program gives discounted admission to over 70 cultural sites across PA for people with SNAP/EBT, Medicaid, or disability documentation.
🔗 https://www.art-reach.org/access/
2. PA ACCESS Discount Program (Museums for All)
Many museums also participate independently, even if they're not part of Art-Reach. DaVinci Science Center offers an Access For All program as well https://www.davincisciencecenter.org/access-for-all-discount-program/
Both are perfect for school breaks when the kids need something enriching and screen-free.
📚 Hidden Library Resources You Probably Didn’t Know About
Our local libraries are treasure chests—and I mean way beyond books.
Lower Macungie Library
I discovered recently that LML has so many digital and off-site resources that moms barely know about:
- Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots you can borrow
- Digital books, movies, & magazines with Hoopla, OverDrive, Kanopy, and more free streaming/reading platforms
- Free museum passes
- Online tutoring
- Language learning tools
- Even genealogy research access
All you need is your library card.
🔗 Full digital library: https://lowermaclib.org/digital-library/
Parkland Community Library
This one blew me away—they're stocked with creative resources for kids and families:
- Laptops available to borrow
- A very long list of museum passes
🔗 https://www.parklandlibrary.org/special-collections/ - A Seed Library (you can check out 3 seed packets and grow your own food! No need to return these! lol)
- Playaway audiobooks — pre-loaded audio devices ready to listen
- Preloaded children’s tablets for in-library use
- Craft kits, STEM kits, and more
Everything is free with your Parkland library card.
🔗 Special collections: https://www.parklandlibrary.org/special-collections/
🤹 Keep Them Busy, Learning, and Happy This Break
Between Too Good To Go treats, free museum access, art programs, and all the incredible library resources available across the Lehigh Valley, there are so many ways to keep kids engaged (and avoid the “I’m booored” chorus).
I hope this helps make your Thanksgiving break a little easier, a little cheaper, and a lot more fun. If you try any of these resources, message me—I love hearing what other LV moms discover in our community!
