If you’re looking for some things to do in Philadelphia, Fairmount should be on your list. This area of Philadelphia is full of history and culture, and you can explore several of the city’s most important landmarks. Fairmount Avenue is lined with museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Eastern State Penitentiary museum. You can also check out the neighborhood’s renowned cafes and enjoy the sweeping view of the city by night on Boathouse Row.
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is one of Philadelphia’s largest municipal parks. The park is named after the historic name for a group of parks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of two sections, East Park and West Park, that cover a combined 2,052 acres. The park offers many things to see and do.
For those who enjoy live music, Fairmount Park’s Dell Music Center is the perfect place to get your groove on. With its 5,000-plus seats, this outdoor concert venue has some great acts every summer. Past lineups have included Erykah Badu, Patti LaBelle, and Rakim. You can also catch a movie at the park or party the day away in the park with a DJ.
Fairmount Park is also home to the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, which opened in 1979. The center contains a greenhouse full of tropical plants. Visitors can also enjoy coloring pages of various plants.
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo has many things to do for everyone. You can take a stroll on the zoo grounds with your young children, or rent a stroller, wheelchair, or electric scooter. The zoo also offers a nursing station for breastfeeding mothers. You can even pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds. You can also visit one of the many eateries located within the zoo, including the popular Philly Cheesesteak and the fresh pretzel factory. You can also purchase souvenirs of the wildlife that you see in the zoo.
The Philadelphia Zoo is located in the world’s largest city park, Fairmount Park. It’s two miles from downtown Philadelphia and is easily accessible from the Schuylkill Expressway. Visitors can park their cars along Girard Avenue, and there are additional parking lots on the south end of the park. SEPTA also offers several bus routes that run to the Zoo area. Admission to the zoo costs $17 for adults and $14 for children. The cost does not include Zooballoon rides.
The Philadelphia Zoo is an iconic attraction in Philadelphia, attracting nearly a million visitors annually. The Zoo’s mission is to conserve and protect endangered animals. With over 1,300 animals and a renowned education and science department, the zoo is a top destination for families. In 2013, over 1.2 million people visited the zoo, making it the most popular zoo in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Penitentiary
The Eastern State Penitentiary, or ESP, is a prison located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 2027 Fairmount Avenue, between North 22nd Street and Corinthian Avenue. It operated from 1829 until 1971. Although the prison is no longer operational, you can still visit the grounds to view the historical architecture and relics.
In 2009, a task force composed of historians, architects and preservationists was formed to save the Fairmount, Pennsylvania Penitentiary and convert it into a museum. The team is working to interpret the legacy of American criminal justice reform by preserving the historic prison buildings. However, the project has faced criticism for neglecting the needs of the surrounding community.
The prison was built in the early republic as one of the largest public works projects in the city. In the nineteenth century, it became a popular tourist destination and famous inmates and visitors included Charles Dickens and Alexis de Tocqueville. In 1929, Al Capone was incarcerated here. The prison was overcrowded and eventually closed. Then, the city began talking about turning it into a shopping mall or condos.
Please Touch
If you’re visiting Philadelphia with a child, you should definitely check out the Please Touch Museum. It focuses on special events and interactive exhibits for children seven years and younger. The goal of the museum is to educate children in an enjoyable way. While it’s not a traditional museum, the interactive exhibits allow visitors to learn more about various topics.
The museum is wheelchair-accessible and stroller friendly. It offers an elevator and ramps to the lower level. There are also many toys for kids to explore and learn from. The museum even sells birthday gifts. Admission costs $17 per person. Children under one are free. It’s the perfect place to spend a fun day with the kids.
The Please Touch Museum is located in a historic building that was originally built in 1876 as an art gallery for the Centennial International Exhibition. It is the only remaining building from the city’s Centennial celebration. The museum’s exhibits highlight different eras of American history, as well as the lives of Philadelphia’s founding fathers.
Boxers’ Trail
For a great hike, head to the Boxers’ Trail in Fairmount Park. This three-mile hike ends with a meditation led by Nicole Taylor. Be sure to bring water and a snack. You can also check out the Philadelphia Antique Show, where 60 of the city’s top antiques and fine art dealers come together to share their passion and expertise with the public.
The Boxers’ Trail winds through East Fairmount Park, alongside Randolph Creek, and past the Historic Houses in Fairmount Park. Along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Schuylkill River. And as if that weren’t enough, the trail even connects to a regional trail system that leads to Valley Forge. The project was made possible thanks to contributions from a diverse group of donors, including Anonymous, the Delaware River Port Authority, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the William Penn Foundation.
The Boxers’ Trail in Fairmount Park is a 3.8-mile trail with both paved and wooded paths. It is closely connected to Philadelphia’s boxing culture, as Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier in a historic bout that ended in a controversial draw.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Located in Fairmount, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Museum of Art was chartered in 1876 to serve the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. It is located on a hill northwest of Benjamin Franklin Parkway and near the Eakins Oval. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 20,000 works by leading artists and modernists.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the city’s premier cultural institution. Its massive collection features works by artists from around the world. The museum was a central feature of the film Rocky (1976). The museum’s steps were featured in the training scene for the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, and the museum became a major tourist attraction.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the most notable attraction in Fairmount, located on a hill where William Penn intended to build his manor house. Fairmount is home to several other art museums, including the Barnes Foundation, Franklin Institute, and Rodin. This neighborhood has its own distinct personality, and is often referred to as the Art Museum District.
Restaurants
The Fairmount neighborhood is largely residential. Fairmount Avenue is home to a number of restaurants, including a modern Mexican eatery known as La Calaca Feliz. This spot features seasonal ingredients and a creamy guacamole. The neighborhood also boasts a number of coffee shops, such as A Mano and The Monkey & Elephant.
Shopping
For all your shopping needs, Fairmount has several grocery stores in the area. The Almonte Food Market is located at 1945 Poplar Street, the Trust Deli Grocery is located at 2600 Brown Street, and the Economic Grocery is located at 839 N. 20th St. The Fairmount Avenue CVS also sells groceries, prescription refills, beauty products, and first aid supplies.
Fairmount is a Philadelphia neighborhood that is located 2.9 miles northwest of downtown. It is surrounded by communities such as Brewerytown, East Park, Francisville, Sharswood, and Spring Garden. The area is quite walkable, and public transportation is available through the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. The Penn’s Landing transit line serves the area, providing easy access to Center City Philadelphia.
Fairmount was founded as a farming community in the 17th century. It was initially part of the Penn Township and wasn’t incorporated into the city’s limits until 1854. During the American Revolution, Fairmount played a key role. The hill from which the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands was home to British defensive structures. In addition, the Fairmount Dam and Water Works was built in 1829. The area also boasts some of the city’s best restaurants.
