This story is sponsored by Chestnut Hill Visitor’s Center. Explore Philadelphia’s Garden District today.

I am a big fan of small-town travel. I love visiting sleepy towns off-season, especially to the kinds of small towns where there is one main street, preferably cobble-stoned, lined with long-standing businesses like decades-old taverns, boutique stores, and notable breweries and bakeries where multi-generational families congregate regularly.

Enter: Chestnut Hill, a neighborhood with old village charm just twenty minutes northwest of downtown Philadelphia.

Chestnut Hill is where I go for small-town feels within Philadelphia. Chestnut Hill embodies local eating and drinking at longtime favorites and Germantown Avenue newcomers with campaigns like #KeepItOnTheHill. Despite its affluent zip code, this quiet neighborhood in northwest Philly is home to dozens of resident bars and restaurants that offer a wide array of options to dine at breakfast, noon, and night across every budget (with outdoor dining available year-round). It also boasts a lively retail corridor and nearby attractions for the whole family — from hiking the Wissahickon to spending an afternoon at the children’s museum or meandering outside exploring the Morris Arboretum. Below is a quick guide on making the most of your time in Chesnut Hill whether you visit for one day or stay for a long weekend.

The Market at the Fareway is home to more than a dozen food and drink vendors.jpg

What to know

Chestnut Hill was founded in 1854 located in Pennsylvania’s Wissahickon Valley and known as Philadelphia’s Garden District. It is home to the 92-acre Morris Arboretum and an annual spring Home & Garden Festival. In 2007, Forbes.com named Chestnut Hill “one of the top seven urban enclaves in the country” aptly named for its Victorian mansions and dog-friendly businesses just outside of Philadelphia.

Getting there

Chestnut Hill, originally part of Germantown township (a northwestern suburb outside Philadelphia), is a little more than 10 miles northwest of Philadelphia’s Center City district or an estimated 30-minute train ride on SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill East and West Lines. A weekend one-way train ticket costs less than 20 bucks (see fares) which means you have no excuse to not visit. You can also drive for free (no tolls!), or take your bike on the train and get around by bike once you arrive. Easy, fast, cheap.

Where to stay

The Chestnut Hill Hotel is the only hotel in the area and is conveniently located on the main drag – Germantown Avenue – where it connects to a year-round indoor farmers market. The boutique hotel has 36 distinct rooms which are large and spread across three different buildings, each with its own theme. I highly recommend staying in the Post Office building, which has Andy Warhol pop art decorative walls and white marble bathrooms. Rates start at $200 per night and a bonus: it’s dog-friendly!

What to see

Nature.

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is a 92-acre public garden featuring an impressive collection of plants and trees from all over the world. Founders John and Lydia T. Morris were world travelers and horticultural enthusiasts who brought back new ideas and inspiration to beautify their Victorian land. In the process, they also supported research and education to their staff, contributing to vast collections of outdoor sculptures and gardens, as well as a research library, archives, and continuing education courses for arborists, gardeners, and land managers.

Today the Morris Arboretum is home to 12,000 live plants, 2,500 shrubs, rose gardens, swan ponds, and more.

I love the serenity that the Arboretum offers as you discover how grand the grounds are. It can be overwhelming yet rewarding to walk through endless terrain and see flowers starting to bloom. It’s impossible to experience the entire acreage in one day but it’s worth trying.

Tip: Free tours are available with admission on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm only. Adult admission costs $17. Bring comfy shoes and a camera.

GERMANTOWN AVE. IS ONE OF PHILLY’S MOST CHARMING STREETS

The Woodmere Art Museum is home to a collection of 3,000 works of art by Philadelphia artists. This 19-century stone Victorian mansion was founded for Philadelphia art, celebrating local artists and now serves as a platform to support future generations of artists.

Art classes are open to children and adults including beginner classes on oil painting, drawing, watercolor, sculpting and still life starting at $125 with four session classes or more. Children’s exhibitions rotate throughout the year showcasing the work by regional students in a dedicated gallery, and with a proper gallery reception which gives young artists a chance to share the spotlight alongside accomplished artists.

What I love most about this art gallery is that each room presents a different way to experience art – from the mantle displays to the ceiling chandeliers to the paintings set above cafe-style seating. The staff are passionate and offer stories behind each artist to make a personal connection to what is in front of you. It’s intimate and beautiful and educational, and a unique opportunity to learn about Philadelphia through a new perspective.

Tip: Friday night live jazz bands return at the end of the summer in the auditorium complete with wine and cheese. Members get in for $12 and tickets cost $22 for the general public. Every Sunday admission is free so plan a visit soon.