{"id":48136,"date":"2014-07-28T18:06:58","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T22:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=48136"},"modified":"2022-03-27T11:47:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-27T15:47:32","slug":"small-towns-in-pennsylvania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/48136\/small-towns-in-pennsylvania\/","title":{"rendered":"Pretty PA: Three Small Towns to Visit in Pennsylvania"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re looking to slow things down (let’s say by ambling through a secret “pleasure garden,” dining on delicious dishes at the farm table, or unwinding in a grand historic hotel), head for these tiny oh-so-pretty towns just a quick trip away from the train station in Philly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chestnut Hill<\/h2>\n

The Directions
\n<\/strong>From Center City, Philadelphia, the quaint streets of Chestnut Hill are just a short SEPTA<\/a> ride away. In mere minutes (around 40 to be precise), you will arrive at Chestnut Hill West Station, a well-manicured, wealthy neighborhood, still technically within Philadelphia\u2019s city limits, but a world away.<\/p>\n

The Must Do’s
\n<\/strong>Wander into the Woodmere Art Museum<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0the collection of local art that spans decades. The 19th century Victorian mansion also transforms into a venue, hosting musical performances and events throughout the year.<\/p>\n

The Digs
\n<\/strong>To fully experience small town living, you\u2019re going to want to cozy up right on Main St., in this case, Germantown Ave. The\u00a0Chestnut Hill Hotel<\/a>\u00a0is nestled into an ideal corner for an efficient jumping off point to a small town weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Chestnut

The Local Tip
\n<\/strong>Exploring the neighborhood mustn\u2019t be missed. The Colonial Revival\u00a0homes in the area are pristine and sprawling. Starting in Kingston at the fork of Broadway and Delaware Ave., take an hour-long, meandering walk to\u00a0East Chestnut, Livingston, and Stuyvesant Streets, and to the end of West Chestnut.<\/p>\n

Wayne<\/h2>\n

The Directions
\n<\/strong>Another jaunt on the SEPTA from 30th St. Station in Philly, is the small town of Wayne (the train stop is of the same name and steps away from Wayne Hotel.) One of the country\u2019s first planned communities, it retains old world charm in spades, but it’s a manageable size for a couple days of exploration by foot and a few quick rides.<\/p>\n

The Must Do’s
\n<\/strong>Visit the gardens at Chanticleer<\/a>, worthy of an entire day of sniffing and strolling. Initially intended as a summer escape in 1913, its loveliness won over the Rosengarten family who turned Chanticleer into their permanent home and left it behind as the still enchanting estate that us common folk can enjoy today.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne

The Eats
\n<\/strong>The on-premise restaurant, Paramour, at Wayne Hotel happens to be exquisite\u2014there’s a self-serve Bloody Mary Bar, crab mac ‘n’ cheese, strawberry rhubarb pie, a beautiful veranda\u2014we did mention that you might not want to leave.<\/p>\n

The Local Tip
\n<\/strong>Have an adorable date night and live like a local by visiting the vintage gem Anthony Wayne Theater, which originally opened in 1928. Can\u2019t promise anything life-altering will be playing, but the entrance can really take you time traveling.<\/p>\n

Kennett Square<\/h2>\n

The Directions<\/strong>
\nAnd another town?…you may be thinking… But this author saved the best for last. Kennett Square is positioned well for maximizing the attractions in the countryside, but also has the most enticing offerings in its immediate streets. However, you may find this trip is best suited cruising in a rental car, so grab one once you arrive by Amtrak in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\"Kennett

The Must Do’s
\n<\/strong>The Brandywine Museum<\/a> is a spectacular sight to behold. Upon entering, take a look out the picturesque floor-to-ceiling windows that curve to form the backside of the building. The view? A lazy river that in the summertime plays host to the occasional tube rider, kayaker or floating swimmer. Once you\u2019ve taken in the natural sights, wander through the dim galleries that highlight the careers of famous Brandywine artistic clan, the Wyeths. Trace the talent from generation to generation, and call ahead to visit the nearby studios of N.C. and Andrew Wyeth.<\/p>\n

The Digs
\n<\/strong>Tuck into the dreamy Inn at Whitewing Farm, which offers a 10% “Procrastination” discount to spontaneous travelers planning a visit within 24 hours. Book the English Garden Suite (from $245) for the king bed, fireplace and private garden. The inn is a 10-minute drive or 25-minute bike ride from the center of town. <\/b><\/p>\n

The Eats
\n<\/strong>Step into a neighborhood favorite that combines an upscale grocery with farm-sourced goodies.\u00a0Talula\u2019s Table<\/a>\u00a0is bustling at midday, but better known for its evening feast at the chef\u2019s table. The cozy dining space is perfect for a large family meal and the food is fresh and filling.<\/p>\n

The Local Tip
\n<\/strong>Lose yourself (but actually, hold on to small loved ones) in massive Longwood Gardens<\/a>. Boasting a series of awe-inducing gardens, including an aristocratic Italian Water Garden, a refined but kooky Topiary Garden, and the recently opened, sprawling Meadow\u2014this is what you\u2019ve been waiting for.<\/p>\n

For more information on things to do near the City of Brotherly Love, check out\u00a0visitphilly.com\/towns<\/a>, then hop on the next train to Philly! (But first, consult our Public Transportation Advisor for Manhattan to Philadelphia<\/a>.)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

[mappress mapid=”10″]<\/p>\n

Photos:<\/em> dearedward<\/a>, simon<\/a>, respective establishments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re looking to slow things down (let’s say by ambling through a secret “pleasure garden,” dining on delicious dishes at the farm table, or unwinding in a grand historic hotel), head for these tiny oh-so-pretty towns just a quick trip away from the train station in Philly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":48163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[316,784,1508,747,753,907,332,748],"tags":[238,116,40,15,293,145,306,125,17,130,110,299,18,133,65,449,282,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-48136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-weekend-getaways","8":"category-adventure-activity-2","9":"category-amtrak-getaways","10":"category-bus-2","11":"category-car-2","12":"category-pennsylvania-2","13":"category-philadelphia-2","14":"category-train-2","15":"tag-adventure","16":"tag-amtrak","17":"tag-art","18":"tag-brooklyn","19":"tag-budget-friendly","20":"tag-dining","21":"tag-farm","22":"tag-food","23":"tag-gardens","24":"tag-green","25":"tag-historical-sites","26":"tag-locally-sourced","27":"tag-museum","28":"tag-outdoors","29":"tag-park","30":"tag-restaurants","31":"tag-romantic","32":"tag-shopping"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":48163,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/10570413_10152635820866155_4894007483853661181_n-e1487994760104-350x197.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}