Delaware County: A World of Adventure Close to Home

Can’t Miss Experiences

1. Frolic on the farm

Linvilla Orchards’ 300 acres of working farmland harvests fun all year long. In the fall and summer, visitors can pick their own fruit and enjoy the playground and pool. Fall also brings pumpkin patches and hayrides.

Shop in the farm market for a house-made pie or jam to take home.

  — Photo courtesy Linvilla Orchards

2. Get artsy

Best known as the home of the Wyeths — a three-generation family of artists — the Brandywine Museum of Art showcases their work alongside other American art, in a beautiful pastoral setting. After you take in the permanent and changing exhibitions, venture through the Conservancy’s surrounding gardens and trails.

Brandywine Museum of Art   — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Hedgerow Theatre, housed in a converted grist mill, has put on attention-grabbing theater productions since its founding in the 1920s. In the 1980s, it launched the career of one Keanu Reeves.

Located in the heart of Media’s commercial district, The Media Theatre stages community productions of musicals, comedies and children’s shows, along with the occasional film screening.

The Lansdowne Theater, a renovated movie house and local landmark, hosts live music with an emphasis on classic rock and folk acts.

3. Be one with nature

Considered America’s First Urban Refuge for Wildlife, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum opened in 1972. This preserve along the Delaware Estuary envelops 10 miles of trails across woodlands, marshes and mudflats. Observe hundreds of species of birds, go fishing or try your hand at archery.

With five miles of trails for cross-country skiing, biking or running, plus many more miles of hiking, it’s easy to lose yourself in the calm of the natural world at Ridley Creek State Park. If you visit from late March to December, you can also explore Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead, a working farm from the 1700s.

For those who prefer more manicured greenery, Chanticleer Garden in Wayne should not be missed. The sweeping grounds of the former Rosengarten Estate, open from spring through the fall, encompass a meadow, rose garden, water gardens and much more for a stunning display of color and texture.

Chanticleer   — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

Two small liberal arts colleges in the region open their grounds to visitors. Haverford College Arboretum circles the campus with trails, gardens and 400 species of trees, including nine state champions. At Swarthmore College, Scott Arboretum’s “garden of ideas” welcomes plant and tree lovers with a mix of formal plantings, landscaped grounds and tours and programming for the public.

At Tyler Arboretum, 650 acres, thousands of trees, and a history that spans well over a century attract visitors who also enjoy the well-kept trails and fun family programs.

Local conservancy Natural Lands ensures that open space remains undeveloped, and two of its small preserves, Hidalcy and Wawa, keep that promise alive in Delco, allowing you to stroll among native plants and meadows on rewilded farmland.

4. Check out the shopping scene

Known as America’s First Fair Trade Town, Media abounds with small, local and ethical retail options: Three Potato Four for clever gift ideas, Chosen Tweed for home goods and accessories, and Kuta for clothing and jewelry, to name a few.

Lansdowne’s commercial district, centered around Lansdowne Avenue and Baltimore Avenue, exudes creative and welcoming energy. Check out Denim Dolls for women’s apparel, Vinyl Revival for new and used LPs, or Scrappy Cat’s antiques and art.

Havertown’s retail area includes two smaller axes with walkable shopping districts: Brookline Boulevard and Darby Road. On Brookline, look for Novita Boutique (timeless women’s apparel), Plant Roots Local (gifts, plants and home goods), and the adjacent Bookery Coffeehouse. Darby Road’s highlights include Brew Your Own Beer supplies for home enthusiasts and Discoverie Goods’ fun gifts with a local edge.

5. Go for the goal

Soccer fans can find their bliss at the Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park in Chester, where the Union hosts its home games, and which also stages exhibition matches from international teams during the summer months.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

5. Dig into Delco dishes

Delco cuisine hits on all four corners of the earth.

Enjoy BYOBs like Tlali, which conjures up memorable Puebla cuisine in Upper Darby, or Fond, which dishes out sophisticated French-inspired eats.

Media hotspot Departure Restaurant and Lounge pairs cocktails and wine with small plates from around the world, while the Tasting Room at The Inn at Grace Winery invites guests to sample house wines alongside fresh oysters and elegant charcuterie boards.

The small but mighty menu of noodle soups and rice bowls at Aoyama Ramen in Newtown Square makes it a local favorite; Terrain Cafe in Glen Mills crafts an atmospheric place to enjoy a veggie-forward lunch or dinner with a fruity mocktail; and, tucked away in a Newtown Square strip mall, A Cut Above Deli’s legit Italian hoagies have attracted A-List celebrity fans — including Avenger and Task star, Mark Ruffalo.

Where to Stay

Part of Swarthmore College, The Inn at Swarthmore sits in the heart of town, within walking distance to the campus and arboretum.

The Inn at Grace Winery invites guests to stay on a Quaker farm estate and craft winery in Glen Mills.

An old stone barn made cozy with luxury trimmings, Media’s Alpenhoff Bed and Breakfast offers free bikes and a pool.

The AC Marriott Newtown Square makes a convenient jumping-off point for visitors to Ridley Creek State Park, Media and Upper Darby.

Double Queen Room at The Inn at Swarthmore   — Photo courtesy The Inn at Swarthmore

Local Tips

• Many attractions are within a short drive, but you can also get to several destinations via SEPTA’s Regional Rail (Media, Swarthmore) and trolleys (Upper Darby, Drexel Hill and Media).
• The eclectic vibe of Lansdowne makes the Lansdowne Farmers Market truly special. Visit on Saturdays for poundcake, small batch spirits and locally made soy candles.
• Media and Lansdowne were historically designated as dry towns. Many restaurants still operate as BYOBs.
• Visit Media on a Wednesday from May to September and enjoy Dining Under the Stars, when dozens of eateries offer festive al fresco seating on State Street.
• Architecture buffs, don’t miss: Art Deco/Byzantine façades in Upper Darby’s 69th street (the McClatchy Building and the Tower Theater for starters), and Victorian homes in Media and Lansdowne.

Dining Under the Stars   — Photo courtesy Dining Under the Stars