Parkside & the Centennial District: From Historic Attractions to Skyline Views

Can’t-Miss Experiences

1. Travel back in time at the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center

A post-World War II gift from Japan, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center is a Fairmount Park oasis featuring a 17th-century temple-style guest house, a teahouse and bathhouse, exquisite gardens, and a serene koi pond.

Tour the interior to learn about 1600s-era Japanese art and architecture; join seasonal tea ceremonies; celebrate cultural holidays; feed the fish in the pond; and bask in the century-old cherry blossom trees during the annual spring festival.

  — Photo by S. Marshall Lin

2. Let young imaginations run wild at the Please Touch Museum

Housed inside Memorial Hall (constructed in 1876), the Please Touch Museum offers kids two floors of interactive zones — like Fairytale Garden and River Adventures — among two dozen permanent and rotating exhibitions, including a restored century-old carousel and a giant model of the 1876 World’s Fair.

Voted one of the best children’s museums in the U.S. several years in a row, the museum also hosts year-round holiday events — for Earth Day, Halloween and more — and outdoor movie screenings at the nearby Welsh Fountain.

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

3. Bring the party outside at Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Originally the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Highmark Mann is the largest covered music and arts venue in Philly.

The seasonal outdoor venue presents a range of concerts and arts education programs, and each spring, the venue welcomes The Roots Picnic, the nationally acclaimed festival curated by beloved Philly hip-hop group The Roots.

  — Photo courtesy Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts

4. Take in natural preserves and vistas of West Fairmount Park

Belmont Plateau offers prime skyline vistas and grassy expanses perfect for picnics, sports, July Fourth fireworks views and general frolicking.

Centennial Lake and Concourse Lake, both created in 1876, are havens for various native plants and wildlife species (frogs, bats, hummingbirds and more).

Plus, don’t miss the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center and Centennial Arboretum, a modern exhibition hall and greenhouse with gardens, seasonal activities and art-in-nature installations.

5. Explore Philly’s lesser-known Black history

Belmont Mansion — formerly belonging to abolitionist judge Richard Peters — now houses Fairmount Park’s Underground Railroad Museum, with tours highlighting artifacts and stories of the home’s former residents.

The Philadelphia Stars Negro League Memorial Park honors the all-Black baseball league that once called the park home with a historical marker, the seven-foot high Negro Leagues Memorial Statue and the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Baseball Mural.

Belmont Mansion   — Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia

6. View the local architecture, must-see landmarks and hidden gems

Parkside and the Centennial District are full of architectural eye candy.

Explore the popular Smith Memorial Arch and its Whispering Bench, or admire closed-to-the-public manors like Sweetbriar Mansion and the Ohio House.

Other standout works include the Catholic Total Abstinence Fountain and the St. George and the Dragon sculpture.

Smith Memorial Arch   — Photo by C. Martin for the Association for Public Art

Where to Stay

While there are few lodging options within Parkside and the Centennial District, you don’t have to look far.

Options include the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue and the Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia City Avenue. Closer to University City, you’ll find Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast, Cornerstone Bed & Breakfast, the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, and The Study at University City.

The Study at University City   — Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia

Local Tips

Ready to experience the area firsthand? Here are some tips to get you started:

• The area is easily accessible via SEPTA, with several bus routes running throughout Parkside and the Centennial District, plus a dedicated bus that runs between Highmark Mann and Center City during select concerts.
• Those driving can also find plenty of roadside parking, especially near larger attractions.
• Want to find something new and support local entrepreneurs? Check out the 4th District Container Village, featuring an ever-changing small business lineup offering art, food, clothing and more.