Southwest Philadelphia: Your Gateway to Philly & Beyond

Expériences à ne pas manquer

1. Visit the birthplace of gardening in America

In 1728, botanist John Bartram purchased 102 acres along the west bank of the lower Schuylkill River and turned it into America’s first botanical garden.

Today, visitors to Le jardin de Bartram can walk the same paths as the famed family of plant purveyors did when they regularly scoured the nascent countryside seeking plants and trees to grow and sell.

Free and open to the public year-round, the 50-acre historic site in the Kingsessing neighborhood attracts hikers, birdwatchers, boaters, history buffs and garden lovers.

  - Photo de J. Fusco pour Visit Philadelphia

Visitors to the site can see the oldest ginkgo tree in America as well as several Franklinia trees. Fun fact: After rescuing a rare little flowering tree from extinction, the Bartrams decided to name the tree after their friend and fellow plant lover, Benjamin Franklin.

Bartram’s Garden opens to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. The site’s Welcome Center opens on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Although guided tours are unavailable, guests can download audio descriptions from the website to learn more about the site’s history and landscaping.

2. Savor the flavors of Africa

Southwest Philadelphia has long attracted immigrants from West African and Caribbean countries, creating thriving communities with commercial hubs and authentic eats, collectively known today as Africatown.

Anchoring the neighborhood’s vibrant commercial corridor, Woodland Avenue features numerous family-owned restaurants serving up soul food, Caribbean favorites and authentic African fare along a historic street with charming architecture and an energetic vibe.

Chef Abdarahmane Diop specializes in West African cuisine at Petit pot africain (6133 Woodland Avenue) while nearby Jam-Rock (6155 Woodland Avenue) offers authentic Jamaican eats like oxtail and curry goat.

Those looking to sample a handful of neighborhood staples can enjoy the Africatown Visite gastronomique, which takes participants on a flavor-filled journey through the neighborhood.

Petit pot africain   - Photo par Visit Philadelphia

3. Bask in nature at the country’s first urban wildlife refuge

Once a huge tidal wetland, diked and drained by early Swedish, Dutch and English farmers, Refuge national de faune et de flore John Heinz à Tinicum remains the largest freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania.

The country’s first urban wildlife refuge provides respite for tired and hungry birds migrating along the Atlantic flyway, which means birders have a constantly rotating list of avians to spy. Nesting bald eagles have called the refuge home for years, much to the delight of visitors.

  — Photo gracieusement fournie par la réserve naturelle nationale John Heinz à Tinicum

With 1000 acres, ten miles of trails and many native wildlife and plants, there’s an endless array of outdoor activities to enjoy here. From hiking and biking, to walking and running, to canoeing and fishing, Heinz provides a tranquil retreat from the city hustle.

Park rangers and volunteers offer educational walks, talks and activities regularly, and the site’s visitor center has plenty of maps and exhibits to learn more about the area’s natural history.

4. Explore Revolutionary history and family fun at a historic fort

Historique Fort Mifflin played an important role in the Revolutionary War and still stands today as the oldest fortification continually used in the United States.

The site’s location in the Delaware River at the mouth of the Schuylkill River allowed the British forces to bombard American troops with 10,000 cannonballs in 1777, killing nearly 350 American soldiers.

Displays on-site feature artifacts from its revolutionary history, along with a store stocked with replicas to purchase.

Open to visitors seasonally from March through December, the site offers history tours, reenactments, sleepovers, family-friendly festivals and paranormal programming full of ghostly tales.

  — Photo gracieusement fournie par Fort Mifflin

5. See a museum of rare and antique race cars

Seul musée de ce type en Amérique du Nord, le Musée automobile de la Fondation Simeone showcases more than 75 of the world’s rarest and most famous race cars, sporting names like Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Maserati.

Dr. Fred Simeone has singularly collected the cars throughout the past 50 years, presenting visitors with a literal evolution of racing sports cars from across the globe.

Visitors can stroll the museum’s 78,000 square feet to get up-close views of the stunning collection or attend one of the museum’s world-famous Demo Days — when the site’s three-acre parking lot brings the cars to life, allowing car connoisseurs to see, hear and smell these magnificent machines.

Journées de démonstration   — Photo courtesy Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Où séjourner

Having an international airport nearby means visitors have an ample selection of hotels to choose from when booking an overnight stay in Southwest Philadelphia.

Popular choices include well-known hotel brands, including: the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Airport, le Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Airport et le Aéroport de Philadelphie Marriott, just to name a few.

The travel experts at Visit Philadelphia have curated a list of hotels near the airport, including options by the nearby South Philadelphia Sports Complex, to make travel planning a piece of cake.

Double Guest Room at Philadelphia Airport Marriott   — Photo courtesy Philadelphia Airport Marriott

Conseils locaux

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

• There are several easy ways to access the Southwest Philadelphia region, with three major highways passing through: I-76, I-95 and I-476. The Regional Rail’s airport line offers quick and direct train access and many SEPTA bus routes serve the community.
• Southwest Philly serves as a great home base for those heading to the nearby South Philadelphia Sports Complex, where Philadelphia’s major league football, baseball and hockey teams all play. And, the Philadelphia Union plays home games over in Delaware County at nearby Subaru Park.
• Cimetière du mont Moriah, the largest in Pennsylvania, offers a tranquil place with a rich history. Once abandoned, the historic cemetery — where Betsy Ross was originally buried — has been undergoing restoration and evokes the feeling of a natural arboretum.
• Bicycle access to Centre ville Philadelphia recently got a lot easier with the opening of the Christian to Crescent connector trail (and a snazzy new bridge) along the Schuylkill Banks de la section Sentier de la rivière Schuylkill, a recreational path that runs about 75 miles from Southwest Philly out to Montgomery County.

SEPTA Regional Rail: airport line   - Photo courtoisie Philadelphia International Airport