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

Eksperyans ou pa dwe rate

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

A post-World War II gift from Japan, the Sant Kiltirèl Japonè Shofuso is a Fairmount Pak 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.

  — Foto pa J. Fusco pou 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 Piknik The Roots, the nationally acclaimed festival curated by beloved Philly hip-hop group The Roots.

  — Foto koutwazi Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts

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

Platò Belmont 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

Mansyon Belmont — 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.

La 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 ak Philadelphia Stars Negro League Baseball Mural.

Mansyon Belmont   — 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 Ach Moniman Smith and its Whispering Bench, or admire closed-to-the-public manors like Sweetbriar Mansion ak Ohio House.

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

Ach Moniman Smith   — Foto pa C. Martin pou Asosyasyon pou Atizay Piblik

Ki kote pou rete

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 ak Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia City Avenue. Closer to University City, you’ll find Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast, Cornerstone Bed & Breakfast, la Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, ak Etid la nan University City.

Etid la nan University City   — Foto pa D. Knoll pou Visit Philadelphia

Konsèy lokal

Ou pare pou w dekouvri zòn nan poukont ou? Men kèk konsèy pou kòmanse:

• 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 Sant Vil 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.