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Morris Arboretum & Gardens
If you feel the need to escape city life for an afternoon, try taking a stroll through the classical English landscape structures and sculpture gardens at Morris Arboretum & Gardens, a 92-acre Victorian arboretum in the Northwestern corner of Philadelphia.
Connected to the nearby University of Pennsylvania, the attraction serves as an interdisciplinary center that integrates art, science and the humanities.
Thousands of rare and lovely wooded plants, including many of Philadelphia’s oldest, rarest and most magnificent trees, grow here.
On certain summer evenings, bring a blanket and a picnic, pick a lush spot on the lawn and enjoy soothing live jazz.
Endless nature-inspired recreational activities abound at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens in Chestnut Hill.
Watch for birds soaring amidst the elegant beauty of the 19th-century grounds, complete with a formal rose garden, majestic old trees and unusual plants from North America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
A treasured site for horticulturists and art appreciators, the attraction includes an excellent collection of outdoor sculptures, including work by such well-known artists as George Rickey, Madeleine Butcher, George Sugarman and Linda Cunningham. Kids love the garden railway, which trundles through a miniature landscape, and the hidden tunnel underneath the Mercury loggia. On certain summer evenings, adults can bring a blanket and a picnic, pick a lush spot on the lawn and enjoy a soothing evening of live jazz.
Take a stroll through the classical English landscape structures and sculpture gardens at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. — Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Morris Arboretum & Garden’s soaring Tree Adventure gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the forest on a 450-foot-long canopy walk more than 50 feet above ground level.
Cross a swaying suspension bridge, climb on the rope net high up in the trees and take a break in the larger-than-life bird’s nest as you experience the beauty of the treetops.
Don’t miss the Mother’s Day weekend plant sale featuring rare plants, scarecrow making and apple carving in the fall; and the Garden Railway’s model trains that make their way through a miniature landscape made from natural plant materials, from April to October and during the Christmas season.
The Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. — Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.