Five Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

It used to be that when you had your first kid, you packed up your new family and headed for the suburbs in your recently leased minivan. But if the current stroller traffic on city sidewalks is any indication, more parents are opting to raise their kids in an urban environment. And why not. Center City is a cultural hub with easy access to great museums, playground, parks and more—not to mention the abundance of great shops, restaurants, bars and galleries that attracted young couples to the city in their pre-kid days.

Family-friendly neighborhoods in Philadelphia to consider include:

1. Fairmount: What parent doesn’t fear being cooped up in their homes on a day with too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too snowy weather—parents in Fairmount, that’s who. With a number of museums in their backyard—including  The Franklin—kids in this neighborhood will never get bored. And on those perfect sunny days, families have easy access to the Schuylkill River Trail and Kelly Drive—the best of both worlds.

2. Queen Village: Sure, the neighborhood has nice homes, Meredith Elementary School and Weccacoe Playground, but it also boasts easy access to Target, Ikea, Old Navy and other great shopping along Columbus Blvd. vital to surviving those early childhood years.

3. Fitler Square: More laid-back than its neighbor Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square is home to Greenfield Elementary School, the Lombard Swim Club and the Schuylkill River Park—perfect for keeping your kids educated and active.

4. Mount Airy: Outside Center City, Mount Airy has beautiful, big old homes and family-friendly streets. It almost feels like a suburb-city hybrid. Mt. Airy is also a great place to get outdoors, with 1,600 acres for hiking, biking fishing and more in the Wissahickon Valley, part of Fairmount Park.

5. Chestnut Hill: There’s plenty of stroller action along Germantown Avenue, the main artery of Chestnut Hill, thanks to family friendly shops and businesses. Particularly popular with parents is The Little Treehouse Play Café, with a little play area where kids can be kids and parents can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or whole meal. Nearby, you can tire tykes out at the lovely Morris Arboretum, which offers a cool treehouse that brings kids up into the trees and a seasonal model train display.