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Urban Oasis: Philly’s Best Neighborhoods for Escaping City Life

Photo credit: The Sivel Group

Photo credit: The Sivel Group

So, you want to retreat from Center City but don’t want to sacrifice having everything an Uber-drive away? Few areas outside the city are able to strike the balance of urban convenience and feeling a little too far from the action. Except for these two neighborhoods…

Long known for attracting families, the finest homes and swankiest boutiques, Chestnut Hill and the Main Line aren’t just for escaping anymore. These commuter-friendly areas have thriving main streets in their own right—complete with bars, city-worthy restaurants, lush parks, easy SEPTA access—and now, homes for every price point.

The Sivel Group, a Fine Homes Specialist for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors, set up their offices in Chestnut Hill back in 2005, and are now expanding to cover the Main Line. As one of the top real estate groups in the area, The Sivel Group is connecting house hunters with their dream homes in these highly sought-after ‘hoods.



Whether you’re strolling cobblestone sidewalks along Germantown Avenue, or waiting 20-people deep in line for Handel’s Ice Cream in Berwyn (yes, it’s worth it), these charming towns balance the seemingly impossible act of remaining quiet while being anything but sleepy.

With dozens of parks, like the 120-mile Horseshoe Trail in Valley Forge or the 50 miles of Wissahickon Valley Park to explore in Chestnut Hill, fitness enthusiasts aren’t chained to a gym membership for getting in a workout with a view. Although with the arrival of Life Time Athletic in King of Prussia, Orangetheory at OneWest in Chestnut Hill, Pure Barre in Wayne, Solid Core in Bryn Mawr and Soul Cycle in Ardmore, gyms don’t seem so scary after all.

And that’s a good thing, since Main Line foodies can now feast on some of Philly favorites restaurants like Rittenhouse’s DanDan, Center City’s Estia, University City staple White Dog Café and their own La Colombe Café closer to home. Meanwhile, Chestnut Hill continues to steadily serve up historically delicious plates at CinCin, Mica and Paris Bistro.

For more scenes and must-see spots, see which local finds the team at The Sivel Group is exploring on Instagram and Facebook.

Ready to lay roots in one of these favorite Philly boroughs? Visit The Sivel Group listing page to find your forever home, or connect with an agent here.