A Riverside Pennsylvania Borough Mixes Indie Charm With Industrial Roots Just Outside Philadelphia

As the legend goes, the riverside borough of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was named for its industrial roots when nail works mill owner Lewis Wernwag named the Phoenix Iron Company after the fiery, red-hot iron that reminded him of the mythical phoenix bird. Since the borough's founding in 1732, its manufacturing history remains evident in its architecture, culture, retailers, and dining experiences.

Whether you stroll along Bridge and Main streets to soak up the indie charm of the local boutiques, take in a sci-fi film at the historic theater, or experience farm-to-table dining or a casual pub, Phoenixville has it all. The borough is centrally located near the great city of Philadelphia and all it has to offer, less than an hour by car from the airport. Don't miss out on the fabulous festivals if you're planning a visit to Phoenixville: The Firebird Festival, Dogwood Festival, and Blobfest are crowd-pleasers worth the trip.

There's a rich mix of shops to check out, like Generations Toy Store for nostalgic toys, and Reads & Company independent bookstore hosts book signings and the latest literary offerings for the community. If you're looking for a sweet treat, look no further than Bridge Street Chocolates and find out about the specials of the month. While you're strolling Bridge Street, stop by Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery where you can find craft beverages from coffee to kombucha to beer, and hang out to enjoy live music and a children's area.

If you're spending some time in town, the only tough part will be deciding where to eat when there are so many great options. Several pubs and bistros line Bridge Street, like Molly Maguire's, which offers Irish cuisine favorites, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, a great craft beer selection, and happy hour specials. Or check out Aman's Indian Bistro, open since 1999, where there's a fantastic lunch buffet. For dessert, stop by Gemelli, voted "Best Gelato in North America" at the James Beard House in NYC, for artisanal gelato and Italian desserts using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients.

The crown jewel of Phoenixville is the nonprofit Colonial Theatre, which hosts many concerts, films, and other live performances. The 1902 Beaux Arts building famously starred as the backdrop in the iconic 1958 film "The Blob." It's now home to an annual three-day Blobfest festival, highlighted by a "run-out" recreation of theater patrons running outside in mock terror during the signature film. If you have a passion for old theaters, you've come to the right part of Pennsylvania; Phoenixville is just about a half hour from Pennsylvania's "number one must-visit small town" where you can find several more.

This riverside Pennsylvania borough is surrounded by outdoor adventure. The Schuylkill River and French Creek converge in Phoenixville, and nearby French Creek State Park, at nearly 8,000 acres, comprises the largest contiguous forest between Washington, D.C., and New York. The park offers a campground, hiking, biking, and birding; it's a designated Important Bird and Mammal area where you can see many of the state's iconic species. For birding enthusiasts, there's also Black Rock Sanctuary, a 119-acre riverfront park and bird migration flyway on the edge of town. And it's also only a half hour to the Elmwood Park Zoo, established in 1924 and now home to over 100 species of animals from all over the globe, many under threat of extinction. 

If you're more the indoor type, you can take a quick 10-mile hop over to the King of Prussia Mall, the third-largest mall in the United States, to shop till you drop. When driving to or from Phoenixville, consider a side quest to the "Mushroom Capital of the World." It's less than an hour away and makes for a fabulous, quaint little town to check out.