Nestled Just Outside Philadelphia Is A Hidden Gem Suburb With Lush Gardens And Small-Town Charm

For a quieter suburban life with fairly easy access to a major city, you might want to explore Flourtown, Pennsylvania. This community is in Springfield Township (about 16 miles away from Philadelphia) in Montgomery County, making it a great spot for your home base. When you're heading into the city, your most direct way is by car (around a 41-minute drive); it's an easily commutable and drivable area. If you're not wanting to drive, you can hop on a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus that stops in the Chestnut Hill area, with your trip taking up to 90 minutes. You can also use the readily available Uber and Lyft apps to pull into one of America's best train stations on the East Coast, which makes commuting so much easier when traveling to different areas.

This Pennsylvania city is a charming haven of walkable trails, a plethora of parks, and lush gardens. One of the main hotspots is Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania, a 92-acre garden and educational hub. When you head to the gardens, you find thousands of labeled trees and shrubs from around the world. One of the biggest draws is the Treetop Canopy Walk, a walkway that puts you 50 feet into the tree canopy. You can also see an elaborate model Garden Railway that travels through a miniature forest-scape, and specialized collections such as a historic rose garden. A fun fact about Flourtown and its planting past is that the community's name goes back to 1743 and comes from the flour mills that once operated on the Wissahickon Creek. When you're in the area nowadays, the experience is one of quiet residential roads and a community-oriented atmosphere that gives it a small-town feeling.

Outdoor activities are a big part of the local scene in Flourtown, with a few parks for you to venture over to. Fort Washington State Park covers 493 acres and borders the community. It has historical roots as the site of a temporary fort for the Continental Army (the army of the original 13 colonies) in the fall of 1777 before the winter at Valley Forge. When you head to Flourtown now, you see it's a spot for day trips where you find picnic tables, trails, a disc golf course, and an observation deck. The township of Springfield also oversees smaller local parks, such as the James A. Cisco Park in Erdenheim, which has a trail and a pond where you can fish. You can also find Valley Green Park, an open spot with some basketball courts, a playground, and a softball field.

If you're looking for some cultural activities and areas to check out, you can find a few choices near the town. Start at the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill (about 2 miles away), which is focused on the art and artists of the Philadelphia area. You can also catch theater performances at The Stagecrafters Theater, a non-profit community theater that has been in the (show) biz for over 90 years. For a bit larger touring shows, the Keswick Theatre in Glenside puts on a full schedule. Your stop-in might line up with one of the local events, such as a seasonal function at the Flourtown Country Club or the annual Scouts BSA 5K Fall Trail Run and Walk, which goes on a course through Fort Washington State Park. This makes it one of Pennsylvania's best family-friendly suburbs. 

When you're ready to turn in for the night (or to take a little nap), you find that hotels in Flourtown itself are not really there. However, you can find places to stay in the nearby towns. You could book a room at the Chestnut Hill Hotel, a historic property with its main building built in 1894 (about 3 miles from Flourtown). It's made up of multiple areas with different room styles (some with kitchenettes or fireplaces). If you want a country inn-type experience, the Joseph Ambler Inn in North Wales is on a beautifully manicured property and has cozy restored historic buildings with one going back to 1734 (around 11 miles away). The inn also has a restaurant on-site.

The local foodie scene has quite a few spots for you to choose from, too. For a tasty cup of coffee, go to Wake Coffee Roasters for espresso and goodies, or check out Flourtown Coffee Company for coffee from some of the area's roasters. As the day goes on, try Scoogi's Italian Kitchen & Bar, a family-run restaurant that serves Italian-American dishes. If you're looking for something a wee bit different, Tamarindos serves up Yucatecan entrees (a blend of Mexican- and European-style flavors). You can also find other local hotspots, such as Halligan's Pub, a neighborhood Irish-American pub and one of the only pubs in town.