I’ve always been a little disappointed that Fall Break is only two days long—not counting the weekend—because it’s not enough time to really go anywhere. (Even though I probably shouldn’t be complaining, since home for me is close enough to go back every day. I feel your pain, Californians.)
But, as a slight solace, I wanted to point out some local places that you can go that will help you relax somewhat, especially as we cling to the last vestiges of this gorgeous fall weather that will dissolve into dark days and windchill all-too-soon.
Grab a picnic, your iPod or a wonderful book, a friend (or boyfriend/girlfriend), and get ready take full advantage of your Fall Break here in Philly.
Chanticleer Garden
I honestly can’t say enough how stunning this garden is. I recently visited for the first time, and I absolutely fell in love. The site is the work of seven master horticulturalists who have planned the landscape down to its last planter. And may I say, they have planned it to perfection. A path that’s just under a mile-long takes you around the main areas of this 35-acre wonderland, but the staff is super friendly and welcomes you to amble through the grassy fields as well. Bonus points if anyone finds the tiny creek at the back of the park, hidden in the forest, and the fairy-tale watermill. Open picnics on Friday nights!
Morris Arboretum
This arboretum is actually owned by Penn, so that’s an extra incentive to visit. Just outside of the city in Chestnut Hill, this is a garden of gardens—it boasts twenty-one different areas to explore, including an English Park, a Rose Garden, and an artificial Swan Pond, which has a classical temple perched nearby so that it reflects in the water. What’s especially interesting is that each segment of the Arboretum was designed in a different era, by a different craftsman or -woman. Morris is a bit more interactive than Chanticleer, and it even has opportunity for you adrenaline junkies out there to get your fix: the Tree Adventure Exhibit, for kids and adults, allows you to walk along a canopy-bridge 50 feet in the air and get a bird’s-eye view of the gardens down below.
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
If you really want to escape this Fall Break, pay a visit to Shofuso. It’s part of Fairmont Park, but the architects truly have created an oasis behind Memorial Hall in the city. Ranking among the top gardens in the nation, Shofuso has a garden that you can wander around, a Japanese-style house, and a koi pond where you can actually feed the koi! But they don’t stop the illusion there! The House holds regular programs, like traditional Japanese tea ceremonies where you get to see clothing, practice tea-making, and sample delicious treats from a totally different culture. So if you’re really craving a change, you can take a trip to Japan for an afternoon. Tea ceremonies require advance registration, though, so if you want to go, book a spot for yourself on the website!
Philadelphia’s Magic Garden
If you haven’t been to the Magic Gardens yet, you’re definitely lagging in your Penn experience. But not to worry, because it’s just a bus- or SEPTA-ride away on Market street, practically on the way to South Street. I can guarantee you’ll never see anything like this. It’s an entire building sculpted from found mosaic tiles. For those of you who don’t particularly care for mosaic, I think this magnificent work by Isaiah Zagar will change your mind.
Each square inch of the structure is covered in an interesting piece of glass, marble or porcelain. Everywhere you look, the light bounces off of the glass differently, creating interesting shapes and views. Even if you’re not that into photography, you’re going to wish you had a camera when you see inside here, because it lends itself easily to stunning photographs (so you can put up a really artistic cover photo on Facebook to impress that cutie in Studio, which you only took to fulfill an elective credit…you could even invite him to go there with you sometime!).
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Pop-up Garden
Attend a party under the stars on Friday, October 11th to celebrate a fantastic season for this UArts-sponsored temporary garden-slash-mobile restaurant and bar. Best enjoyed in the evening, this park features hand-crafted wooden chairs and local drinks on tap while you enjoy a picnic-style bite! It’s the perfect place to be both cool and whimsical, and the location couldn’t be better—you can easily pop down Broad Street or up to Rittenhouse Square for some real city-fun right after. It’s been a venue for special performances, art exhibitions, and just general hanging-outery. But you’d better visit soon, because they’re closing over the break!
Image credits:
http://sicklesmarket.com/sickles-events/spring-garden-inspiration-tours-april-25-chanticleer-garden-2013
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d307317-Reviews-Morris_Arboretum-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html
http://flickriver.com/photos/moocat/2414439169/
http://cheapphilly.wordpress.com/http://phsonline.org/greening/pop-up-gardens
http://www.thechristianacademy.org/fall-break-no-school/