hiking/recreation
Friends of the Wissahickon
40 W Evergreen AveA perfect place for a trail run, a hike, or a beautiful scenic walk.
beautiful and close to the James Matthews house! Take a walk and get to know germantown.
Awbury Arboretum Landscapes
1 Awbury Rdbeautiful and close to the James Matthews house! Take a walk and get to know germantown.
recreation
Historic house and garden for picnics and recreation. Take a tour and then admire the gardens!
6 locals recommend
Wyck Historic House, Farm, and Garden
6026 Germantown AveHistoric house and garden for picnics and recreation. Take a tour and then admire the gardens!
Vernon Park is a great local park for walking, a place for kids to play, and gatherings. The city also puts on concerts and events free to the public! Fun fact - the historic house inside Vernon Park was built by James Matthews (who was known as a whip maker, not a builder).
5800 Germantown Ave
5800 Germantown AvenueVernon Park is a great local park for walking, a place for kids to play, and gatherings. The city also puts on concerts and events free to the public! Fun fact - the historic house inside Vernon Park was built by James Matthews (who was known as a whip maker, not a builder).
Historic RittenhouseTown
208 Lincoln DrHistoric village perfect for groups and families.
Open park for parties, walking, and a place for kids to play. This park is a neighborhood favorite with events happening all year round.
4600 Morris St
4600 Morris StreetOpen park for parties, walking, and a place for kids to play. This park is a neighborhood favorite with events happening all year round.
educational
A great addition to anyone's tour of historic germantown
7 locals recommend
Johnson House Historic Site
6306 Germantown AveA great addition to anyone's tour of historic germantown
Run by the national park service, it's not open but worth a walk-by especially given its proximity to Lest We Forget Slavery Museum and the wonderful Uncle Bobbie's coffee shop and bookstore.
Germantown White House (Deshler-Morris House)
5442 Germantown AveRun by the national park service, it's not open but worth a walk-by especially given its proximity to Lest We Forget Slavery Museum and the wonderful Uncle Bobbie's coffee shop and bookstore.
Lest We Forget Museum Of Slavery
5501 Germantown AvenueA great addition to your historic tour of germantown
6430 Germantown Ave
6430 Germantown AvenueA great addition to your tour of historic germantown
5801 Germantown Ave
5801 Germantown AvenueA great addition to your tour of historic germantown
Coffee shops
Coffee shop with some nice breakfast and lunch options. Easy walking distance from James Matthews House.
Germantown Espresso Bar
6369 Maplewood MallCoffee shop with some nice breakfast and lunch options. Easy walking distance from James Matthews House.
Uncle Bobbie's is a community staple - peruse their thoughtfully curated book collection while sipping a coffee or tea. 2 blocks from James Matthews House
18 locals recommend
Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books
5445 Germantown AveUncle Bobbie's is a community staple - peruse their thoughtfully curated book collection while sipping a coffee or tea. 2 blocks from James Matthews House
Excellent coffee and baked goods. Started as one coffee shop in south Philly, Ultimo is now a coffee roaster with four coffee shops. We're lucky enough to have one just a few blocks away!
171 locals recommend
Ultimo Coffee
1900 S 15th StExcellent coffee and baked goods. Started as one coffee shop in south Philly, Ultimo is now a coffee roaster with four coffee shops. We're lucky enough to have one just a few blocks away!
A northeast standby - super close and has a drive-thru. Very popular so expect wait times here (or go to one of the locally owned coffee shops instead - we promise the coffee is much better!)
8 locals recommend
Dunkin'
5753 PlazaA northeast standby - super close and has a drive-thru. Very popular so expect wait times here (or go to one of the locally owned coffee shops instead - we promise the coffee is much better!)
Food scene
This great Ethiopian cafe is a very quick walk from the James Matthews House. Wonderful owners, great food, and a convenience store tucked in the back for you to grab any extras you need.
Salam Cafe
5532 Greene StreetThis great Ethiopian cafe is a very quick walk from the James Matthews House. Wonderful owners, great food, and a convenience store tucked in the back for you to grab any extras you need.
Quick and easy and right around the corner from James Matthews House. You can get pizza, pasta, or steaks here for pretty cheap!
Giovanni's Pizzeria
5604 Greene StQuick and easy and right around the corner from James Matthews House. You can get pizza, pasta, or steaks here for pretty cheap!
Al Sham Restaurant 4
306 West Chelten AvenueMiddle eastern halal food that is fast, inexpensive, and delicious.
Yummy bread bakery that also offers outstanding pizza on the weekends. Very close to Attic Brewing, so a great weekend pairing to grab a Merzbacher's pizza and enjoy in the Attic beer garden with some tasty cold brews.
Merzbacher's of Germantown
4530 Germantown AveYummy bread bakery that also offers outstanding pizza on the weekends. Very close to Attic Brewing, so a great weekend pairing to grab a Merzbacher's pizza and enjoy in the Attic beer garden with some tasty cold brews.
The closest grocery store to James Matthews House. Not the most well stocked grocery but they do have a decent beer & wine selection (at the front of the store, shop separate from the food)
Chelten Market IGA
176 W Chelten AveThe closest grocery store to James Matthews House. Not the most well stocked grocery but they do have a decent beer & wine selection (at the front of the store, shop separate from the food)
Breweries and bars
Local Germantown brewery with great beer, a large outdoor beer garden, and a delightful neighborhood vibe. A rotation of food trucks but next door to Deke's BBQ too. A mile from James Matthews House
Attic Brewing Company
137 Berkley StreetLocal Germantown brewery with great beer, a large outdoor beer garden, and a delightful neighborhood vibe. A rotation of food trucks but next door to Deke's BBQ too. A mile from James Matthews House
Family friendly brewery that also allows dogs making for the cutest brewery environment in the city. Rotating food trucks and both indoor and outdoor seating. This brewery is near the train tracks where a black bear was spotted (and thankfully relocated) in Philly in June 2019.
20 locals recommend
Wissahickon Brewing Company
3705 W School House LnFamily friendly brewery that also allows dogs making for the cutest brewery environment in the city. Rotating food trucks and both indoor and outdoor seating. This brewery is near the train tracks where a black bear was spotted (and thankfully relocated) in Philly in June 2019.
Another neighborhood gem - this cidery opened in the pandemic! Great patio, but indoor seating is now available too. Dry ciders are their thing and some of the best we've ever had. Get the hand pies and the pretzel - you won't regret it! An easy to walk (not quite) mile from James Matthews House
Young American Hard Cider
6350 Germantown AvenueAnother neighborhood gem - this cidery opened in the pandemic! Great patio, but indoor seating is now available too. Dry ciders are their thing and some of the best we've ever had. Get the hand pies and the pretzel - you won't regret it! An easy to walk (not quite) mile from James Matthews House