MT AIRY
40.0584° N, 75.1894° W
40.0584° N, 75.1894° W
Mt. Airy is a green, lively neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, boasting a warm, diverse community with a proud, rich cultural life and history. The historic neighborhood center clusters around Germantown Avenue, a cobbled thoroughfare with craft businesses, cafes, art galleries, and more, in quaint charming buildings. Located on the slopes of Wissahickon Valley and blending almost seamlessly into the neighboring Germantown, Mt. Airy is home to the 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park, with over 50 miles of woodland trails traversing steep hillsides, meandering streams, and causal pathways. Mt. Airy has numerous historical establishments that preserve local stories and artifacts, educate locals and visitors about the town’s history, and put on regular events celebrating local history and culture of the past and present. Many of these historical sites, like the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion and Cliveden House are in gorgeous Victorian buildings dotted around the neighborhood.
Originally established as an out-of-town getaway from central Philadelphia, Mt. Airy and its stunning natural parks, serve as a delightful slice of peace just outside the city. Now connected to downtown Philly and the wider surrounding area by two rail lines, Mt. Airy is an ideal location for those commuting by car or public transit, and its diverse housing stock offers something for everyone. Regular events like the weekly farmers’ market, and the annual Mount Airy Day bring locals together over fun and food and community engagement.
Mt. Airy is a hip, bright neighborhood with small-town warmth, diversity, and the tranquility of local forestlands. If you don’t need a bustling nightlife on your doorstep, Mt. Airy offers something for everyone, and you can always pop out for an evening of entertainment at the gorgeous Sedgwick theater. The area parks have basketball courts, playgrounds, and more.
Studded with local delights, Germantown Avenue is the heart of the Mt. Airy neighborhood. Find fresh produce and artisan products from over 300 local vendors at Weavers Way Co-op, a community anchor in West Mt. Airy. The coop operates two vegetable farms and an orchard, offers CSAs to members, and presents numerous informative community events. Neighboring Chestnut Hill has a fantastic year-round weekly Farmers’ Market, located on Germantown Avenue.
The sustainably operated Earth Bread Brewery and restaurant brews unique small-batch beers, ales, and serves flatbreads with a fusion twist. Enjoy a cup of joe at High point cafe, grab a brewski at the Mt. Airy Taprom from their wide selection of drafts, or head to Mcmenamin’s Tavern, a neighborhood institution with a moody, old-world ambiance.
Mt. Airy is home to many local businesses crafting artisan products: find hand-poured candles at Mount Airy Candle, organic soaps at Airy Soaps, locally-made baby clothing and supplies at Buddha Babe, and inspired teas at Craft Tea, where each tea creation comes with a suggestion for a vinyl pairing! For lovers of fiber arts, Wild Hand is the hip, go-to establishment for gorgeous yarns, fiber, and thread, and offers a huge range of workshops.
While it’s best to head downtown for a big night out, locals can enjoy a night of culture at Mt. Airy’s stunning art deco theater, The Sedgwick, home to the Quintessence Players, who offer full seasons of classic theater pieces. Before hitting the Sedgwick you might dine at Jansen for an intimate, sophisticated dining experience, or for a special night in, order their Butcher Box to recreate a delicious fine dining experience in the comfort of your own home.
Wissahickon Valley Park is the leafy green jewel of Mt. Airy, with three stables for horse boarding, tranquil fishing spots in the Wissahickon Creek, climbing and bouldering locations, and many trails, like Forbidden Drive reserved for bikes, pedestrians, and equestrians. Designated an Important Birding Area by The National Audubon Society, Carpenter’s Woods is a favorite destination for peaceful bird watching—for pedestrians only.
Discover local history in the permanent collections hosted at the impressive Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, a 17-room Victorian house with sprawling gardens. Enjoy a tour or productions at the live Victorian Theatre, not to mention the annual Old-Fashioned Picnic, where visitors participate in 19th-century lawn games like croquet and ring toss, join a scavenger hunt, and enjoy Victorian-era treats.
Located on the Germantown/Mt Airy boarder, the 100-year-old Awbury Arboretum boasts a secret garden, an innovative ‘natural materials playground’, a co-op farm, a community dinner series, and seasonal Sunday Fun Day events with family-friendly activities, demos, wellness events, and workshops. Every May, head to Mount Airy Day, a street festival drawing a crowd from surrounding neighborhoods, with live music and DJs, food and crafts vendors, rides, and kids’ activities.
Mt. Airy students are served by the Philadelphia Schools District with six Elementary Schools and two High Schools. The neighborhood and surrounding areas are home to a number of private schools.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, obsessively scrolling for a house, planning a relocation to the area, or just feel unsure where to start, we can help. Reach out for a zero-pressure 30-minute phone or video meeting to get started. We are here to listen, support, and educate so you can feel confident with your decisions in our swiftly moving market.
