When William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1682, the Main Line area was settled not long after, and it’s to those colonists and our forefathers we thank for so much unspoiled countryside and idyllic architecture. As the sweet scents of summer fill our nostrils, we’re lucky to experience one of the most beautifully scenic and historic areas across the entire East Coast.Â
So, the next time you’re up for a photography adventure (or just looking for something to spruce up your feed), head to one of these hotspots for Instagrammable views around the Main Line.
Ridley Creek State Park
1023 Sycamore Mills Rd., Media
This 2,606-acre state park is one of Pennsylvania’s best hidden gems. Featuring a colonial Pennsylvania plantation, dozens of miles of hiking trails and scenic vistas over rivers, hills and forests, Ridley Creek State Park is one of the best spots in the Main Line area to get some fresh air.
Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden
1829 County Line Rd., Villanova
This curated garden, basking in the shadows of the Haas family mansion, contains a beautiful display of some of the most gorgeous natural flora the northeast U.S. has to offer. Bubbling fountains, ivy-covered walkways and shady trees all make this quaint garden one of the most relaxing corners of the Main Line region.
Rolling Hill Park
1301 Rose Glen Rd., Gladwyne
These gentle hills provide for 103 acres of great hiking with the gently gurgling Mill Creek, a Schuylkill tributary, tightly nestled in its valleys. Rolling Hill Park also contains an off-leash area for well-trained dogs that’s available to anyone who pays a small fee.
Rock Hill Road
Rock Hill Rd., Bala Cynwyd
One of the steepest roads anywhere in Pennsylvania, this hidden gem off I-76 in Bala Cynwyd provides scenic views of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties’ natural landscape. Be careful if you’re ever driving or biking down this small street, as it can be hazardous for first-timers.
Glen Mills Train Station
130 Glen Mills Rd., Glen Mills
Owned by the Thornberry Historical Society, Glen Mills Train Station was a stop on the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad beginning as far back as 1858. The current station house traces its history back 145 years.
Valley Forge National Historic Park
1400 N Outer Line Dr., King of Prussia
Valley Forge is known nationwide as the place where General George Washington and his continental army wintered in 1777-78. It now serves as a national park, where over 1.2 million tourists visit annually for its stunning views and history galore.
West Laurel Hill Cemetery
225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd
This 200-acre cemetery established just after the Civil War in 1869 is an accredited arboretum with stunning vistas out across the Schuylkill into Philadelphia County, With over 150 years of history, West Laurel Hill Cemetery has had time to accrue some truly magnificent monuments. It serves as the resting place for hundreds of notable figures, including Billy Paul, Ed Snider and Ben Shibe, to name only a few.
Grace Winery
50 Sweetwater Rd., Glen Mills
A scenic 18th-century manor house serves as a backdrop for this Brandywine Valley winery, which features rolling fields and over 50 acres of vineyards.
The Paper Mill House
3 Paper Mill Rd., Newtown Square
Nearly two centuries old, this three-story stone building overlooks a highly Instagrammable view of a bubbling creek and stone bridge. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, its beauty grows year by year as the green forest canopies the shady stream below.
Related: The Effort to Preserve Crebilly Farm Is Underway
