Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens combine an eclectic art scene with community outreach and hometown pride, three things that I absolutely love about Philly. How should I describe it? An urban garden/art installation project, PMG features statues, folk art and an endless amount of glittering mirrors. It’s an incredibly beautiful and unique spot, the perfect destination for your next profile picture. Small enough to take a 15 minute stroll and detailed enough for a visit lasting hours, PMG has something for all lengths of attention spans. 

My personal favorite touch is a scavenger hunt for kids and the short, informal musings by staff “interpreters” on select sections. The artist, Isaiah Zagar, has installations and murals all over South Philly. This is why I feel such a strong cultural pull – his art began as a neighborhood beautification project, and is now so much more. 

Twilight in the Gardens is an after-hours experience running from April-October, featuring live music, drinks and craft making. Tickets are $ 15/$ 12 for adults/students. I went last fall with a friend and a bottle of champagne, and while crowded, it was a really unique experience and a lot of fun.  

Make sure you check the website or the Facebook page before you go in the event of extreme weather – sometimes the outdoor portion of the gardens is closed if it’s raining. The gardens can feel cold if there’s not a lot of sun, but there’s a lovely indoor gallery with visiting exhibitions.