Bartram's Garden

Activity Overview

Bartram's Garden is a historic 45-acre garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America. Located alongside the Schuylkill River, this beautiful botanic garden was first created by botanist John Bartram and his family in the early 1700s. Today, the garden offers a wide range of activities for families with children of all ages, including hands-on activities, family recreation opportunities, concerts, outdoor movies, and gardening lessons.

Things to Do

• Rent a boat from their boathouse to explore the beautiful Schuylkill River, which flows alongside the garden. You can learn more about all of their river activities here.
• Take your little one to Little Explorers, a monthly program for toddlers between the ages of 2 and 4 and their parents that includes live performances, craft activities, snacks, and plenty of time to explore the garden.
• Attend one of their free monthly Grow It Yourself! classes, which teach you how to grow your own produce.

Bartram's Garden Insider Tips

• Visit the garden on Saturdays between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to take advantage of their free public boating event, which allows you to enjoy free kayak and rowboat rides!
• Check out their calendar to learn about upcoming events such as concerts, festivals, yoga classes, workshops, and river cruises.
• In the summertime, encourage your child to attend one of their educational summer camps, which focus on learning about the environment, gardening, healthy cooking, and other topics.