Skippack and Collegeville: A Main Line Parent Neighborhood Tour
Discover Skippack and Collegeville — charming Montgomery County towns with top schools, scenic trails, boutique shopping, and plenty of family fun just 30 minutes from Philly
About 25-30 miles northwest of Philadelphia are two small, but mighty Montco towns packed with scenic nature, good dining, and family fun. The charming town of Skippack is known for its boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants and community festivals. Nearby Collegeville is the home of Ursinus College, Providence Town Center, and Evansburg State Park.
Both towns sit within highly-rated school districts, making them appealing to families with children looking to relocate. The wineries, breweries, and restaurants alone will entertain those looking for a day trip close to the Main Line.
Living in Skippack and Collegeville
If you are moving to the area, the median home value in Skippack Township is $481,492. While Skippack itself is very small, Schwenksville is located right next door with a median home value of $528,494. The Collegeville area comes in a bit higher at $563,859.
Two school districts serve this area. Spring-Ford Area School District is rated 2nd in the county and 10th in the state. Perkiomen Valley School District comes in at 6th and 29th, respectively. You can’t go wrong with schools in either location.
The convenience of many parks and trails, including the 20-mile Perkiomen Trail, makes for easy walking, hiking and biking. Plus, both towns are just a short drive from the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, King of Prussia, and the vibrant town of Phoenixville.
Get Outdoors
The parks and playgrounds, and opportunities to explore the outdoors are many. Parallel to the Perkiomen Trail mentioned, is the Perkiomen Creek Water Trail. This water trail flows 18 miles from Green Lane to the Schuylkill and welcomes kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.
In the warm months, Center Point Pond, located just off Skippack Pike, offers a catch and release fishing pond for all ages from March to October. Come winter, ski the slopes and ice skate at Spring Mountain Adventures. Visit in October for spooky thrills, when it transforms into the haunted Scream Mountain.
The area abounds with recreational spots to bring the kids. Have a picnic and play at Palmer Park, David Myer’s Jr. Playground, or the brand new Sisca Community Park & Garden. Check out the frog pond and butterfly garden at Rambo Park. Play baseball or soccer at Limerick Community Park or Water Works Park, both of which also offer a pedestrian trail, playground, and pavilions. The Spring Valley YMCA and Skippack pool are both options for swimming outdoors in the summer. Both require a membership.
A favorite garden and plant emporium, Otts Exotic Plants rates as another must visit in the area. Come in the fall when you can walk and take pictures along the beautifully created mum hill.
Art & Play
Playcrafters of Skippack is a 501(c)(3) community theatre that’s been offering entertainment for 75 years. Black Sheep Pottery offers clay art classes and pottery painting. Just outside Skippack Village is Engage Art Studio, offering drawing and painting classes and a variety of workshops.
If you’re hosting a birthday party, or bored on a rainy day, visit an indoor play space such as the Playgarten, The Barn Yard, or Kids Empire of Collegeville.
For family fun, get ice cream and play a round of mini golf at Waltz Golf Farm or bowl at Bowlero Limerick. Combine dinner and a movie at the Collegeville Movie Tavern. With so many options close together, it’s easy to make a full day of family activities in the area.
Shopping & Dining
Both towns offer diverse shopping and dining experiences for every taste and budget, from Skippack’s charming village boutiques to Collegeville’s convenient town center.
Skippack
You can spend an entire day shopping at the many boutiques, small businesses, restaurants and cafés all along Skippack Pike in the village.
For women’s clothing, handbags and shoes, visit OVICH Boutique, Wooden Ducke Shoppe Hazel Mac, and Recurve Boutique. Visit Pages and Parchment for new and used books, and for prom and wedding apparel, visit PAGE SIX.
Find unique gifts at shoppes such as the Copper Partridge, Artisans Nest and Floral and Hardy.
Grab breakfast at Well Fed or Blossom Café before shopping. Plan for lunch at one of Skippack’s many restaurants including Time Out, Parc Bistro, and Basta Pasta. Finish up with a drink at Brothers Kershner Brewing Co.
Collegeville
Head about 10-15 minutes north to Collegeville for breakfast at the Collegeville Diner, or a day at the family-owned Evansburg Vineyards & Bistro. Just a few minutes away, you’ll find more local Collegeville highlights: Troubles End Brewing, Main Street Nutrition, and Piccolo Boutique.
The Providence Town Center in Collegeville features walkable shopping and dining. Families stop in for popular chain restaurants such as P.F. Chang’s, Red Robin, and Turning Point. Extensive shopping options include big-box retailers from DSW and Dick’s Sporting Goods to Best Buy and Rally House.
We’d be remiss to talk about Collegeville without mentioning the highly-rated, family-owned, Collegeville Italian Bakery. A must visit for their fresh bread, Italian desserts, chicken cutlet sandwiches and tomato pie. They offer in-house seating as well as delivery and catering.
Special Events
Skippack has a number of events each year that showcase local artisans and crafters, food vendors and live entertainment. Visit for Skippack Days Arts & Crafts Festival, the 4th of July Celebration, or the biannual Wine Festival (Winetober) fest. Shop the streets during one of Skippack’s Illuminaire Nights or visit for the annual holiday village tree lighting.
Collegeville hosts a Memorial Day Parade & Community Day and as well as a Hero Run through the borough. Northern Star Farm’s fall festival has pony rides, pumpkin picking, hayrides and apple slinging. Visit in the winter to get a picture with Santa and Dominick the Donkey, or in August to pick sunflowers.
History & Other Community Resources
The area offers valuable community resources beyond shopping and recreation, from historic sites to specialized services.
For history buffs, check out the Perkiomen Bridge and Kuster Mill, a historic mill along Skippack Creek built in 1702. The Center for Loss and Bereavement in Skippack offers professional counseling and grief support groups for both children and adults. If you’re looking for family photos, Silver Orchid Photography offers family, wedding, and brand photography. Their holiday mini-shoots fill up quickly.
Getting There
From Philly, take I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) west toward Valley Forge, then connect to PA-422 west towards Collegeville. From the Main Line, use US-202 north to PA-23 west, then follow local roads north to reach Skippack. Each drive takes approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Why Families Love Skippack & Collegeville
Families love the Skippack and Collegeville area for its small town charm coupled with endless activity. This pocket of Montgomery County is just a short drive from Philly and the Main Line. From trails, parks and playgrounds to festivals, fine dining and community events, there’s no shortage of family fun.
Lead photo courtesy of R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia.
