Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Abington, PA

  • Published 2023/01/11

Abington is a community that is part of the larger Abington Township, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

It is located less than an hour from Philadelphia and offers a welcome change of scenery and pace for those who want a quick weekend getaway from the city.

Do you want to know more about the area?

Here are the best things to do in Abington, Pennsylvania:

Enjoy the Outdoors at Roychester Park

Roychester Park is a 12.7-acre park with everything you need for a fun day out with the family.

The park has multiple baseball fields, a basketball court, tennis courts, a children’s playground, picnic areas, and little league fields.

With all these amenities, Roychester Park is your one-stop destination for outdoor sports and activities.

Play a couple of games with locals, watch little league games, or have a picnic lunch at the designated areas.

On the other hand, you can lay down a mat, read a book, or enjoy the sun’s warm rays if physical activities aren’t your cup of tea.

If you’re spending the Christmas holidays here, a portion of the park becomes an outdoor ice skating rink.

Taste Delicious Japanese Food at Emoji Sushi & Teriyaki

Enjoy healthy and delicious Japanese fare at Emoji Sushi & Teriyaki.

The restaurant is located along the busy Old York Road with an eye-catching exterior, so it’s impossible to miss the place.

If you’re looking for a relaxed yet enjoyable restaurant with fresh and wonderfully presented food, Emoji Sushi & Teriyaki is a must-try in Abington.

For starters, try their House Sashimi Salad, a medley of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and crab meat with avocado, seaweed salad, and masago topped with their special house sauce.

Don’t miss their fresh sushi, sashimi, and colorful special and signature rolls, or have their chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, hibachi salmon, and yaki udon.

Satisfy your sweet tooth and try their vanilla, strawberry, or green tea mochi ice cream for dessert.

Immerse Yourself in Nature at Briar Bush Nature Center

Trade the views of tall trees and billboards in the city for the towering trees and the tranquil environment of Briar Bush Nature Center.

Located at the heart of Abington, the nature preserve is an excellent place for children to get acquainted with the outdoors while being in a safe environment.

The park offers hillside trails, a large pond, a nature area, a bird observatory, and a nature playscape.

In addition, public programs held at Briar Bush Nature Center are ideal for kids, families, adults, and groups.

They include summer camps, guided walks, seasonal open-house festivals, and scout programs.

The miles of nature trails take you around the nature center’s 12.5 acres, lined with trees and mulch, for an easy walking experience for everyone.

Get a Taste of Italy at Riviera D’Italia

Once the site of a bank, Riviera D’Italia has served Abington residents delicious and authentic Italian food since 1979.

The restaurant has an extensive menu of Italian favorites prepared from scratch, giving customers an authentic and delightful lunch or dinner meal.

Riviera D’Italia also serves American dishes with an Italian twist, like Philly steak pizza, cheese steak, hoagie, and sandwiches.

At the restaurant, order appetizers like a mozzarella Caprese, bruschetta, or fried calamari or have a light salad before savoring a slice of pizza.

Gluten-free or whole-wheat spaghetti is available for those with special dietary requirements.

There’s also a children’s menu consisting of spaghetti, penne pasta, butter ravioli, mac & cheese, and hotdog.

Read a Book at Abington Free Library

Take a break from hiking and other outdoor activities and visit Abington Free Library, located along the main highway.

The public library offers extensive resources and books for adults, teens, and children.

It is part of the Abington Township Public Libraries, with one branch in Abington and another in Roslyn.

Bring your favorite book or browse the Abington Free Library shelves to discover your next favorite book.

The library also offers various events and weekly adult literacy programs to help participants improve their literacy skills.

Spend the Afternoon at Roslyn Park

Are you looking for a place where you can enjoy various leisure activities?

If so, head to Roslyn Park at Fernwood Avenue.

This park in Abington has 17.6 acres and is a haven for outdoor sports lovers, with lighted baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, a soccer field, a playground, and more.

If you prefer other activities, there’s a walking trail, bike path, and skate park where you can brush up or show off your skating skills.

Visit Roslyn Park and meet with locals over a friendly game of basketball, soccer, or softball or as you skate.

Otherwise, you can take a leisurely walk along the trail or go around by bike.

Have Breakfast at Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant

Start your day with a delicious and fulfilling breakfast at Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant.

Housed in a bright and cozy space along Old York Road, the restaurant serves sizable American classics from sunrise to sundown.

This is the perfect place to kickstart your day before heading out on a fun day or craving a homemade breakfast.

At Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant, savor a plate of breakfast classics like avocado toast, hot oatmeal, traditional breakfast platter, or French toast with a generous serving of berries and sweet cream cheese.

If you’re in the mood for something else, try their homemade chipped beef, tater tot casserole, Greek salad, or burger.

Bring Your Dogs to Grove Park Dog Run

If you’re traveling with your dogs, spend a day or afternoon at Grove Park Dog Run, one of the few dog parks in the area.

The park is located along Easton Road and near places of interest, like Willow Grove Park Mall, Creston Park, and Briar Bush Nature Center.

The park has enclosed areas where small and large dogs are kept separate, reassuring pet owners that their pets are playing with similar-sized dogs.

Despite being a smaller park, Grove Park Dog Run has amenities like water fountains, obstacle courses, exercise areas, and benches where you can sit and relax.

Even if you don’t have your furry friend with you, you can stop by the park during the day, watch dogs run and play off-leash, and meet fellow animal lovers.

Catch the Big Game at Vintage Bar and Grill

After a busy day spent outside, relax with a glass of ice-cold beer and watch the big game at Vintage Bar And Grill.

The family-owned and operated restaurant and bar is at the heart of Abington along Old York Road, making it one of the centers of the area’s nightlife.

Along with classic American dishes like crab cakes, burgers, and open-faced sandwiches, Vintage Bar And Grill, also has a wide array of cocktails and wines.

Watch your favorite sporting games at any of the nine flatscreen TVs in the bar areas and cheer for your team.

If you prefer to dine somewhere quieter, there’s an indoor dining area or outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your meal peacefully.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Visit Merrymead Farm

Exterior of Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Merrymead Farm is one of the best year-round destinations in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, located 28 minutes from Abington.

The family-owned and operated dairy farm and market specialize in producing and processing milk on-site.

It has also operated under the same family for more than a century.

Visit the Merrymead Farm in spring and see colorful flowers like tulips, daffodils, primrose, and hyacinths.

Pumpkin scarecrow at Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

In summer, beat the heat with a cup of ice cream and purchase fruits and vegetables in season, such as tomatoes, blueberries, peaches, sweet corn, and more.

During autumn, don’t miss the farm’s apple cider donuts and join their annual Harvest Days festivities.

When winter arrives, get freshly-cut trees from the farm and stop by the market for an old-fashioned eggnog.

Pumpkin painted like a clown at Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Hang Out at Baederwood Park

Baederwood Park is a 16.1-acre community park located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, and features all the amenities you need for a fun day out.

It has BBQ grills, a picnic area, walking trails, a playground, and even an outdoor ice skating rink during winter.

Located in a residential area, the park is relatively quiet than other parks, letting you bask in the serenity of nature and unwind.

Pick an afternoon and head to Baederwood Park for a lovely picnic surrounded by lush greenery.

While the kids stay at the playground, take a short walk around the park or read a book.

This park is four minutes from Abington.

Explore the Highlands Mansion and Gardens

Exterior of Highlands Mansion and Gardens

Smallbones, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

From Abington, take a 17-minute drive to Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and tour the gorgeous Highlands Mansion and Gardens.

It is set in a 44-acres historic estate with a late 18th-century Georgian mansion and a two-acre formal garden, overall creating a setting befitting a period movie.

Aside from the main mansion, the property features a bank barn, springhouse, greenhouse, smokehouse, and a Gothic Revival-style gardener’s cottage.

Picturesque and charming, learn about the history of the Highlands Mansion and Gardens and the lives of the families that resided here.

Guided tours are an hour long and take you through the estate’s highlights.

Don’t forget to take photos of the well-manicured gardens!

See the Flowering Dogwoods at Fort Washington State Park

If you’re visiting in spring, take a quick day trip to Fort Washington State Park, located 15 minutes from Abington.

The park got its name from the temporary fort established by George Washington’s troops in 1777.

The 493-acre state park offers recreational activities like disc golf, fishing, hiking, dog walking, wildlife watching, and picnicking.

There are 3.5 miles of trails with varying levels of difficulty that suit beginners and trail users with advanced skills.

However, one of the park’s main highlights is the flowering dogwood trees, which create the perfect backdrop for your pictures or the subject for your painting.

Visitors at Fort Washington State Park can go sledding and cross-country skiing during winter.

Admire the Gardens at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Conservatory at Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Jeffrey M. Frank / Shutterstock.com

Explore 92 acres of well-manicured gardens, trees, and other botanical wonders at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.

Located 20 minutes from Abington, the arboretum was the former estate of John and Lydia Morris, siblings who took an interest in growing and collecting plants worldwide.

Today, the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania boasts over 11,000 plants from North America, Asia, and Europe.

Interior of the conservatory at Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com

No matter which season you visit the arboretum, you’ll never run out of plants and trees to marvel at and take pictures of.

It showcases the best of nature’s offerings, from conifers in winter and dogwoods in spring to hydrangeas in summer and maple trees in autumn.

This arboretum is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 minutes from Abington.

A pond at Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com

View the Artworks at Abington Art Center

Exterior of Abington Art Center

Montgomery County Planning Commission, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to Abington Art Center, an art establishment situated on a 27-acre estate.

The art center has a studio, an innovation center, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and a sculpture park.

In addition, they hold classes for adults and children, summer camps, and workshops where participants can tap into their inner artists and get creative.

Visit the art center and get a deeper appreciation of art as you tour the four galleries.

Abington Art Center is located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, a seven-minute drive from Abington.

Final Thoughts

Consider Abington if you’re looking for an ideal weekend getaway from Philadelphia and other big cities.

Located within the bigger Abington Township, this community is home to charming green spaces and local restaurants that satisfy foodies.

Best of all, its slow-paced lifestyle is perfect for unwinding and taking a break before returning to the big city.

Check out this list of the best things to do in Abington, Pennsylvania, and plan your itinerary today.

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