Nature Trail at Haverford College
EXPERT PICK: "When I lived in Haverford, a loop on the two-mile trail was either the start or finish of every run. When people talk about trails being easier on your legs than roads, this is the type of trail they mean. Not much in the way of hills, but an incredibly peaceful and safe place to run." — Ross Martinson, co-owner of Philadelphia Runner 00000,
Halcyon Floats
Imagine being cut off from your phone, email and social media for 90 uninterrupted minutes of pitch-black solitude. That's the game at South Kensington's new float spa, where guests soak in tanks of super-high-density saltwater, floating their way to the ultimate mental detox. Trust us: You'll love every last Twitter-free second. 209 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123, halcyonfloats.com.
Art Star Craft Bazaar
Each spring, we gladly brave the concrete heat of Penn's Landing to check out the 150 or so artisans selling the coolest presents we've ever laid eyes on. Now in its sixth year, Art Star cops to being a craft show, but feels like a shopping bonanza of handmade stationery, irresistible knickknacks, and a bunch of other stuff that keeps gift closets stocked into winter The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA 19106, artstarcraftbazaar.com.
The Chocolate and Champagne Minx Mani/Pedi at Spa East
As if being rubbed down with a homemade concoction of chocolate and champagne isn't enough (owner Sam Staten swears by each ingredient's exfoliating and stimulating properties), this new Minx thing leaves polish in its dust. Like colorful contact paper for your nails, the shiny covering is painstakingly cut and applied by Staten. You won't need another mani ($50) for at least two weeks, or pedi ($65) for another six. We're officially converted. Liberties Walk, 1040 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, .
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
It's exhilarating and, fine, slightly terrifying — you're literally floating, spinning and diving through a high-pressure wind tunnel while onlookers gawk at you through the clear walls — but thanks to an instructor who gives you one-on-one assistance while you fly, you never quite feel like you're going to die, or even lose your lunch. 290 Goddard Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA 19406, iflyworld.com/king-of-prussia.
Juana Tamale
Once you eat Jennifer Zavala’s crisp-edged, dripping birria tacos, you’ll think of them weekly. These beefy pockets don’t come cheap — an order of three costs $21 — but knowing the staff is being well-paid for its labor, plus the exceptional quality of the food, should be enough to keep you coming back time after time. 1941 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, juana-tamale.square.site.
Reset by Therabody
Hybrid and full-time WFH-ers know all too well about aching backs, stiff necks, tender joints, and being always-on-call. It’s why Reset in Fishtown ups the recovery game from a hand-held massage gun to comprehensive wellness services like cryo, cell-boosting PEMF therapy, compression technology, LED facials, muscle stimulators, sound meditation and more. This just may be the best excuse to sneak away from your desk for an afternoon. 1424 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, therabodyreset.com.
Jim Thorpe
There aren’t many places that are just 90 minutes away and that offer exhilarating white-water rafting excursions, adventurous-sounding (but actually quite easy) mountain-bike journeys down a gorge (the key word being down), scenic rides on a historic train, and a cute Main-Street-America shopping district with bars, restaurants, and eclectic boutiques and indie bookstores. Come to think of it: There’s only one!
Verde
Thoroughly eco. Totally chic. Stylist Kevin Gatto's minimalist, earth-friendly salon betrays zero ounces of granola-ness. Sign up for one of his note-perfect dry cuts or his foil-free balayage highlights, book a swish mani-pedi or no-nonsense wax with aesthetician Lisa Concepcion, and you won't even realize your glamorous self is being green. 4 Powell Lane, Collingswood, NJ 08108, verdesalon.com.
Chantecaille at Neiman Marcus
Not only would we happily sweep every single product off the Chantecaille counter and into our handbag if we could; we would also go see product specialist and makeup artist Dionne DiLullo every time we had somewhere special to go, just so she could give us that signature smoky eye that keeps clients coming back again and again. The Plaza at King of Prussia, 170 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406, chantecaille.com.
Kiss and Makeup
Fact: A bottle of makeup-brush cleaner from this boutiques house brand, Darci by Di Caprio, found its way into the Academy Award swag bags last year. The line also includes high-quality lipstick, eye shadow, mineral powders and more. So while you may not look exactly like Angelina, you can at least say you use the same makeup. Hey, its a start. 2 East King Street, Malvern, PA 19355, .
Dante and Luigi's
When your cousins visiting from out West ask to see the real Italian joints in the city, dress them up and bring them to the corner of 10th and Catharine, order anything with "gravy Corona di Ferro," and, just as they're tucking into their manicotti, lean over, point to a corner, and say, "I hear that's where they did the mob hit on Scarfo in '89." 762 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, danteandluigis.com.
Danuta Mieloch at Rescue Rittenhouse
It's not just hype that keeps Mieloch's waitlist perennially hovering around the three-month mark. A little cleansing, a little soothing, a little microderm, a little high-tech machining, and a dose of whatever other magic she has up her sleeve for you, and ta-da! You have face-cream-advertisement skin. Just remember to book that next appointment when you leave. 255 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, rescuerittenhousespa.com.
Talula's Garden
A carefully curated menu with both local and exotic cheeses whittled into bites so twee, so perfectly paired, they could come only from Aimee Olexy. Though opinions are still being formed as to the excellence and survivability of the new Starr/Olexy collaboration (see this month's review on page 184 for our take), there's no question that Talula's Garden is currently slinging the best cheese in town. 210 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106, talulasgarden.com.
Namaste Nourish
We’ll gladly work out for waffles, especially when they’re turmeric-infused. At this pop-up series, yogi Joanna Da Sylva leads the room through an hour of flows while chefs Hava Rose and Ashley Law whip up a plant-based superfood brunch. Avocado toast, date-tahini smoothies and vegan ice cream have all made the menu. namastenourish.com.