Merion Highlights
Shopping: gifts, women’s accessories, clothing, jewelry
Food: coffee shops, restaurants, delis
Entertainment/Culture: Merion Meeting House, parks/playgrounds, Merion Tribute House
Merion’s northernmost section is described as Merion Park and is a wonderfully “neighborhoody” neighborhood in that it houses a lot of families (as well as people in all stages of life) and the park is the natural meeting place. With two playgrounds, a ball field, walking trail, tennis and basketball courts it is a big draw. Dog walking is a prime activity and, like in the College Park section of Bala Cynwyd, there is very little drive through traffic.
Across Meeting House Lane (named for the Merion Friends’ Meeting House, built in 1695 and still in use today), is Montgomery Ave., which comprises most of the shopping area. Hungry people often stop in at Hymies, a deli institution. There are several salons, accessory shops and jewelry stores in this area. Just down Montgomery Avenue is Merion Mercy/Waldron Academy Catholic School, a beautiful example of traditional stone and slate-roofed Main Line architecture. Directly across the street is the beginning of Merion Rd., which, being brick in the first section, is another one of those quirky historical Main Line mysteries (why was it never paved?).
Moving south, into the section known as Merion Station, there are a variety of housing styles and neighborhoods, from more modest ones to very impressive ones along Highland Ave. South Latches Lane, just one street to the south, also has some palatial properties and was the location of the original Barnes Foundation which was recently relocated to center city after years of battle. It is also home to a portion of St. Joe’s campus. Another lovely building in Merion is the Merion Tribute House and don’t miss Merion Botanical Park with specimen trees, a creek and a walking trail.
For more information on Merion, click here.
Read more about Merion on Wikipedia.