Camden County Winner: HADDONFIELD
This vibrant downtown in Camden County is just a short drive from Philly and the Delaware Valley, but you don’t have to go “off campus” to find great restaurants, Victorian homes and lots of shopping.
Haddonfield also has a colorful art scene, thanks to mainstays like the Markeim Arts Center (go here for ceramics workshops, kids classes and exhibitions) and LaBelle Art Gallery, Gifts and Framing (this spot specializes in African American art and fine art). With such rich culture right in town, it’s no surprise the town high school has a graduation rate of 98.1 percent, not to mention a college enrollment rate of more than 87 percent.
Venture beyond the main drag to Pennypacker Park to hang by Hopkins Pond (the first-ever almost complete dinosaur skeleton in the continent was found here!) or Cooper River Park, a Camden County gem that boasts a playground, volleyball courts, softball fields, mini-golf, a dog park, sculpture garden and plenty of places to picnic.
Grab dinner at Tre Famiglia if you love house-made pasta, or Two Fish BYOB for sustainably-sourced seafood. Head to Sweet Charlie’s for Insta-worthy rolled ice cream.
Fun fact: This town was the inspo for the fictional Haddonfield, Illinois, the location of the Halloween movies (yup, the Michael Myers slasher series).
