It’s been a long, hot summer—one likely filled with lounging in the park, lazing at the beach or cuddled up on the couch in your The Isle apartment chilling out with a good book. Even if you’re years past the classroom, it can be easy to let your brain go on a bit of a summer vacation when the warm weather creeps in. However, the fall is quickly settling back in Philly, which makes it the perfect time to reenergize your mind and gear up for the months ahead. That’s easy to do here in Manayunk, which is home to some of the region’s biggest and best museums, research libraries and educational institutions, which provide countless opportunities to sharpen your focus and learn something new (all while having some fun!)

One of the standout spots near your The Isle apartment is Historic Rittenhouse Town, about 10 minutes away, nestled in Wissahickon Valley Park. While you may have visited the mammoth park for hiking, biking or taking a dip in the creek, it’s also a haven for history—however, the area isn’t home to just one historic site, but a full half-dozen. The “town” dates back to 1687, when William Rittenhouse built the first paper mill in North America here. He and his family settled in the area and spent decades as the only papermakers in the colonies.

While the original mill no longer stands, visitors today can tour Rittenhouse’s home and a number of other historic sites to see how the nation’s earliest settlers lived and worked. Tours are a fascinating walk back in time, but you can get further immersed in history with any of the village’s many public programs, such as papermaking classes and lessons in colonial cooking. The town even features an annual Drink History event, featuring samples from local breweries and bites from the area’s best restaurants.

And all of this educational excitement is two miles from your The Isle apartment!

Historic Rittenhouse Town

208 Lincoln Drive

Philadelphia, PA 19144