Discover Artistry and Fun at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

If your family enjoys seeking out the more unusual side of a city, you’ll definitely want to head to Magic Gardens on your next trip to Philadelphia. Not quite magic and not exactly a garden, this quirky attraction is a living testament to the artistry of one of the city’s most prolific creators and a great stop for family travelers.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is an art environment created by artist Isaiah Zagar. In addition to the more than 200 mosaics he has created around the city, Magic Gardens represents a lifetime of seeing and creating art everywhere. This art environment was once the home and workshop of Zagar and his wife, Julia. Together, the Zagars collected items to repurpose as art, decorating every nook and cranny of available space with designs, images and items representing creativity and positivity.

© Eugenia Lazaris

The space includes a small boutique featuring works of local artists, gallery spaces displaying rotating exhibits of local artists, and a maze of indoor and outdoor spaces completely covered in mosaics created by recycled materials. Hidden within the maze’s mosaics are inspiring messages and thought-provoking designs that spark visitors to explore their own creativity and see the world through artistic eyes.

Kids can participate in a free scavenger hunt by locating specific items hidden within the mosaic. Finding them all not only takes a careful eye, but it is also a great way to explore the entirety of the maze — and if they find all the items, they win an artistic prize.

© Eugenia Lazaris

Occasionally, you will even find a special surprise tucked away amid the maze. On my recent visit to Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, I discovered the artist himself sitting unassumingly in a comfortable chair with a big smile on his face. Zagar was easy to talk to and happy to discuss his work, sharing the story of how a particular part of the garden came to be.

These days, Zagar no longer adds to his creation, but he still gets great joy from his work. “I enjoy watching other people enjoy my work,” he said as he watched guests taking photos of each other among the maze.

Visiting the gardens is easy. The space is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $8 for children 6–12 (younger children are free). Proceeds go toward preserving the artwork and supporting community art programs.