Within the large Philadelphia metropolitan area there are many places to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and experience nature.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: An hour to a full day
Here's How:
- Visit Fairmount Park, the world’s largest landscaped city park with over 8700 acres of creeks, meadows, paths and trails.
- Spend a day at the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo and a great way to see animals in natural habitats. The zoo is well landscaped so you get the feeling of walking through a park.
- The New Jersey State Aquarium features displays of fish and other marine creatures native to the Delaware Valley area.
- The Academy of Natural Sciences, although indoors, is one the best museums for the study of natural history in the world. Don’t miss their dinosaur display.
- Take a walk along the Kelly Drive on the east side of the Schuylkill River. Experience boat house row and watch the crews on the river.
- Take a walk along Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River waterfront. You’ll see great views of the river as well as many types of birds.
- Walk through Rittenhouse Square between 18th and Walnut Streets. The park has wonderful curving paths, fountains and decorative pools.
- If you’re in Philadelphia in March be sure to catch the Philadelphia Flower Show, America’s oldest and largest indoor flower show.
- Visit Valley Forge National Park in Montgomery County. This is where General George Washington spent the winter of 1777-78. Don’t miss the amazing display of dogwoods which bloom in late April and early May.
- Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Delaware County, is the region’s premier horticultural garden with acres of seasonable displays and a wonderful conservatory. or the special Christmas shows.
- Chanticeer in Wayne, PA offers a 30-acre pleasure garden featuring tropicals, perennials, containers, a vegetable garden, woodlands and wildflowers from April to October.
- The Tyler Arboretum in Delaware County offers miles of marked trails, a greenhouse and extensive museum collections.
Tips:
- Many of these places offer seasonal displays, so a visit during a different season is well worth the trip.
- If you go to the Flower Show, the best times are 3-6 pm or early in the morning on Saturday or Sunday. Avoid Monday when there are many tour buses.
- Be careful of your valuables when exploring any of the city parks. Remember you are still in the city.
