Thanks to the Fairmount Park system, Philadelphia has over 9,200 acres of public parks waiting for you to explore. And while not every city street has a bike path (and some are still lined with ride-jostling cobblestones), Philly is an incredibly bikeable city. So grab a cycle, pick a trip, and enjoy some time outside this summer:
1. Picnic Party
© Meg Favreau
Start at the aptly named Picnic (3131 Walnut St.) to grad some gourmet foods-to-go – and, if you need it, a picnic basket. Bike west on Walnut, north on 33rd, and then east on Chestnut. Once you cross the river, take the ramp down to the Schuylkill River Trail and head north. From there you can follow the path's full 23 miles up to Norristown, or just settle down to eat as soon as you find a nice grassy spot.
2. Watch the Wildlife
Photo from Flickr user justinjohensen via Creative Commons.
Take your bike on the R1 train to Eastwick (bikes are allowed on Regional Rail trains on the weekends and during off-peak weekday hours), and bike south on Bartram Ave. to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge features bike paths, wildlife watching, hiking, canoeing and fishing, and is free to enter between sunrise and sunset every day.
3. Cross-River Cycling
© Meg Favreau
Take a break from the Phils and instead get tickets for a Sunday-afternoon Landsharks baseball game in Camden. The stadium at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge, which offers a beautiful bike path from Philly over the Delaware River.
4. A&E (Art and Eats)
© Meg Favreau
On a weekend day, start with a good meal at West Philadelphia's Rx (4443 Spruce St.). Then hop on your bike, head east on Spruce, north on 38th, east on Chestnut and finally, north on the Schuylkill River Trail. You won't be going too far though – lock your cycle up when you get to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and spend a few hours exploring (Sundays, incidentally, are pay-what-you-can). When your stomach starts grumbling, grab your bike and go east on Spring Garden to Northern Liberties, where you can choose from a wide variety of restaurants. Pick Hikari (1040 N American St.) if you're in the mood for sushi, Standard Tap (901 N 2nd St). for gastropub fare, or the Soy Cafe (630 N 2nd St.) for delicious, healthy food.
5. The Manayunk Towpath
© Meg Favreau
While technically part of the aforementioned Schuylkill River Trail, the Manayunk Towpath deserves its own mention. Following the canal along the Schuylkill River, the Towpath takes riders from Manayunk's Main Street area into gorgeous woodlands dotted by old dams, pump houses and more. Just be warned – the path does get rougher after you leave Manayunk proper, and you might want to ride something a little heartier than a road bike.
