Whether you’re training for a race on the city’s many trails or looking to relax by the river, Philly offers lots of things to do outside. As long-time residents, we’ve tried it all.
If you’re looking to get your heart rate up, don’t miss the Schuylkill River Trail for bicycling or the hiking paths of Wissahickon Valley Park. If low-key entertainment is more your speed, enjoy the gardens of Morris Arboretum or take a walk with goats in Germantown. Even in the winter, enjoy being outside by ice skating at Winterfest or sledding at Valley Forge. Here’s a look at these fun outdoor activities and more in Philadelphia.
Enjoy the Delaware Waterfront
The Delaware River waterfront is one of the best places in the city to enjoy a nice day, and there are many attractions along the river to choose from. Some of our favorites include:
Spruce Street Harbor Park — Swing in a hammock, watch a movie, and grab lunch at this riverside park. It’s a great place to relax or enjoy one of the markets or special events that happens in-season (May-October). Just a few steps away, renting a paddle boat from Paddle Penn’s Landing is one of our favorite ways to spend a sunny afternoon.
Independence Blue Cross Riverrink — Whether for Winterfest or Summerfest, the Riverrink is the place to be. Depending on the season, you can ice skate or roller skate, enjoy the carnival rides, and indulge in all the tasty concessions like cheesesteaks and funnel cakes. It has one of the best views of fireworks both in the summer and on New Year’s Eve.
Graffiti pier — While graffiti pier is technically off-limits, that doesn’t stop people from regularly adding to the open-air street art canvas at this defunct railway pier. We have our fingers crossed that the long-awaited development into an official park will finally be underway soon.
Get out on the Schuylkill River Trail
The 30-mile Schuylkill River Trail is perfect for walkers, runners, and cyclists. An extension—the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk—connects the trail from Locust Street to the South Street Bridge, giving even more people easy access to riverfront exercise and scenic views.
The trail stretches from the city through Montgomery County and ends in Parker Ford in Chester County, so there are lots of spaces to engage in whatever outdoor activity you prefer. The 2.5-mile stretch from the Girard Avenue Bridge to Schuylkill Banks is great for river views, and we love the trees that line Kelly Drive–they’re full of cherry blossoms in the spring and exquisite colors in the fall. The Manayunk Towpath is another popular area, paralleling part of the neighborhood’s Main Street and giving visitors beautiful canal views.
For something completely different, head to Paine’s Park, which is located along the trail adjacent to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s a prime spot for skateboards to show off their newest tricks on the rails and quarterpipes.
Explore Wissahickon Valley Park
With more than 50 miles of trails, Wissahickon Valley Park is one of the best places to get outside. Fishermen can enjoy the Wissahickon Creek, which is stocked with fish in the spring, and birders can watch for the over 200 species that pass through the park each year. There is lots of space for running and hiking, and you can even go horseback riding at one of the park’s three stables. Our favorite activity is walking along Forbidden Drive to the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge–it’s the only remaining covered bridge in any large city in America.
If we happen to get enough snow (it’s been a few years!), cross-country skiing and snow shoeing are popular here. Plus, we always love watching parents pulling their kids in sleds along the paths.
Experience the beauty of America’s Garden Capital
The greater Philadelphia area is packed with lush landscapes and gardens, leading it to be called “America’s Garden Capital.” So far, we have visited 25 of the 36 gardens that have helped the metro area earn that lofty name. On a nice day, a visit to one of these spots is ideal. Some of our top picks include:
Bartram’s Garden — The oldest botanical garden in North America, Bartram’s Garden is a great place to find wildflowers, and you can boat and fish in the Schuylkill River.
Andalusia — Gorgeous in every season, the historic Andalusia estate in Bucks County offers sprawling landscaped gardens and native woodlands (the rose garden is our favorite). Garden-only and house plus garden tickets are available.
Morris Arboretum — Located in Chestnut Hill, Morris is Pennsylvania’s official arboretum. We’re members here and often spend hours wandering its paths and manicured gardens. There are regular guided walks and special attractions like pumpkins and scarecrows in the fall and their unique miniature train at Christmas.
Grounds for Sculpture — Unlike anywhere nearby, this 42-acre arboretum in New Jersey has over 400 outstanding sculptures. To make a visit even better, have dinner at Rat’s Restaurant on the grounds.
Longwood Gardens — From their grand fountain shows to the Conservatory where plants become art, Longwood is a gem for cherry blossoms, fall colors, and everything in between. We especially love visiting the amazing Christmas displays.
We also love Shofuso House and Gardens, especially in cherry blossom season, as well as the secluded nature of the Kaskey Memorial Park on Penn’s Campus. On the Main Line, visit Jenkins Arboretum in spring to see their azalea hill in all its glory. Wilmington’s Mt. Cuba Center is packed with wildflowers and beautiful nature trails if you’re looking to get outside in Delaware.
Walk with Goats at Awbury Arboretum
The Philly Goat Project based at Awbury Arboretum lets you get up close with the organization’s herd on their regular goat walks. Designed to be therapy for people with differing abilities, goat walks are suitable for children and adults. We had a great time during our winter walk, even with snow on the ground. There are also frequent “happy hours” with the goats and other special events in ever season. If the goats aren’t available, take the time to explore around the Germantown arboretum.
Spend time at the Center City parks
There is lots to do outdoors right in the heart of Philadelphia in several of the outstanding Center City parks.
At Franklin Square, the mini-golf course featuring versions of city landmarks takes on different themes throughout the year, such as becoming super spooky at Halloween or “Chilly Philly” at Christmas, and the carousel and fountain show are always draws. The summer brings the outstanding annual Chinese Lantern Festival, and curling comes in the winter, among many other features.
Beside City Hall, Dilworth Park is a seasonal chameleon. Hosting an ice-skating rink in winter and a roller-skating rink in spring is only the beginning. There are artisan markets, pickle ball courts, ice sculpting demonstrations, and live music that help ensure people are always entertained.
Visit an historic cemetery
The idea of exercising or wandering at an historic cemetery might sound a little unusual, but some of the city’s cemeteries are purpose-built with enjoyment in mind.
Since it opened in 1836, Laurel Hill Cemetery has been a place of beauty and enjoyment on a bluff over the Schuylkill River. We navigate through its 30,000 monuments using their app (download before you go), or you can check out the themed routes on their website, including baseball players, Medal of Honor recipients, and more. Walking and biking are welcome, and there are special events like Cinema in the Cemetery during the summer and Market of the Macabre in September, where dozens of vendors sell vintage and handmade items.
Open every day from dawn till dusk, The Woodlands in University City is great for biking and walking (leashed dogs welcome!). The cemetery is an activity hub with community gardens and an apiary plus bird walks and yoga classes. Craft markets, happy hours, and other events ensure that it remains a vibrant part of the neighborhood. If you’re looking for something inside, check out their Music at the Mansion events hosted in the ballroom of the 18th-century Hamilton Mansion.
Fairmount Park
At over 6 square miles, Fairmount Park provides so many opportunities to do things outside without ever leaving Philadelphia. It is packed with natural beauty and trails plus attractions like the Mann Center performance venue and Smith Memorial Playground.
There are miles of trails, including the Boxers’ Trail in East Fairmount Park that stretches for nearly 4 miles and the 3.1-mile Centennial Loop in West Fairmount Park, which passes by one of our favorite places in the whole city–Shofuso House and Garden. This Zen-like retreat features a 17th-century style house and beautiful garden with a koi pond. It’s one of the best places to go in March when the exquisite cherry trees are blooming.
For more unexpected adventures, check out TreeTop Quest zipline park and Sedgley Woods, ones of the oldest and most notable disc golf courses in the world. For a free activity with kids, it doesn’t get better than Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, a huge 19th-century playhouse with an incredible slide that’s 60 feet long. Our nephew loves it, and it’s great for adults, too (open year-round).
Tour Valley Forge
Valley Forge National Historical Park is notable for its history and all the outdoor recreation space the park provides. As the site where General George Washington and his Revolutionary War troops spent the winter of 1777, there are memorials throughout the park as well as replica log cabins and the building Washington used as his Headquarters.
The five-mile paved loop trail is a favorite of runners (including Lance, who used it to train for several marathons). The rest of the 3500-acre park is often full of people walking, picnicking, flying kites, and exploring. It’s a stellar place for sledding in the winter. We’ve even seen plein air painters capturing the scenery. One of our favorite places is the dramatic National Memorial Arch where there are sweeping views of much of the park and gorgeous foliage in the fall.
Check out the state parks nearby
There is a wealth of state parks within a 90-minute drive of Philadelphia. Some of our favorites include:
Ridley Creek State Park — Fly fish, hike, and bike in the 2600 acres of this beautiful park. If you want to get outside in a more low-key way, walk the 1-mile loop through the gardens of historic Hunting Hill Mansion, or check out one of the second Saturday guided nature hikes. We always enjoy spotting some of the 250-year-old homes across the park–-people still live in them, and are often nicely decorated for holidays.
Nockamixon State Park — Nockamixon is the place for water lovers and bird watchers. The five public launching sites at the park’s lake are good for sailboats, windsurfers, kayaks, and motorboats. It’s also a prime fishing spot. When you factor in the public pool, it can get very busy on summer weekends, so it’s best to plan ahead or schedule your visit for a different time, if it all possible.
Marsh Creek State Park — Marsh Creek is packed with activities from hiking and mountain biking to swimming and boating. It’s easy to participate in boating here because you can rent kayaks and motorboats and even take sailing lessons. In busy times, the park may temporarily close to vehicles when parking is full.
We also enjoy Newtown’s Tyler State Park for horseback riding, and their volleyball court and playground are great for kids. At French Creek State Park the lakes are ideal for boating, fishing, and fun activities like stand-up paddle boarding. They even rent yurts for camping.