There's so much cool stuff within the city limits that I've committed to trying to explore…read moresomething new (to me) every week. Recently that meant exploring the trolley trails in west Fairmount Park and finding the stone spiral arch bridge. In the early 1900s, a scene trolley took people through the woods. Nature has reclaimed the trolley paths, but in recent years they have been converted into miles of hiking trails. It's not crowded--I only saw 4 other people, mountain bikers, on my visit. It's a great place to explore. It's shaded so the walk was cool. It's pretty level so the hike is easy. And if you know where to go, you can find this beautiful bridge that looks like a brick spiral. The years have taken a toll, so I wonder how much longer we'll get to enjoy it. It's cool to think that in the past so much work was put into creating a beautiful structure that really just needed to serve a simple function. Don't have time for a long hike? You can get to the bridge quickly by entering the trail from Chamounix Mansion. Park by the equestrian building and head in. It's probably less than a 1/2 mile walk to the bridge.

I'm one of those weird Aquarius people who like to explore abandoned buildings, and ancient sites,…read moreso I had to check out Stone Arch Bridge! It is an old bridge that leads to nowhere because it is no longer being used. It is surrounded by a forest, and kind of hard to find. The best way to find it is to stay at Chamounix Mansion, and follow the trail behind the trees. It's worth checking out if you like to post on Instagram, and finding hidden gems that are off the beaten path.

Friendly, small and authentic Italian spot with honest service. For those with gluten sensitivities…read moreor allergies, you can feel safe. The owners have a family member with Celiac and Crohn's and know what it's like to struggle with food restrictions. Call ahead to ensure they have gluten free pasta available for you. If you can stop yourself consuming the housemade bread, save room for the penne alla vodka.

A couple going into the restaurant stopped us as we made our way to the car. "What did you think?"…read morethey asked. I hesitated. "Well.... I thought it was very average; likely a one-shot deal for us. BUT, the restaurant appears to be popular, so you may think it's great." I hate assessing Core de Roma as less than wonderful. The owner is so gracious and wants everyone to be happy. But the reality is, with so many Italian restaurants in and around Philadelphia, you've got to be on top of your game. They start you off with warm Italian bread and a plate of tasty cannelloni beans in olive oil. We ordered calamari as an appetizer, described as being served on a "bed of greens." Had we known the "bed" was two meager leaves of lettuce, we would have ordered a salad as well. The calamari should be crisper and include tentacles in addition to rings. My husband's chicken Francese was pretty much indistinguishable from my saltimbocca. I like when the breasts are pounded thin, but these were sliced overly thin, and the portion, somewhat skimpy. One piece of T's was lemony, the other not. I did taste sage on my saltimbocca, but had I not known that the chicken was topped with prosciutto, I wouldn't have guessed it was there. I read that some restaurants don't serve angel hair pasta because it's easy to over-cook. You guessed it. Boiled to the point of being almost mushy, with sauce that literally had no taste. When we split a small piece of limoncello cake, T said "this is the most flavorful thing we've eaten." And sadly, I agreed. The restaurant is BYOB with a reasonable $5 corkage fee. The staff is young and efficient. There's a parking lot down the hill in the back. Ambience is okay -- despite some other Yelpers' complaints. The only thing needing improvement: the food.

a very belated birthday-dinner review, since I'm an established slacker. But this is also fitting…read moresince whether its been driving by it back in the day, or through gazing up at it on the hill when I was in Manayunk, La Collina is one of those places that has been in my peripheral vision for a few decades now! For 20+ years, I've known La Collina to be that fancy and classic-looking Italian restaurant on the hill that I've been needing to try. But it took coming across its name when doing my research for possible spots to go to for my birthday to put one and two together, and it led to quite the majestic experience. The friendly and hilarious valet attendants ensured that service was incredible before we even entered the building. And upon entry, we were treated to spot-on recommendations and quality service throughout the evening. For cocktails, I was in awe of the Anejo Old Fashioned, which used Patron and agave syrup instead of the usual whiskey offering, and I also appreciated the classic Negroni. For appetizers, the classic meatballs with homemade marinara and ricotta were an absolute delight, and the eggplant rolatini with spinach, prosciutto, and mozzarella was sheer perfection at its most decadent. For my entrée, I initially expected that I would be eating all the pasta. But the restaurant is also known for its seafood, and the risotto frutti di mare especially caught my eye. and with its calamari, clams, mussels, and shrimp, and perfectly cooked and seasoned rice it absolutely delivered the flavors! Toss in a salted caramel chocolate soufflé with a candle on top, and it easily made for another memorable birthday dinner and a deserving place to recommend!

I always wondered why there were so many nice cars parked here. It's usually has a crowd of…read more"rich-looking " people dining at the location. I suspected it was either the food or some shady cult gathering (leaned more on the food theory). But the food here is basic. Can find the same flavor anywhere, usually better. Tried their house favorite, the Branzino, but the flavor was bland and not worth the $60 in the slightest. Their spaghetti was okay but I have made better at home. Even their old fashioned chocolate cake sucked. Tried this joint twice. Not worth it

My niece had her 5th birthday party here and it was freaking awesome!!!!…read more She had a kiddy paint party and EVERYONE had a blast. The woman who owns the business is so cool and did an exceptional job entertaining and hosting the event. This spot is a great addition to the community!

So welcoming and friendly! Would recommend to anyone regardless of painting experience and for…read moreanyone looking to have a good time painting.

Not our first time and won't be our last. Amazing, fast, and fresh food. BYOB and great music…read more Service is impeccable and very wide array of choices on the menu. Individual restrooms and great spacing and parking.

Elements other than food factor in to one's assessment of a restaurant…read more This restaurant is LOUD, particularly the main dining room. We were seated in the secondary room which quickly filled, and was just as loud. Conversation was difficult. Terrible acoustics. Pescatore is popular. I get it. Management wants to accommodate as many people as possible. As such, seating is tight and tables-for-two are postage sized. I can't deny that our meals were good. You can get vegetables as a side rather than mashed potatoes, but there's an upcharge. (I'm guessing they go with potatoes because they can make a batch and quickly ladle it out. Spaghetti -- my preference -- would likely have to be made-to-order. And as I said, the place is busy.) My husband and I shared a house salad which we topped with "fritto misto" - calamari, shrimp and peppers. Very good! He ordered Veal Saltimbocca and I, Chicken Romano. Both recommended, both with portions big enough for another meal. The staff is solicitous and friendly. Everything came out on a timely basis. We like what we ate. We appreciate BYOB. But that noise! I'll give 'em another try on a weeknight. But if it's no better -- arrivederci, Pescatore!

from start to finish, always an amazing meal @ Franco's Fiorino!…read more a wonderfully quaint, 10 table BYOB (reservations recommended), authentic experience with very attentive staff. Recent trip to Bologna, Italy where I had the renowned Tagliatelle Bolognese au ragu, so I ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese at Fiorino's ,,,,it was perfezione! brought me and my taste buds right back to Italy!

Been away from Fiorino for a little while..but this restaurant remains wonderful, as always. Great…read moreservice from Biaggi and Walid...and tasty and well prepared food. The opportunity to sit outside on a beautiful night is a bonus. Love everything about Fiorino.

Went for the lunch special and will be back. Price was great for the pizza/salad combo. Everything…read moretasted great and was fresh. Outdoor patio is nice now that it's getting warmer.

It was my first visit to In Riva; my partner had been there before. She lived a few blocks away and…read moresaid the views were great and the pizza was very good. It was still quite hot outside, so we opted to sit inside. We were taken up to the second floor and had a table with a nice view of the Schuylkill River. We ordered two appetizers - Nonna's Meatballs and the Crispy Eggplant. I almost always order meatballs if they are on the menu. The first bite of a meatball was a little disappointing-it had a harder texture with a chewier bite. I know everyone has different preferences, but I prefer a softer textured meatball. I expected marinara (didn't read the description - '...with a sage veal jus') and was surprised to see a shallow dark colored sauce. The sauce had an interesting taste - lots of flavor - if the beef and pork meatball had any flavor, it was overwhelmed by the sauce. I'll say I liked the sauce for 'a change', however, I would have preferred marinara. The next appetizer was much better - the Crispy Eggplant. The rectangular shaped cuts of eggplant had been coated with breadcrumbs and crispy shallots with a hint of lemon. There were two little containers of dill yogurt for dipping. The eggplant was fresh, the breadcrumbs combined with the crispy shallots made for a delicious coating! The dill yogurt was a wonderful dip. It was an excellent appetizer. For our entree, we ordered the Mushroom Zucchini pizza with fontina cheese, thyme, truffle oil and chili flakes (I somehow 'missed seeing' the chili flakes). I don't tolerate spice and would have excluded the chili flakes, but it was a very limited amount and the heat was fine (my partner likes a little heat and loved it). The pizza was divine - large, delicious mushrooms and thin slices of zucchini covered the top, the truffle oil gave it a special flavor and the fontina cheese reminded me why I love a good 'white pizza'! While the meal got off to a 'tough' start, it ended up nicely and we'll be back to try some of the pasta dishes!

John L. is one of the best tour guides out there. He is someone who is truly passionate about…read morehistory and geography and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. If you would like to learn more about Philadelphia and surrounding areas while also getting some exercise and making new friends, I can not recommend his tours highly enough!.

John was a fantastic guide! We did the History @ Night tour, and his storytelling really made this…read moretour. As Philly natives, we knew a lot of the smaller facts. To be able to hear and see these facts in a complete story was very valuable. In addition to his immense history knowledge, John's wit and humor made this experience extraordinary! I'd highly recommend his tours to others and I will likely be returning for more.