Franklin Square is a park in Center City that may be small in size, but is big with history (it's…read moreeven on the National Register of Historic Places for being on of the five open-space parks planned by William Penn, founder of the city back in the 1600s). The park is currently managed by Historic Philadelphia and offers entertainment for locals and visitors - lots of things to do for families and everyone. There's the fountain, carousel, mini golf, a beer garden, passive green areas. Check out Franklin Squares' winter festivities/light show and also the Chinese Lantern festival.

Stopped at Franklin Square during a Big Bus city holiday lights tour to see the PECO Light Show, a…read morelight show synchronized to seasonal music throughout the entire area. The park's carousel is illuminated with festive lights, and seemed to be a hit with the families present. Seasonal treats and warm beverages were available at the on-site SquareBurger, priced as one would expect at a tourist location like this. While the festive decorations and activities are lovely, the park was quite crowded, while we were there. Also, the bathroom trailer was absolutely disgusting, despite a small team of custodial employees on site, so plan on holding it while you're there if you can! All in all, Franklin Square was a pleasant diversion, I wouldn't make a special trip to visit.

There aren't many public parks in the U.S. built in the 17th century. Rittenhouse Square Park is…read moreone of them, and it's a good one. Visiting Philly for work on a weekend, every evening the park came to life with live music, people walking, reading, and playing. There are plenty of benches for sitting, statues to find, fountains, and more. If you want a slice of nature and community in the city, go here!

I can't believe I've never written a review of Rittenhouse Square Park, because I like to stop by…read morealmost every time I'm in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Square is the heart of the Rittenhouse neighborhood, and it's one of the original open-space parks planned by William Penn in the late 17th century. It's not large, but it has a few fountains and sculptures, great landscaping, and plenty of benches for sitting. It's a lovely place for sitting, reading a book, chatting with a friend, people watching... It's also home to a small farmers market year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Stop by and relax a bit.

Heinz Park is a wonderfully well managed clean environmentally friendly refuge area. It has well…read moremarked trails; strategically located observation platforms, bridges and marshlands throughout. The Heinz is suitable for biking. Jogging, hiking, dog waking, nature and bird watching. This community resource is multifaceted, providing options for all ages and interests, don't miss it when in the area.

Good spot, easy to forget it's still in the city…read more I've been here a handful of times, usually after work or on weekends when I need to get outside for a bit. Once you're on the trails it gets surprisingly quiet. Like, noticeably quieter than you'd expect from somewhere still technically inside Philadelphia. The paths are mostly flat gravel so it's not a hard walk at all. I tend to stop on the boardwalks and just look out over the marsh for a few minutes. Last time there were a few turtles lined up on a log, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a couple of herons near the water too. You do hear planes since the airport's close by, but it doesn't really bother me. Kind of adds to the strangeness of the place in a way I actually like. One thing worth knowing: the mosquitoes are no joke. I skipped bug spray once and regretted it pretty quickly. If you're going in summer, just bring some, especially if you're planning to hang around near the water.

Fairmount Park is one of the biggest parks in the United States. It still has original houses from…read morethe 1700s. It has walking trails, ballfields and playgrounds. You can also drive through the park. Smith playground is a mansion with indoor activities and a big outdoor playground for kids. The best part about Smith playground is the giant wooden slide. The kids and adults can both go on the discovery center is in a former reservoir. It has walking trails and indoor activities to learn about the park. The horticultural center in Japanese teahouse are also located in the park. It's a great place to picnic!

Fairmount Park offers a wide range of activities, from exploring historical sites and gardens to…read moreenjoying outdoor recreation and attending events. You can stroll along the Trolley Trail, visit Boathouse Row, and marvel at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as opportunities for picnicking and boating on Concourse Lake. Fairmount Park is also home to the Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo, making it a great destination for families. I am normally here for The roots picnic, but realized this park has so much to offer. If you are up for outdoor activities, make sure to come by and explore. One tidbit, make sure you make sure you are going to this park because there is another Fairmount park that is also in Philly. Enjoy!

Absolutely love this venue ! Perfect for a date night or…read morefamily outing . Great food trucks and bars on the water and I love the random hammocks to lounge in ! I'm so glad we stumbled on this during our vacay

This family fun park offers a superb outdoor experience that's quite engrossing and a great place…read morefor group fun even in periods of high holiday weekend traffic. It's home to various facilities, such as a popular paddle boat in the shape of a swan, walking trails, kid-friendly swing sets and a dedicated hammock for relaxation. Official venue parking rates are relatively expensive, but a very effective alternative parking policy will be to park for free close to South Street and then make a short walk down to park premises.

X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star…read moreratings. Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing the trails here, this is an awesome park. Note that I live in U-City, so the fact that such a massive trail system exists in only a ~20 minute drive, depending on which part of the park I start in, is a blessing and keeps my sanity. Friends of Wissahickon does a great job maintaining trails and even expanding the system over the past few years. I don't think I've ever observed an unseemly part of the park. Definitely unseemly times of year like the snow thaw or the time between the trees dying and the snow falling, but otherwise, this park is beautiful all times of year. I've never had a hard time parking, never even had trouble with crowds even around the most popular trails (ex. Forbidden Drive). Even the bikers are friendly and patient here! Would strongly recommend not only visiting but coming back to keep exploring! I'm still finding new gems in this massive trail system.

Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly…read more I've always heard about Devil's Pool but had never been, so when I saw the trailhead, I figured--why not check it out? What I've known about Devil's Pool is that it's been a popular hangout spot, especially for teens and young adults--swimming, drinking, smoking, etc. But I wasn't prepared for how disappointing the trail would be. At nearly every turn, there was trash--plastic bottles, wrappers, and even entire black garbage bags just left behind. The closer I got to Devil's Pool, the worse it got. There are clear signs asking visitors to take their trash with them, yet so many clearly don't. It's really disheartening to see such a beautiful natural space disrespected like that. Instead of feeling peaceful or connected to nature, it honestly felt a bit unsanitary and neglected. Wissahickon Park deserves better. If you visit, please respect the space and take out everything you bring in.

Such a beautiful park in Old City/Society Hill. It is similar to Rittenhouse square but a little…read moresmaller. The grass was well kept. Lots of trees for shade, beautiful flowers and benches make it a perfect place to sit and relax! It also has one of the former Fairmount Park Guard Houses. I love to see these unique small structures being reused! The Eternal Flame monument is also in the park. Yeh park is not far from Independence Park.

Nice spot to stroll near the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. A few blocks away and you're away…read morefrom the hustle and bustle. Nice tree lined park. Some history to read up on. Nice fountain. And, of course, the obligatory Washington statue.

Wedding Wednesdays! Or, just for the Philly love at this…read morepark. Walk, chill, or check out the sites on the way to your next destination.

We live in South Jersey; super close to Philadelphia…read more Why don't we go more? IDK! My son wanted to check out the city and get the gang if driving in it. We had fun doing both on this decent weather day. Of course we had to stop by LOVE PARK. Happy people strewn about, Girl Scouts selling cookies and pups walking about :)