Philadelphia Alfresco

From its inception, Philadelphia has been a city with outdoor appeal. The city’s founder, William Penn, envisioned Philadelphia as a “Green Countrie Towne.” Prominent in his design for the “towne” was a central square, with four other squares equidistant from the center. The five public squares, open green spaces to be shared by all, would be havens of respite in a busy world. Philadelphia is an area with a wealth of activities for those who love the fresh air and sunshine.

The premier feature of Philadelphia’s outdoor scene is Fairmount Park, the largest landscaped city park in the United States. Occupying nearly 9,200 acres, Fairmount Park is a haven for those loving activities in the great outdoors. On the south end, the park connects with the Schuylkill River Trail, and on the north end, with Valley Forge National Historical Park. Fairmount Park not only includes picnic grounds and great bike, walking, and running trails, but is also home to such varied attractions as basketball and tennis courts, historic mansions, driving ranges and golf courses, fishing areas, equestrian activities, and even frisbee golf facilities.

Another scenic destination within Fairmount Park is The Fairmount Water Works, the first municipal waterworks in the United States. The Fairmount Water Works is once again wowing visitors, having now opened both an Interpretive Center and restaurant. Along with alfresco dining, The Water Works’ restaurant has breathtaking views of the city’s famous Boathouse Row and Schuylkill River.

Rising majestically at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art stands as one of the great art institutions of the world. Visitors enjoy some 225,000 works of art that encompass some of the greatest achievements of human creativity. The museum’s splendor, however, extends well beyond its vast collection. In the summertime, the grounds bloom with color in the museum’s Azalea Garden.

Park Trolley Tours are available to offer a ride through parts of the Fairmount Park system on a replica of this historic mode of transportation. Guests on the trolley discover the spectacular scenery of the park, while listening to an exciting narrative about the history of one of America’s largest and oldest parks. From the trolley, signature Philadelphia sites like the amazing collection of historic houses, as well as several of the park’s hundreds of renowned sculptures, can be comfortably viewed.

The high-tech traveler can now take a ‘gliding’ tour of Philadelphia’s Art Museum Area by means of the next generation in transportation: the Segway Personal Transporter. The Segway PT is the world’s first two-wheeled, self-balancing electric transportation device. Segway Tour participants enjoy a street-level guided experience riding their own Segway PT while listening to an entertaining and informative narrative through a state-of-the-art wireless headset.

For music lovers, The Robin Hood Dell East and The Mann Music Center offer outdoor concerts from classical to jazz to popular music, set among the splendor of the park’s vast fields and greenery. Sports enthusiasts can root for the hometown team at the “Sports Complex” in South Philadelphia. In the cooler weather, Lincoln Financial Field houses the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team. In the warmer weather, enjoy peanuts and Cracker Jack, but also soft pretzels and a cheesesteak as The National League Philadelphia Phillies play baseball at Citizens Bank Park.

Courtesy of grouptravelblog.com