Best Parks in Philadelphia

Spreading across 9200 acres (3723.11 hectares) with 63 parks, Fairmount Park is among the biggest city park systems in the nation. It features picturesque trails, rolling hills, streams, historical structures, woodlands, public arts and more. The Centennial Arboretum, Horticulture Center, Japanese House and Garden and Philadelphia Museum of Art are some of the interesting sites located in this massive expanse. It also has recreational centers and sporting fields.

Spanning four miles along the Schuylkill River from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to beautiful Falls Bridge, Kelly Drive offers a spectacular view of the city's major attractions. Boathouse Row is here, just behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Located in the Fairmount Park section, runners, walkers, bikers and sightseers are blessed with the beauty of nature within the fifth largest city in the United States. Parking is free in designated areas. The Drive is named after the late City Councilman John Kelly, brother to the late Queen of Monaco, actress Grace Kelly.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is the largest standing freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. The mission of the refuge is to preserve the marsh, promote environmental education, and provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. The Heinz refuge offers nature programs, environmental education workshops, field trip consultations, and a resource library. All workshops, field trips and related services are offered free of charge. The Refuge is an excellent resource for birdwatchers, hikers and nature lovers.

This little hollow across from City Hall is most noteworthy for Robert Indiana's 1978 "Love" sculpture. The piece has become a popular symbol for the "City of Brotherly Love" and its image is plastered all over the city. It's 20-foot-tall appeal lies in its simplicity: The letters L, O, V, E, stacked on top of each other. During a usual lunch hour the park attracts an odd combination of Armani clad businesspeople and skateboarders who skinny-dip their modes of transport in this concrete pond. They're actually fun to watch.