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.

One of the city's most unique parks and outdoor spaces, Race Street Pier stands close to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, jutting out into the Delaware River. Manicured lawns cover one part of the pier, while a beautiful raised promenade occupies the rest of the space. From joggers in the morning to picnicking families and tourists looking for some calm by the river, the park sees a lot of visitors throughout the day, and is an excellent bet for people-watching. Panoramic vistas of the city make it a favorite hangout for photographers. Check website for more.

This 92-acre public garden is populated with rare, exotic and large trees presented in four different environments: The English Park, Rose Garden, Swan Pond and Japanese Garden all offer a multitude of species and phylum of plants specific to each area. The generally Victorian tone of the gardens radiates a sense of romance and natural splendor. University of Pennsylvania students conduct botanical experiments and studies that are also on display.

Enjoy the beauty and art of horticulture at the pleasure garden, Chanticleer Garden. A 35-acre (14-hectare) public botanical garden that dates back to the early 20th Century, this landscape has artistry in full bloom. It is a breathtaking spread of flora, trees and lawns that have been planted to perfection. The garden's gate has been created with carved stone roosters, better known as chanticleers in French, from where it gets its name. It is open from April to October. The house and grounds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.