Top Spots In Philadelphia For A Picnic
Now that the city is warming up, so is your desire to head outside for a laidback, al fresco feast. Pack a basket, grab a blanket and some friends, and head outside for a picnic at one of Philadelphia's many green spaces.
Rittenhouse Square
18th & Walnut Streets
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.rittenhouserow.org
It may be the "Central Park of Philadelphia," but this park doesn't offer nearly as much space. Get there early to stake your claim before the canoodling couples and frisbee throwing college kids arrive, and prepare to share the park with almost as many dogs as people. Still, the setting in the Square is worth what some might see as its downsides, especially during spring, when many of the park's trees are in bloom. An added plus? If you get tired of relaxing, you can easily liven things up with shopping, a glass of wine or two and some people watching--Rittenhouse Square is surrounded by many of the best shops and restaurants in the city.
Fairmount Park
Can't sit still for too long? Fairmount Park is the picnic locale for you! With 368 athletic fields and more than enough space to comfortably accomodate even the most heated of games, you can sweat it out to your heart's content. And when that hunger kicks in, simply roll our your blanket or plop down on one of the park's benches or tables and fire up a park grill.
Independence Hall
Chestnut St. between 5th & 6th
Philadelphia, Pa.
Sun-worshippers should head to this open expanse of green, situated right in the heart of the city's historic section. Unroll your blanket or beach towel and soak up your daily intake of vitamin D while students on school field trips mill about. In a pinch, you can even pick up your lunch at the food court in The Bourse.
University of Pennsylvania's Campus
3400 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.upenn.edu
Penn has one of the prettiest campuses around, so channel your inner college student and enjoy a picnic lunch in a scholarly setting. The area near the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library is particularly glorious, and even boasts a smaller version of the famous LOVE statue.
Love Park
16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pa.
www.fairmountpark.org/jfkplaza
Smack dab in the middle of Philadelphia, Love Park can get a bit crowded during the lunch rush and doesn't offer much in the way of shade, but that doesn't mean you can't plot out some real estate and enjoy a nice picnic on a temperate day. And now that the skateboarders are banned and the city has stepped up efforts to keep the park clean, the Love is back in the air. Grab some snacks from Mexican Post of Tir Na Nog, and take in the sights and sounds of the City of Brotherly Love.
Kelly Drive
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, PA 19131
www.fairmountpark.org/Rowing
Kelly Drive, with its historic Boathouse Row, can be a great place to enjoy a picnic with family or friends. Take in stunning views of the city across the Schuykill River while you eat and drink along the water's edge. And for those who don't want to pack their own lunch? Take a trip to the Art Museum's parking lot, where the food vendors often set up shop, and then sit back and watch the bicyclists, joggers and walkers go by.
