PHILADELPHIA: Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular is a magical event from mid-November through January…read more1st that allows you to walk through an outdoor winter wonderland of holiday lights. Located in FDR Park near the sports arenas, you can meander through the paved trails and see the stunning life-sized displays, shop at mistletoe market, boogie on the dance floor to Christmas music, skate on an ice trail, tube down an ice slide, take a photo with Santa, and more! There are also two heated tents with food and drinks, including fun holiday themed cocktails. Waggin Wednesdays are when leashed and friendly dogs are allowed to attend! " OnWednesdays, guests are welcome to bring their furry, canine friends. Owners must keep theirdogsleashed at all timesand are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. Any poorly behaved or aggressive dogs will be asked to leave." Be sure to dress appropriately and keep your pup comfortable. Paid parking is across the street in the Novacare lot.

The South Asian Market is a good time in FDR Park!…read more There are vendors selling clothes..Boba Tea and Asian Foods! There are plenty vendors and the prices and reasonable! The smells make everything so inviting and it was great to sample many items! The foods reminded me of my time in Thailand and the flavor profiles were dead on! It was a good time and I will definitely return to sample more food.

Really wonderful experience at Red Bank park with my Luke's Place friends looking at the historical…read moreartifacts, going for a nice walk around, going up and down the steps, having a nice picnic lunch, seeing the butterflies, watching the ships go by throwing stones in the water going on the playground, and doing yoga as my personal favorite.

So, I've been to Red Bank Battlefield numerous times. A few times for group picnics and other times…read morejust to walk along the Delaware waterfront. And each time is simply wonderful. If you want to host an event, you can reserve one of the pavilions to hold a BBQ cookout. There is a kids' play area for the little ones too. There's also a huge open lawn for outdoor activities, although it isn't the best spot because of all the goose droppings. Now, if they got the goose population under control, it would be awesome for football, frisbee, or volleyball. Alternatively, if you want some time to yourself to stroll the walking trail, it's certainly peaceful and serene, with gorgeous views of Philadelphia from the New Jersey side looking out across the Delaware River. Plus, the park has a lot of history, so be sure to take time to appreciate that aspect! PRO TIP: Saturdays are obviously the busiest, with all the group gatherings, so arrive early to find parking. The parking lot tends to fill up quickly during those times.

BLUF: An eclectic mix of abandoned buildings, new construction, restored historical structures and…read moreparks along the Delaware River. Very minimal Navy presence but various companies, some in the shipbuilding industry, occupy space among the 1,200 acres. At its height during WWII, 40,000 people worked at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia both building and repairing ships. However, in 1995 the yard closed as an official Navy base. There is still a tiny Navy presence today and even still some ship building/repairing/demobilization companies on site but it seems to be a shell of its former self. My husband and I enjoyed exploring on bikes for over an hour. There is a really nice bike path along the Delaware River. Also, the streets, at least on a holiday weekend, were almost abandoned so we enjoyed biking without worrying about vehicular traffic. The Navy Yard still has a ghost fleet but except two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, CG-58 USS Philippine Sea and CG-60 USS Normandy, we couldn't get a clear view of any of them. I believe there are a handful of other cruisers moored behind one or more of the Rhoads Industries buildings. The highlight for me was the historic architecture. While many buildings are dilapidated, some are beautifully restored. I also enjoyed getting a close view of a few dry docks and one of the slipways that has been converted, in part to sports courts. URBN, the parent company for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People is headquarters here. There are various other businesses too but except for some the ship-related businesses and a medical office, they all seem to have a small presence. The Navy's presence includes Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and the Navy police to keep it all secure and safe. I was hoping to find dining and shopping at The Navy Yard but that doesn't really exist. URBN has a food court and there are about three other places where you might find food. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed the history and architecture and I'm looking forward to learning more about this site. While a trip through the Navy Yard might not be interesting to everyone one, I thought it was fascinating.

Ran a 5k here for St Patrick's day and it is a beautiful area! Very clean and people are super…read morefriendly. We stopped by the fire house after the race and picked up a shirt to support local firefighters! Looking forward to next year :)

Schuylkill River Park is a nice spot to get some fresh air and has plenty of grassy areas that are…read moreperfect for a picnic. I came here with some friends to have a picnic and watch the sunset, and it was a really nice place for it. You get great views of the Schuylkill River along with the Philly skyline, and the sunset was beautiful from here. There's also a basketball court and easy access to the riverwalk, which is perfect for biking, running, or just taking a walk along the water. Overall, it's a nice little outdoor spot in the city to relax, hang out with friends, or enjoy the views.

Such a cute and well maintained park! Sometimes going to the Squares just isn't the vibe, this park…read moreFEELS like a real park. Lots of benches, picnic tables, a small playground, basketball court, dog park and direct access to the water and river trail. Everything was clean and the park is really well kept!

Came here for a 52 Firsts event during Spring Fest and it ended up being such a fun day. There was…read morea lot going on without feeling overwhelming. Live energy, little activity tables, and a small plant sale that was honestly very tempting. One of the coolest things I learned is that they have what's believed to be the oldest ginkgo tree in both North and South America. That alone made the visit feel a little special. I spent some time walking the trails and made my way around the water too. It's really pretty back there. Lots of flowers in bloom, open space, and quieter areas if you want a break from the crowd. I definitely liked the more shaded, tree-heavy sections the most. Some of the booths were set up fully in the sun and it got a bit intense after a while, so having those cooler, shaded areas made a big difference. Staff were very helpful and the trails are clearly marked, which made it easy to just wander without worrying about getting lost. Only downside is the location can be a little tricky to get to, especially if you're not driving. But once you're there, it's absolutely worth it. Overall just a really enjoyable, laid-back outdoor spot with a lot to explore. I'd come back, especially for another event.

Seems like a really lovely and serene acres of gardens to wander thru. Sqirrrls flowers plants…read morepathways birds benches to sit Large fallen trees to sit and it's along the water but the view was blocked by trees. I saw a pond with Lilly pads in it too. There's supposed to be free fishing from 5-7pm and it's thru the back circular parking lot. The trees are labeled w gold dog tag info. Wear bug spray cuz I had sandals and my feet felt sting and maybe bit up

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

Very cool park along the water. The large, docked ships add a layer that other waterfront parks…read moredon't have. A lot of hammocks and "chill" spots in the shade. I visited the park largely to see one of their summer shows. The Lazy Hammock stage is walled in in its own section of the park. There is a bar at the back right corner of the area. There are lots of picnic benches and seating to the left of the walled in space. The middle is reserved for those that want to stand/dance. The sound quality was excellent. I found the stones on the ground to be annoying when trying to move to the music but there is a pit area at the front of the stage made from wood. This area was a lot more to my liking.

This newly opened playground is such a great addition to FDR Park!…read more There are massive slides, a few "natural" climbing features, and one of the biggest sets of swings I've ever seen. This playground offers a space to stretch your legs and fun for your more adventurous kids. It is conveniently located right off of I-95, with plenty of parking, and there are plenty of picnic tables and benches for parents who just want to sit back. I did take off one star for the lack of restroom facilities, which I believe is very important when you're out with kids. There are porta-potties nearby.

Much like Jefferson Square Park…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/jefferson-square-park-philadelphia?hrid=HXl7DlrCnaLA9iLGadtx_w#src:self) Dickinson Square is one of those often overlooked Square's that's worth the visit. Only, while it still doesn't offer as much as the likes of Rittenhouse or Washington Square, it does come with a few more amenities. The basketball court seems to be packed well into the night hours, There's a good assortment of playground equipment to play in, and there's a couple of eclectic sculpture pieces that's worth stopping to admire. It's also the perfect spot to stop in worth either some quality South Philly people watching, or when you can't wait to savor whatever Gooey Louie's sandwiches or Grindcore baked goods you take home with you. And in the occasional farmers market and festival, and it provides the perfect dose of park life.

This is a very nice park. Astroturf in the kids area so they won't get muddy (brilliant). There are…read moremany old Sycamore trees which are gorgeous and provide shade. Grindcore Coffeehouse is just down the street. Lots of dogs and people in general. You can take in the Sun with plenty of grass areas. Very clean overall. Worth the walk if you're in the area. I live close, this is my go to park.

A fun adventure for your littles. My grandbabies had a blast. I think it could use a little touch…read moreup, but the girls loved playing and climbing. The sand box was a nice touch.

This hidden gem of a playground is worth finding if you're in the West Deptford or Woodbury area…read moreand have little ones with extra energy to burn. It's a large wooden structure playground with little forts, slides and all manner of fun stuff for kids of all ages to discover. It's even more fun than it looks in the photos I posted (methinks at least). The structure is really large & adults can can follow their kids most places on it if so desired. There are just a few spots where a young child could really take a tumble to the ground below, but that's the hazards of childhood. I kept a sharp eye on kid #1 until pretty recently. He loves this playground the best out of our small rotation though. There are also swings, a balance beam thing, slides and a sandbox. Picnic tables are around for parents & there's a small pavilion area I've seen co-opted for birthday parties. I don't think they do reservations like at Chestnut Branch park in Mantua. There's a much larger pavilion there, but the playground itself is not nearly as nice. The location is off of Crown Point Road past the library & police station if coming from Delaware St. Take the first right AFTER the light at police. There is a small sign. Follow the winding road back to the Little League field. Ample parking and a bathroom that is usually open are available. Sometimes the baseball snack bar will be open during season. We even caught a game once on a whim. Well, part of an inning! 3 year olds are notoriously fickle.