Heinz Park is a wonderfully well managed clean environmentally friendly refuge area. It has well…read moremarked trails; strategically located observation platforms, bridges and marshlands throughout. The Heinz is suitable for biking. Jogging, hiking, dog waking, nature and bird watching. This community resource is multifaceted, providing options for all ages and interests, don't miss it when in the area.

Good spot, easy to forget it's still in the city…read more I've been here a handful of times, usually after work or on weekends when I need to get outside for a bit. Once you're on the trails it gets surprisingly quiet. Like, noticeably quieter than you'd expect from somewhere still technically inside Philadelphia. The paths are mostly flat gravel so it's not a hard walk at all. I tend to stop on the boardwalks and just look out over the marsh for a few minutes. Last time there were a few turtles lined up on a log, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a couple of herons near the water too. You do hear planes since the airport's close by, but it doesn't really bother me. Kind of adds to the strangeness of the place in a way I actually like. One thing worth knowing: the mosquitoes are no joke. I skipped bug spray once and regretted it pretty quickly. If you're going in summer, just bring some, especially if you're planning to hang around near the water.

Thank you Erica for a wonderful experience! I love Philly and get to come visit once a year. When I…read moresaw there was a rock gym nearby I had to check it out. Love the small local vibes here. The sets are harder and it's got a friendly community. Really easy to make friends and ask for beta. I'll be back!

Not sure why the reviews are so bad. Yeah, the gym is tiny. But it's has everything you'd need. We…read moreactually love how low key it is. They had a new year promo. $99 for 2 months membership + rentals for the whole 2 months + 2 intro classes. A steal if you ask me! All the staffs are friendly & welcoming. Felt like home from the very first visit! I spoke & emailed with a few staffs before our visit because I had lots of questions. They were quick to respond & very helpful. They also have auto belay here which is great if I want to top rope by myself. Street parking! So far, no issue with that. The only con for me is the walls are shorter all around. Both boulder & top rope. I like hella tall walls for top roping. It's okay. I should practice my techniques on bouldering wall anyway. Can't wait to visit their other locations! Follow my new climbing journey hehe. I'm a noob IG @joannclimbs

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 family fun park offers a superb outdoor experience that's quite engrossing and a great place…read morefor group fun even in periods of high holiday weekend traffic. It's home to various facilities, such as a popular paddle boat in the shape of a swan, walking trails, kid-friendly swing sets and a dedicated hammock for relaxation. Official venue parking rates are relatively expensive, but a very effective alternative parking policy will be to park for free close to South Street and then make a short walk down to park premises.

This is such a nice park and I'm so happy it's only ten minutes from my house!…read more We were invited a hs graduation/birthday party last Sunday. The host had rented an eagles bus so that was parked where the friends and family were gathering. He was grilling and had tables out with food. We brought our camp chairs and table and set up under a big tree. It was a really nice day and the party turned out great. This was my first time to this park for a gathering. I normally find myself just heading here if I want to enjoy the Delaware River, the quiet, the sunshine, etc. they also have a gazebo that I've eaten lunch with my mom in years ago.

POD is a large park with a lot to offer. There are fields and benches, paved trails and more rugged…read moreones. Meadows, trees, open spaces. It has it all, and tons of parking. You can come here with your kids or dog, observe the flora and fauna, run, bird, have a picnic, or just take in the views of the river. As a birder I was especially interested in the vast meadow area past the sports fields. There's so much to see and do!

I absolutely love this trail. It has two connecting points where you can walk on the Bala Cynwyd…read moreside or the Manayunk side you have the option of riding your bike, walking or jogging. You meet so many friendly faces along the way . On the cynwyd side all the way at the end there's the Cynwyd train station Where you can stop in for a cup of coffee or bite to eat whatever hits your fancy. There's also a children's park there are several parking lots where you can enter into the trail. It's really peaceful, serene, well kept and maintained.

I bike thru this trail several times a week - and I've also run it. It's a short little trail that…read moreis very well maintained and quite beautiful. There is a gravel portion and a paved portion and I have biked and run on both. Pre pandemic they hosted yoga classes on the bridge. It is much improved now that the bridge doesn't lock at night. It still seems well used into the evenings when I've been on it. Def hit this trail up if you are in the area!

I like this park a lot! I learned about it from a school trip I went on with a Roxborough High…read moreSchool class I've been substituting in a lot the past couple years. I (It would be nice if Philadelphia had more of them.)

Recently went to a wedding here. The venue and grounds are beautiful and in an old mansion with an…read moreattached outside tented area. The wedding ceremony complete with folding chairs very close together was in an open area just beyond the tented area. Luckily the ceremony was early enough before dusk to keep the bugs at bay. The reception in the tented area was spacious with a great layout. After dinner we were ushered to the dance floor inside the estate. It was an awkwardly small room which connected to another small room with one side exiting onto a patio through large windows which were hard to navigate in heels. Two bathrooms were in an out building off the tented area with unlit paths and uneven steps. Just some observations. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Catering service was good.

We went here on a whim after ordering lunch and came here to eat it. It's off the highway and river…read morewhich is pretty but hard to find parking that doesn't involve crossing the highway. It appears that there used to be a lot of seating or benches but most of them are now removed. The area is small but pretty. There's a small pond with a mini waterfall as well. There are a couple pathways by the pond but they don't lead anywhere. I think this was a great park but given the location and area I'd recommend checking out other parks first.

If you are looking for a little zen time, adventure or a just a nice afternoon in uncomplicated…read morenature then this is the place. Stay at ground level for the pretty. Venture up the back stone staircases and perch yourself on a rock wall for some zen or venture further up the path for adventure. Be careful. Go with a friend. Somedays vagrants like to camp up there and build fires and stare weirdly at you like you just crawled into their hobbit hole, kinda like today when I was adventuring up past the stairs. Also, Some nights you may find yourself at that same very spot in a drum circle, dancing and howling at the moon. Either way, this spot offers it all :)

Visited this park today on a cold winter morning. Gate was closed, so I had to park out on the…read morestreet just outside the park, which was not too bad. Even with sidewalks and the parking lot slicked over in ice, this was actually a pleasant park to visit just to get some fresh air on a cold winter morning. There were a surprising amount of dog walkers and even small groups of people also getting outside for some fresh air. I can see how this park would be a great place to get outside in nicer weather. There's a softball field, a small picnic and firepit area, and a few outer trails that directly connect to the larger Wissahickon trail system. I could have kept going... but alas I didn't bring a beanie with me. Great park, will be back!

Blue Bell is a hidden gem on the Germantown side of the Wissahickon Creek. It is one of Fairmount…read morePark's best parks because it is used for so many diverse things. 1. Dog Park-- Lots of room to run, lots of things to investigate on the edges of the field, lots of small and long trails to hike! I'm actually not a fan of a lot of the people who come here with their dogs. Not a lot of control going on (more that casual, "beeeeenji, come back" kind of dog watching. which is okay unless you have a big dog and have to deal with their little yappy biting bastard.) Most of the more responsible owners come during the day when it's empty or skip the park altogether and just hike the trails. That said, if you are a more social, stand-around kind of owner-- this is the park for you: around 5:00-6:00 pm there has gotta be about 40 people and their dogs congregating and hanging out in the field. 2. Picnic Areas-- this is one of the premiere spots inthe Northwest for family/ school/ fraternity / sorority reunions, Memorial and Labor Day Parties, you name it. With 5 separate picnic areas, there can even be multiple events going on at once (though Picnic Area #5 is the prime one and is closest to the pavilion). I have even seen people pull trucks out into the field and set up bbq pits and tables on the grass! They HAD two Porta Potties which were both sparklingly clean and always stocked with Toilet Paper (yay!), but recently they got rid of the blue one (private contractors not Fairmount Park). There is a pavilion with 3 picnic tables and a working fireplace. 3. Access to Hiking/Biking Trails: So, you can get to both the hill bike trails and the main hiking trail from at least 6 small trails that I can think of off the top of my head (I attached pics of a couple of them). The wonderful people at Fairmount Park are currently renovating this Park's access, and are about half done-- gosh, every once in a blue moon I am proud of our Philly government... 4. Parking: regretfully for them, many people do not live near the Wissahickon Valley and have to drive here. Parking lots with easy access to Creek Trails are essential. Blue Bell has a TON of parking and is pretty empty except for peak times. Peak times are as follows (caveat: this is based only on my own observations). WEekdays-- early morning, say 8:00-9:00 am; evening, say 5:00-7:00 pm; weekends, ALL DAY. Another thing to be aware of is that Germantown Friends' softball team seems to use the field, though randomly. Just be aware that you might head over to get away from the dogs, be lounging in left field reading a book, when 30 screaming girls will pour of a yellow bus and swarm you... 5.Baseball Field: very well-groomed (as I mentioned, GFS' softball team uses it). Best thing of all is that they also have a pitching "cage" and a batting "cage" (both are netting). The pitching cage even has a bounce back net with strike zone hole! 6. Porta Potty: Last but not least, one of the major uses of this park is to go to the bathroom: trash men, water department, roofers, landscapers, regular Joes in suits and ties-- they ALLLLLLL come here to use the bathroom. And only to use the bathroom. As you can see from the pictures, the Porta Potty is CLEAN and always stocked with TP. I don't know about you, but having somewhere in an emergency (and knowing where it is) is a major quality of life issue :) there's always the woods, but I am getting old... HOURS: From April 1 through October 31 the parking lot is open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, November 1 through March 31 they close it up at 6:00 pm. But no worries, there is plenty of parking on Walnut Lane's shoulder and there are plenty of trails leading from the street. Also, when they are going to lock the gate at closing, the Ranger will drive in with his lights (like tow lights) flashing and will play a megaphone/speaker announcement that the park is closing (and it's usually at least a half hour late....) So whether you are taking care of a dog, hiking, biking, relaxing or just need to go to the bathroom, don't forget about Blue Bell Park!