Take a step back from the buzz and activity of Philadelphia with a few hours in this sprawling urban oasis.
Fairmount Park proper covers an area of more than 1,600 hectares, while the larger park system bearing the same name boasts a landmass of approximately double that figure. Consisting of a number of individual parks varying in size and bisected by the Schuylkill River, this enormous area is filled with trees, sports facilities and gardens, not to mention a wonderful museum and the Philadelphia Zoo. The park made an international name for itself during the World's Fair held here in 1876. Visit the Memorial Hall to see one of the last remaining vestiges of this centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence.A nice way to see the park (some of it at least) is to rent a bicycle from Boathouse Row and take the scenic route along Kelly Drive. Make sure to stop off at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to wander halls and corridors filled to bursting with artworks from European and American masters, or simply to run up the "Rocky steps" outside. The museum is also the best place to enquire about tours of the park's many mansions.Take the opportunity for some stunning, ethereal photographs amid the more than 200 beautiful sculptures scattered all over the park. Or head to the Belmont Plateau to immortalise your own version of this popular view over the park, river and city. The beauty of Fairmount Park really comes into its own in autumn when the leaves change colour, or in the spring when the trees are laden with cherry blossoms, so these are often the best times of the year to get snap happy.If you have the kids with you, there are plenty of ways to keep them entertained too. Pay a visit to Philadelphia Zoo, to the west of the river, to hang out with everything from pandas to pumas, or head to the Please Touch Museum to give the little ones a real hands-on museum experience. The Smith Memorial Playground, meanwhile, covers an area equivalent to six football fields and has plenty to keep even older kids going for hours on end.Fairmount Park is situated in the centre of Philadelphia. It is open every day and there is free parking at most of the park's attractions. A number of events take place here during the year, so it’s a good idea to check the park's website to find out what's going on during your stay.
