When the final wintry days disappear and the weather starts to warm up, we all want to be outside! And thankfully, there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy a sunny, beautiful day near Philadelphia.
From gardens to zoos to activities like boating and ziplining, there is an activity that will get you and your family outside (and fit your budget!).
The guide below shares some of the best ways to spend time outside near Philadelphia. So, let’s start planning your next day out!
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10 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors Near Philadelphia
Do a Ropes Course
One of the craziest ways to enjoy some time outside near Philly is a ropes course! And there are several nearby, and they differ in what they offer.
Treetop Quest is your traditional, treetop adventure course, and it’s located in Philadelphia, at Fairmount Park. Other treetop adventure courses close by include TreeTrails Adventures in Trevose and Go Ape! in Delaware.
There are also high ropes adventure courses near Philadelphia, including the one at Hellerick’s Family Farm in Doylestown and the biggest one on the East Coast, HangDog Outdoor Adventure in Easton.
And for the little ones, don’t miss Treehouse World in West Chester! This place is filled with ziplines, tree-climbing, and multiple unique tree houses.
Enjoy a Garden
Did you know Philadelphia is America’s Garden Capital? There are over 30 public gardens in the region that you can visit. Some are FREE, and some require paid admission.
Some of my favorites include the Morris Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, and Tyler Arboretum. They not only have beautiful plants and flowers, but also interesting features like sculptures and tree houses.
Some of the nicer FREE gardens include the PHS Meadowbrook, Jenkins Arboretum, and even Temple University’s Ambler Campus.
Hike the Trails at a Park
One of the best things about living near Philadelphia is the number of state and county parks in the area. Not to mention the preserves!
There are many fun hiking trails in Bucks and Montgomery County that range from easy to hard. We even love looking for all of the gems in Wissahickon Valley Park. And most of the trails at John Heinz are accessible or at least flat enough for strollers.
And during the really warm months, checking out one of the many creek trails near Philly gives you the opportunity to dip your toes in the water to cool off.
Visit a Historic Site
We all know Philadelphia has Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and many other amazing historic spots in Old City. But there are some beautiful historic sites surrounding the city that offer plenty of ways to be outside.
Of course, Valley Forge National Historical Park is one of the biggest and best places to enjoy a sunny day! You can tour the different sites, hike at Mount Misery, or bike around.
Other great sites are Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead in Ridley Creek State Park, Pennsbury Manor, and the Peter Wentz Farmstead. And don’t forget about Washington Crossing in New Hope. You can combine your visit with a trip up Bowman’s Hill Tower.
Spend the Day at a Zoo
Is there any better way to spend a beautiful day than at the zoo? There are several zoos in the Philadelphia area, including America’s first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo!
Outside of the city, you can enjoy animals at Elmwood Park Zoo and Lehigh Valley Zoo in Pennsylvania, the Turtleback Zoo, Cape May County Zoo, and Popcorn Park in New Jersey, and the Brandywine Zoo in Delaware.
Go Boating
A beautiful day means time out on the water! There are many places you can go boating in and near Philadelphia. Some of them are even FREE!
Inside the city, you can boat for FREE at Bartram’s Garden, FDR Park, and Glen Foerd Mansion. FREE boating is offered on select days, so visit their respective websites for the best information.
Outside of the city, many parks offer boat rentals, like French Creek State Park, Marsh Creek Lake, Green Lane Park, Nockamixon State Park, Core Creek County Park, and Peace Valley Park.
Stroll Historic Mansion Grounds
There are several historic estates in and near Philadelphia. Many of them allow visitors to enjoy the grounds and gardens of the estate. Some of them charge a fee, others are FREE.
Along the Delaware River, you’ll find Glen Foerd Mansion and Andalusia. You can visit Glen Foerd for FREE, but Andalusia charges a fee to access the gardens. But they both have beautiful properties, especially with the river in the background.
Tyler Estate is located on the Bucks County Community College campus. You can tour the gardens for FREE (unless there is an event going on). Another historic mansion offering FREE access to the grounds is Highlands Mansion in Fort Washington. They even have goats you can say hi to!
Lastly, one of the most well-known estates near Philadelphia is Winterthur. The mansion itself is gorgeous, but the gardens and even more incredible. Their children’s garden is out of a fairytale!
Do a Covered Bridge Tour
Pennsylvania used to have over 1500 covered in the state! Now, there are just over 200 covered bridges remaining in the state. And some of them are near Philadelphia.
A fun way to spend a nice day is to do a covered bridge tour. Most of the covered bridges in the Philadelphia area are in Bucks County. But there are a few in Montgomery County, too. And don’t forget Thomas Mill, the only covered bridge in a major US city!
Have Fun at a Farm
Whether you’re picking flowers, feeding goats, or playing on old farm equipment, a family-friendly farm is a great way to get some outside time near Philly.
There are several great farms to choose from! In Bucks County, there are great options like Shady Brook Farm and Hellerick’s. In Montgomery County, you can enjoy the day at Maple Acres or Merrymead. And in Delaware County, Linvilla Orchards is a huge hit. Even New Jersey has fun farms, like Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford.
Go Rock Climbing
Okay, maybe not actual rock climbing. But you can climb around on rocks! There are many boulder fields within a short drive of Philly. Plus a couple of hiking trails with large boulders that are fun to climb on.
The most popular boulder field near Philadelphia is Ringing Rocks County Park, in Upper Black Eddy. There is a short (1-mile) hiking trail surrounding the field, and, after a lot of rainfall, a small waterfall. Don’t forget your hammer to bang on the rocks!
If you’d like more hiking and bigger boulders, check out the Top Rock Trail near Nockamixon State Park. You might see climbers practicing bouldering while you’re there. And our favorite, Sourland Mountain Preserve – the Devil’s Half-Acre has tons of bog rocks to climb on.
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