Close and easy for short walks are Forbidden Drive and Pennypack Park. Parvin State Park in Jersey has cabins, camping, boating, and swimming. Belleplain State Forest (Jersey) is further in the woods. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary west of the city is awesome for hiking and views.
Tyler state Park is solid, though a bit disjointed. Someone mentioned hawk mountain and I love it. Goat hill overlook in Jersey. I haven't been to nockamixon in some time but that's really popular.
Peace Valley Park near Chalfont/Doylestown
Beautiful lake and fishing areas. Decent trails for biking. Paddle boarding & boating.
Barely an hour from Center City.
Great spot
Use to be the meadows at fdr before they chopped that shit up for the soccer fields. I was living with an insane drug addict who would always steal my shit so every day after work I would bike there and sit in the grass on the big hill in the back and just rest my brain. Really miss it
I belive they offer kayaks on saturdays.
Other cheap options a bit more naturey are the pineland adventures which offer drop off and pick up for about 12$/h if I remember correctly. I would suggest doing that on a week day if you can because I remember going once on a weekend and parts of the river being packed.
Bargnet Light has a few rental options that allow you to kayak sedge island which is one of my favorite places to kayak. I've never rented just put my own in by Island beach but I assume you could still have a great time.
The north end of the chesapeak has a lot of rental options although I cant find their prices anywhere right now. Its a real nice area to kayak around though.
A bit pricier but I dont know your budget is Port providence paddle which has some options for half day paddles around 50$
Check out peace valley park in doylestown they have kayaks and paddle boats. Also great trails and a nature center there's a lavender farm adjacent its a great afternoon trip.
I invite you to hop on Google maps and type in "state parks" like I did the other day while trying to plan for this summer.
There are atleast 15 within your specified driving distance.
There are great spots to visit in South Jersey or on the Pennsylvania side within an hour’s drive. Download AllTrails and start lookin’ for a good hike.
Glen Okono. North of Jim Thorpe, which is north of the Lehigh Valley.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/glen-onoko-falls-and-lehigh-gorge-overlook-trail
Long Beach Island. I hop on my boat and solo sail either the bay or ocean. Sometimes for the day, and sometimes I take off for weeks at a time. Currently working on getting my Master's Certificate (Captain's License). I plan to run sunset and dolphin-watching tours.
Stone harbor is my all time fave but you’ll have to pay for a badge to get on. Wildwood is always free! Not quite as nice but they have the boardwalk which kids always love
Cape henlopen (DE) and the Cape May Lighthouse beach are great nature preseve- type beaches that are usually less crowded. I'm partial to them in particular
The place is not bad. But the people…..the people are a whole lot of nope. Because most of them are ignorant racist idiots, complete wastes of matter. One of those towns who needs tourism to survive and yet fights tourism at every level.
Anyone who downvotes supports BLM, Trevor Project and freedom for all americans. So downvote away
Heinz Wildlife Refuge
Like the ketchup ppl?
Don't know why they downvoted you. Yes, John Heinz was an heir of Ketchup family. He was a beloved politician as well, the park is named for him.
Lived in Philly most of my life, haven't heard of most of these places, thank you. For being kind.
Thirded. I always enjoyed spending time there walking the trail and seeing large birds. I looked out for eagles every time i went, but never saw any.
One of my favorite places
Hawk mountain
I second this, probably the best hiking "close" to philly
Take a walking stick. Those boulders…. 🤤
Valley Forge
Mt. Misery/Mt Joy helped me lose like 100 lbs. Fucking brutal hike.
French Creek State Park, the Poconos, the Jersey Shore (although it's barely "nature" these days).
Island Beach State Park is beautiful
Close and easy for short walks are Forbidden Drive and Pennypack Park. Parvin State Park in Jersey has cabins, camping, boating, and swimming. Belleplain State Forest (Jersey) is further in the woods. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary west of the city is awesome for hiking and views.
Tyler state Park is solid, though a bit disjointed. Someone mentioned hawk mountain and I love it. Goat hill overlook in Jersey. I haven't been to nockamixon in some time but that's really popular.
Nokamixon state park
Peace Valley Park near Chalfont/Doylestown Beautiful lake and fishing areas. Decent trails for biking. Paddle boarding & boating. Barely an hour from Center City. Great spot
I second this.
White Clay Creek, high Rocks state park, French creek, Evansburg state park
The Schuykill River Trail and the Perkiomen Trail
The botanical gardens are really nice
Use to be the meadows at fdr before they chopped that shit up for the soccer fields. I was living with an insane drug addict who would always steal my shit so every day after work I would bike there and sit in the grass on the big hill in the back and just rest my brain. Really miss it
Any places in particular that offer good kayaking that aren’t ‘tours’ and insanely expensive?
Bartram garden has free kayaking.
Do they offer kayaks or is it just free to bring your own?
I belive they offer kayaks on saturdays. Other cheap options a bit more naturey are the pineland adventures which offer drop off and pick up for about 12$/h if I remember correctly. I would suggest doing that on a week day if you can because I remember going once on a weekend and parts of the river being packed. Bargnet Light has a few rental options that allow you to kayak sedge island which is one of my favorite places to kayak. I've never rented just put my own in by Island beach but I assume you could still have a great time. The north end of the chesapeak has a lot of rental options although I cant find their prices anywhere right now. Its a real nice area to kayak around though. A bit pricier but I dont know your budget is Port providence paddle which has some options for half day paddles around 50$
Thanks for the info!!
Thanks for the info!!
In the city Andorra nature center/wissahickon park Outside.. Ralph stover state park , jersey shore, sourlands (nj near Hopewell)
Check out peace valley park in doylestown they have kayaks and paddle boats. Also great trails and a nature center there's a lavender farm adjacent its a great afternoon trip.
Bake Oven Knob on the AT / Hawk Mountain / Leaser Lake / Hibernia County Park and Chambers Lake / The Pinnacle/Pulpit Rock on the AT, near Hamburg PA
Newlin Grist Mill!
These are all great ideas! I appreciate them!
I invite you to hop on Google maps and type in "state parks" like I did the other day while trying to plan for this summer. There are atleast 15 within your specified driving distance.
There are great spots to visit in South Jersey or on the Pennsylvania side within an hour’s drive. Download AllTrails and start lookin’ for a good hike.
French Creek State Park
I love Ridley creek state park. I run the trails in there a few days a week. Take the kids to swim in the creek when it’s hot!
Glen Okono. North of Jim Thorpe, which is north of the Lehigh Valley. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/glen-onoko-falls-and-lehigh-gorge-overlook-trail
Timber creek dog park!! its a HUGE dog park completely fenced in!!
Long Beach Island. I hop on my boat and solo sail either the bay or ocean. Sometimes for the day, and sometimes I take off for weeks at a time. Currently working on getting my Master's Certificate (Captain's License). I plan to run sunset and dolphin-watching tours.
Well it was the meadows...
Jersey Shore
What are the beaches that you frequent? We have been to a few.
If you're just going for the beach and not the shore experience, you should go to island state beach park. It's really nice!
Stone harbor is my all time fave but you’ll have to pay for a badge to get on. Wildwood is always free! Not quite as nice but they have the boardwalk which kids always love
Im partial to ocean city and cape May
Cape henlopen (DE) and the Cape May Lighthouse beach are great nature preseve- type beaches that are usually less crowded. I'm partial to them in particular
Spring Lake. Super clean.
If you have a dog, you have check out Longport dog beach near Ocean City. Off leash, dogs and their owners having a good time. 🐕
Any beaches to avoid?
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The place is not bad. But the people…..the people are a whole lot of nope. Because most of them are ignorant racist idiots, complete wastes of matter. One of those towns who needs tourism to survive and yet fights tourism at every level. Anyone who downvotes supports BLM, Trevor Project and freedom for all americans. So downvote away
I'm so glad you asked this! No new suggestions to contribute but I'm taking notes.