Fairmount Park — Park Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"What’s this place all about? Fairmount Park hugs the Schuylkill River, in the heart of the city. But this isn’t your typical city park with a small playground and a few benches. At more than 2,000 acres, the park is home to miles of trails, biking and hiking paths, a Japanese garden and house, the country’s oldest zoo, historical mansions, and the city’s iconic Boathouse Row. Any standout features or must-sees? Since the 19th century, Philadelphia rowers have stored their boats along Kelly Drive, behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art . Today, the boat houses, which are illuminated with twinkling lights at night, are synonymous with the city. If you take the train into town from New York or Boston , make sure to keep an eye out your window for them. If you’re already in town, head out to Kelly Drive, which offers excellent running and biking paths along the Schuylkill River Trail. If you're hoping to explore other parts of the park (like the 12- by 44-foot wooden slide at Smith Playground), a smidge of planning goes a long way, as this park covers a lot of ground—not to mention two sides of a river. Anything else we should know? Those with young kids in tow should explore the interactive Please Touch Museum , as well as the Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, with its century-old wooden slide." - Devra Ferst