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7 Great Picnic Spots Near Philly To Hit When The Weather’s Nice

By Gina Cosenza

There’s nothing quite like a picnic when the weather gets nice. If you’re looking to do something fun outside, there are loads of great picnic spots in the area. Philadelphia isn’t just a massive expanse of asphalt and concrete. We have plenty of woodsy, grassy areas to throw down a blanket and hang.

In fact, Philly is one of the best cities for picnicking, according to a study from ShaneCo.com. Our large variety of amazing food spots and green spaces give us an edge in the art of having a picnic. Because even though you can picnic literally anywhere, from a public park to your own backyard, some cities are better designed for picnics than others. To give Philly a top spot, a variety of factors relating to the outdoors, food options, costs, and more were examined.

Whether you’re planning to feast on a fancy charcuterie board with friends, or kick back with a hoagie or cheesesteak, this region has the place for you. You don’t need a checkered blanket or a bougie wicker basket to have a picnic. Picnics can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like them to be. It’s proven that getting some fresh air and sunlight is good for you. Picnicking is a cost-effective way to get outside and enjoy beautiful weather.

On this list, we have a wide variety of spots to check out that range from wide open green spaces, to easy-to-plan-for parks with plenty of tables to sit at. And don’t worry if you’re from Jersey or the burbs, we included some places close to you as well!

When the weather is good, picnicking is a fun, family-friendly activity to do. So grab a towel or blanket, and some grub, and head outside!

Here are a few great places to picnic in Philly, the suburbs, and in Jersey:

  • Fairmount Park

    Fairmount Park is a massive urban park spanning both banks of the Schuylkill River. With more than 2,000 acres of rolling hills, calm trails, a relaxing waterfront and shaded woodlands, Fairmount Park proves to be a perfect picnic spot. You can choose to sit at the park’s provided benches and tables, or throw your blanket down under a shady tree. There are also two outdoor concert venues, so you can plan your picnic accordingly to hear some tunes while eating.

  • Penn Treaty Park

    Located in Fishtown, this park offers green acres of picnic-perfect, riverside space just off Delaware Avenue. It’s one of the smaller parks on this list. It’s mostly flat and pretty spacious, so it should not be a problem finding a place to set up your picnic. There’s a nice playground set-up for kids, and it’s topped off with beautiful views of Center City.

  • Longwood Gardens

    Believe it or not…Longwood Gardens has more to offer than flowers and nighttime fountain light shows. Located outside the main area of the gardens, there are 70 picnic tables and grills where you can stop for a pre- or post-visit outdoor meal. They only catch? No outside food is allowed in any other part of Longwood Gardens. But hey, why not make a day of it?

  • Historic Smithville Park

    Historic Smithville Park (not to be confused with Historic Smithville, the village) in Eastampton, NJ is a really nice place to picnic. There is a designated area with tables at the front of the park, but if you’re looking for something more sit-on-the-ground-y, you can venture into one of their many trails. Feel free to explore their butterfly garden and Smithville Lake while you’re there. There’s even a trippy Floating Walkway you can sit on to eat your meal.

  • Bartram’s Garden

    Bartram’s Garden is a public park spanning nearly 50 acres in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia, offering peace, rest, and connection. It is considered the oldest surviving botanical garden in the country. Bartram’s encourages picnickers to stop by with blankets and baskets in hand to enjoy the scenery. A good spot to try? The bottom of Eastwick Hill where you can take in great views of the water.

  • Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

    This Bucks County nature preserve has a lot to offer as far as having a picnic goes. After you have a walk through the 134 acres of native plants, you can take a load off in the designated picnic area at the Captain James Moore Pavilion. It’s near the preserve entrance, which has plenty of picnic tables and electricity should you need it.

  • Valley Forge National Historical Park

    This National Park has more to offer than some historical insight. With many designated picnic spots, it can be the perfect place to relax and eat outside. There’s also plenty of wide-open green space where you can throw down a towel after a hike and have some lunch.

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