No matter where you are in Philadelphia, Fairmount Park is never too far away. This enormous park sprawls over 4,100 acres and has become the namesake for the entire municipal park system, all 9,200 acres spread throughout 63 public parks. No matter what your interests in the outdoors—hiking, biking, boating—Fairmount will meet all your needs.
Looking for the best place in the city to do your morning run? Join City Running Tours to combine exercise and guided sightseeing into one neat package. Build your own personalized tour or join in a group running tour. Guides can meet you in whichever location you wish to explore, run at your pace and carry a camera if you want to take pictures. Packages begin at $60 per person for 6 miles.
Travel across the globe when you enter Shofuso, also known as the Japanese House and Garden, located in Fairmount’s West Park. Leftover from the 1876 Centennial Exposition, this 17th century-style Japanese house and garden represents friendship between the US and Japan. Guests are welcome to find tranquility in the elaborate garden, koi pond and teahouse as well as participate in Shofuso’s festivals and events.
Swing by one of the most visited tourist attractions: the Betsy Ross House. The carefully preserved and restored Georgian-style house was supposedly the home to Betsy Ross, sewer of the first American flag, and her first husband, John Ross, during the American Revolution. See history come to life as actors share stories and reenact scenes from this significant event.