Philadelphia is an incredible city filled with culture, history and entertainment – but sometimes you just need an escape to nature and breathe fresh air! There are many fantastic destinations near Philly that provide just this; whether your preference lies with hiking, biking, kayaking, wildlife watching or simply relaxing amidst beautiful surroundings; you are sure to find something suitable.
Here are the best day trips from Philly for nature enthusiasts, as well as what makes each one great and what can be expected when visiting them.
Ringing Rocks Park – Bucks County, PA can be found 60 miles and 1 hour 15 minutes from Philadelphia.
Ringing Rocks Park is an extraordinary geological phenomenon that will thrill nature enthusiasts of all ages. This park boasts a field of boulders that emit metallic sounds when struck with hammers or other rocks; their cause remains a mystery, yet experimenting with different rocks to hear different tones can be fun and challenging! Additionally, this fantastic park also boasts a beautiful waterfall, hiking trail, picnic area, and offers the option to bring or borrow your own hammers from their office; just be careful not to damage either the rocks or yourself when exploring this fascinating place!
Marsh Creek State Park – Downingtown, PA
Distance from Philadelphia: 35 miles, 45 minutes
Marsh Creek State Park offers water lovers an exciting aquatic adventure, as its 535-acre lake offers boating, fishing, swimming and windsurfing opportunities. Rent kayaks, canoes paddleboards or sailboats from their concession stand; bring your own boats; the lake is home to bass walleye catfish trout as well as several varieties of other fish such as bass. Those preferring land can walk the 18 miles of trails winding through forests fields wetlands wildlife including deer foxes birds turtles plus much more besides. There is also a beach playground playground as well as picnic area facilities at Marsh Creek State Park!