Top ten things to do in spring

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Staff
March 22, 2006

This week marks the beginning of spring, although the below-40s temperatures and occasional snow flurries may speak otherwise. Soon enough, we will be able to wear flip-flops again without losing toes to frostbite, and the warmer weather will have students begging their professors to hold class on the quad. Once it’s nice out again, spending time wandering around downtown is a lot more appealing. For those of you who enjoyed your free Rita’s water ice in freezing weather, here a few outdoor options to look forward to as the weather warms up.

1. Phillies’ games—It’s worth going to at least one just to be able to say you’ve been to the new (as of last year) Citizen’s Bank Park. The cheap seats aren’t bad, and the ballpark is full of restaurants and bars, which are probably overpriced but provide a break from the excitement of the game. The park also features an All-Star Walk and bi-level bullpens in Ashburn Alley, which puts the spectator into the heart of the game.

2. Longwood Gardens—Spring is a good time to visit Longwood Gardens’ 1050-acre display of over 11,000 different kinds of plants. With everything newly in bloom, both the indoor and outdoor gardens will be on display.

3. First Friday—On the first Friday of every month, Old City art galleries are free to the public and stay open late. If nothing else, it’s a good opportunity for people watching. It’s too late for March, but April’s First Friday on April 7 is quickly approaching.

4. Philadelphia Zoo—The zoo’s been undergoing a lot of construction recently, but spring is a great time to spend a Saturday afternoon there. It’s not hot enough yet to be smelly. And, after all, the Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo.

5. Picnic in Fairmount Park—Fairmount Park actually is made up of 63 different parks all over Philadelphia, but is best known for the 4,400 acres that border the Schuykill River and Wissahickon Creek. If your picnic basket is too heavy to take all the way to Boathouse Row, there’s nothing stopping you from using Belfield Park.

6. Scoope Deville—Located across 18th street from the Continental Mid-town, this ice cream place comes highly recommended. It’s worth a try even when the weather’s not spectacular, especially considering good ice cream can make any day a little bit better.

7. Valley Forge National History Park—It might be a little unfair to have two parks on one list, but Valley Forge is appealing to the history buffs who would know that it’s where Washington’s army stayed during the winter of 1777-1778. The park currently has original encampments as well as several recreated cabins.

8. Neighborhood Tours—There are multiple neighborhood tours that depart every Saturday morning that are intended to give visitors and residents alike a view into what many would consider the heart and soul of Philadelphia. Tours include the history of Fishtown and Kensington, a tour of Chinatown or a tour that highlights Philadelphia’s participation in the Underground Railroad.

9. Ben Franklin Parkway Museums—The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a pretty obvious choice (and it’s free on Sundays!), but there are several other places of interest along the Ben Franklin Parkway. For instance, Philadelphia’s Rodin Museum is just a four-block walk from the art museum and is second only to the Rodin Museum in Paris.

10. South Street—I realize this is everyone’s stand-by. But in all honesty, South Street on a sunny day can be a really enjoyable experience, especially if you make it all the way to Penn’s Landing.

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu