At Waterfront Gourmet, everything we offer is always fresh, always amazing – both on our menu and in the information we offer our customers. While our waterfront restaurant and our other locations are currently closed in accordance with local regulations, we’d still like to hear that our valued customers are keeping healthy and staying active during these times. The pursuit of a healthy lifestyle is a multifaceted process and only one component is a healthy diet, and even now you can still get outside and keep up a healthy lifestyle while you’re waiting for your favorite waterfront restaurant to reopen.
With the city, the state, and much of the rest of the country under lockdowns of some sort or other in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, now it is more important than ever to get outside, stay active and keep healthy. Staying inside for too long can be unhealthy for the body and the mind, and we live in too beautiful an area of the country to allow that to happen. There are many wonderful parks and reserves not only in the Philly area but even in the city that you can visit while still maintaining social distancing. Check out these parks that are all within Philadelphia or within a short driving distance.
Wissahickon Valley Park
Most of the city and the state may be closed down, but the beauty of the natural world is still ripe for the picking. In fact, now is a more important time than ever to get out and appreciate nature, with everything else on pause.
Wissahickon Valley Park is a beautiful natural park covering over 2,000 acres of woodland and wetlands. It’s not exactly a hidden gem, but it can definitely be moving to call to mind that this park is within the city of Philadelphia. You might be prone to forgetting where you are for a moment or two.
Within the park, there are over 50 miles of trails along which you can see many historic sites. It’s not just for hikers, though – the park offers opportunities for cyclists, bird watchers, and fishermen as well. Currently, though events have been closed, the park remains open. Check the latest news regarding facility closures on their page, and continue to practice social distancing if you visit.
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park, like Wissahickon Valley Park, is another great preserve you can get out and explore to engage the body and mind without even having to go too far from home. Slightly smaller than Wissahickon Park, Pennypack Park covers about 1,600 acres of natural beauty, and just like Wissahickon Park, you might even forget you’re in Philadelphia while you’re out.
The park is rich with natural beauty, wildlife, and history. It includes many miles of trails, some of which are suitable for horseback riding and cycling, and along which you may be lucky enough to spot historic ruins. Fishermen can test their luck along the shores of the creek and nature watchers might be able to spot a gem such as a pileated woodpecker or a bald eagle within the park. Facilities and events are closed, but the great outdoors hasn’t seemed to take notice. As with Wissahickon, there are no current events taking place within the park, but it is open for passive recreation. Check the Pennypack Trust or the Friends of Pennypack for information on specific closures and cancellations, directions and park entrances.
Rickett’s Glen State Park
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural resources has closed down all state facilities and events, but the public is still welcome to use public land for legal passive recreations. If you’re up for a bit of a ride, Rickett’s Glen State Park is well worth the journey.
Rickett’s Glen State Park is home to some amazingly beautiful, pristine wilderness that must be experienced to appreciate it fully. Among its treasures are wild woodlands, mountain lakes, ridges, and waterfalls. There are 22 named waterfalls in the park, the highest of which is Ganoga Falls at 94 feet – definitely something to see while you’re in the park. There are 26 miles of trails to explore in Rickett’s Glen, many of them steep and challenging, so be careful and wear the proper clothing and footwear if you do decide to make a trip of it. Check the DCNR Rickett’s Glen page for more information on what to do and how to get there.
As of May 15th, some facilities will be reopening within the park, though social distancing is still encouraged. Check the links about the latest updates before you plan your trip.
Nockamixon State Park
While facilities are closed as elsewhere, hikers, birdwatchers, picnickers and fishermen can still make the most of a trip to Nockamixon State Park. The park offers several different shorter hiking trails under 3 miles, which are perfect for a short day hike. You can also get out just to enjoy the beauty of the lake, to have lunch in peace at the park, or try your hand at pulling up some of the bass and pickerel that call Nockamixon home. If you’re lucky you might even connect with a musky. Check the DCNR page for Nockamixon State Park for more information or to plan your trip.
As with Rickett’s Glen, park facilities will begin reopening on a rolling basis that is subject to change. Check the links above for more information on reopenings before your visit.
These are only a few of the many wonderful outdoor opportunities that our city and state offer you during this time. We know you’re waiting for your favorite waterfront restaurant to reopen, and we’re waiting too, but till then, get out there, keep active, stay healthy, and order some delicious menu items from our website for contact-less pick-up or delivery!
