10 Can't-Miss Experiences on Philly's Schuylkill River Trail

Necessity is the mother of invention. Unable to continue the Schuylkill River Trail as it narrows along the Fitler Square neighborhood’s riverfront due to the nearby railyard, the city came up with an ingenious idea: build a connecting boardwalk out over the river. The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk is one of the most beautiful strolls in Philly, stretching 2,000 feet from Locust Street to South Street and both to and under the South Street Bridge. The 15-foot wide accessible riverside promenade is an oasis for runners, bikers and wanderers and features four scenic overlooks with incredible views of Center City and West Philly.

What better way to see the river than from on the river? Between June and September, reserved hour-long guided kayak and riverboat tours depart from the Walnut Street Dock on the Schuylkill Banks. The Secrets of the Schuylkill tour bus-style riverboat excursions are led by experts who discuss the river’s place in history as you pass by spots like Bartram’s Garden and Fairmount Water Works. For a more active ride, Hidden River Outfitters offers guided kayak tours down the river taking in the same sites (equipment and training included). See schedule for exact dates and times.

Built as a pumping station to bring water to the city’s 19th-century residents, Fairmount Water Works — down the hill from the Philadelphia Museum of Art — is one of Philly’s underrated architectural wonders. The Greek-inspired complex was key to the city’s early population growth, and stands today as a marvel along the trail which includes a hands-on environmental education center and plenty of green space. But at the foot of Fairmount Hill, hidden among the trees, is a waterfront lookout point known as the Treehouse in the Sky. Experience stunning views up and down the river from the patio of this lofty steel-framed gazebo.

Lying majestically along the east bank of the Schuylkill are the boathouses that make up Philly’s Boathouse Row. While the private clubs are not open for tours, SRT users get an up-close look at the 19th-century architecture of the Philly icons that are home to the city’s historic social and rowing clubs. (Note that the iconic view of the boathouses is from across the river on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.) Want more? Further up-river, residents and visitors can cheer on rowers and scullers from across the world as they compete in events like the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.

One of the most scenic spots in Philadelphia? A cemetery. Laurel Hill Cemetery, the second-oldest garden cemetery on the continent, evokes a bygone era when cemeteries were built intentionally in scenic areas, and visitors would come to walk the grounds not in mourning but to see the wondrous architecture and peaceful landscapes. Visitors wandering the free-to-visit attraction’s 74 acres take in 33,000 gravesites, including the final resting places of Civil and Revolutionary War soldiers along with numerous luminaries from David Rittenhouse to Harry Kalas to Rocky Balboa’s fictional wife and bestie. (Download the cemetery’s free app for three self-guided tours.) The cemetery also hosts a slew of incredible activities throughout the year, including yoga classes, film festivals, concerts among the headstones, poetry readings, book clubs and picnics. To access the cemetery from the SRT, just cross the street at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Hunting Park Avenue.

A relaxing day on the trail can include shopping, too. Just a block off the SRT in the hills of Northwest Philly is charming Main Street Manayunk. The half-mile avenue parallels the trail through the trendy neighborhood down a dozen blocks of independent shops, galleries and boutiques that make for a perfect weekend excursion. Grab vintage vinyl at Main Street Music, tune your bike at Cadence Cycling or peruse stunning jewelry at Illumine Gallery. Hungry? Grab a slice at Pizza Jawn or a burger at Lucky’s Last Chance. End with a craft brew or two at Fat Lady Brewing or Manayunk Brewing Company.

Better known as the Fountain Street Steps, Manayunk’s Water Under The Bridge is a lavish urban art staircase incorporating 70 brightly colored glass steps that create the illusion of a mosaic waterfall. Crossing the Schuylkill River Trail at Venice Island, the Mural Arts-funded installation — created in 2015 by mosaicist Beth Clevenstine and muralist Paul Santoleri — is surrounded by wallside murals and dramatic flora like snapdragon, purple iris and lavender Polonia as well as unique views over the river.

Dating back to 1965, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (SCEE) is a vast 340-acre preserve on the city line in Roxborough. Among the fields, ponds and streams of the largest tract of private land in the city are four miles of wooded hiking trails dotted by dozens of environmental art sculpture installations. The center also offers scores of innovative environmental education programs, including the nation’s most ambitious environmental art initiative and the region’s only wildlife clinic. SCEE’s hub is the Visitors Center which includes the interactive kids’ Discovery Center, the Environmental Art Gallery, the sensory garden, a natural playscape, a water-capture rain yard and a walkable green roof. Access SCEE from the trail here, though note that a short hike is required to get to the visitor center.

A few steps off the trail’s upper section is one of the region’s most unusual museums. The American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks (just north of Valley Forge) features a collection of over 1 million pieces of American pop culture memorabilia including neon road signs, self-playing orchestras, life-sized cartoon characters, decades of movie posters, herds of stuffed animals, fleets of antique autos and the world’s largest Slinky, Gumby and Popsicle stick structure … all accessed via indoor electric tram. The 100,000-square-foot museum is part of The Factory in Oaks complex which also includes Arnold’s Family Fun Center, a trampoline park, rock climbing gym, bowling alley and more.

With over 100 breweries along the Greater Philadelphia Craft Beer Trail, Philly is a craft brewing hotspot. And 30 miles up the Schuylkill River Trail from the city is the borough of Phoenixville, which serves up an incredible eight breweries along a half-mile stretch of its Bridge Street commercial corridor a block off the trail. East of and along Main Street are Iron Hill Brewery, Root Down Brewing, Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery and Soundbank Music Room & Taphouse. To the west along Bridge, find Conshohocken Brewing’s Rec Room, Rebel Hill Brewing’s Brewery on Bridge, Stable 12 Brewing and Root Down’s TBD Bar and Biergarten.