5 Philly Day Trips

August 11, 2020

Many Philly residents have made the tough decision to cancel their yearly summer trip. While putting off a long-awaited vacation can be disappointing, it opens up the opportunity to explore the many mini-destinations that are just a car ride from the city.

Today, we’re sharing five of our favorite day trips that are all within a few hours of the city. Load up the family car, or split a rental with your roommates, and head off to one of these exciting local destinations:

Get Lost in Longwood Gardens

An hour west of Philly is one of the premier display gardens in the world: Longwood Gardens. This isn’t your average community garden but over 1,000 acres full of trees, fountains, bamboo mazes home to 11 thousand + varieties of plants. The garden has been an international destination for over 100 years and home to trees that are several hundred years old.

Luckily for Philly residents, many of the garden’s attractions are still open through the pandemic with social distancing measures in place. To plan a trip to Longwood Gardens, make a reservation on their site, and don’t forget to take look at their new visitor guidelines before you leave. Remember to pack comfy shoes and bring a camera – the day will be full of walking and photos.

Pick Your Own Produce

A trip to Linvilla Orchards is the perfect way to do good while safely having fun. The orchard has classic summer produce such as berries, peaches, and sweet corn available to pick as well as veggie favorites such as tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers. Stop by the farm market for some other food staples and you may even be able to skip your weekly trip to the grocery store! Best of all, this day trip makes supporting local agriculture fun and easy. Win-win-win.

Lehigh Premier Whitewater Rafting Lehigh River - 5 Philly Day Trips

Brave the Leigh River at Lehigh Gorge State Park

If you’re more of a thrill-seeker than a farmer, look no further than the Poconos. Just two hours north of Philly you can go on a whitewater rafting adventure courtesy of the Adventure Center at Whitewater Challengers. The 6-hour adventure includes 3 – 4 hours on the water with a rafting professional who will guide you and your fellow adrenaline junkies through the exhilarating Lehigh River. There are even options to extend your trip to Lehigh Gorge State Park with biking, paintball, camping, and more.

Find Treasure at the Golden Nugget Flea Market

The Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market in Lambertville, New Jersey has been a “gold mine” for antiques and collectibles for over 50 years. Whether you’re looking for vintage furniture, dazzling gems, and crystals, or new vinyl for your record collection, you can find it at the Golden Nugget.

The flea market has an open-air area as well as an indoor pavilion. Currently, it is operating at 50% guest capacity with social distancing and limiting vendors so go early to get in. Overall, a visit to the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market is a fun way to spend a day and a great way to support small shops. By buying second hand you’re lowering your carbon footprint as well!

Bike Through The Pine Barrens

Tucked away in New Jersey’s Wharton State Park is the Penn Branch Mountain Biking trail. If you haven’t heard of it you’re not alone. According to njpinebarrens.com, the trail is somewhat of a hidden gem – and not for the faint of heart! With a winding, 18 miles path full of hills and brush, they recommend that only experienced mountain bikers attempt the full route.

If you’re a passionate cycler who is looking to get back to nature, definitely check out the Penn Branch Mountain Biking trail. It is well marked and just an hour outside of Philly. For a more accessible experience, consider riding just a portion of the trail or one of the simpler trails that originate from Batsto Village, NJ.