At long last, spring is on its way to Philadelphia! It may be rainy where you are – what is it they say about April showers? – But there are some truly beautiful spring sights just around the corner here. Philadelphia might seem like a city without much green before you set out exploring, but today we’re going to go through all of the best parks and sites to see fresh blossoms and lush greenery this spring while you have a relaxing, renewing trip hosted by your friends at Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast!

Drexel Park

Starting off close to home, Drexel Park is only a block away from Cornerstone! It’s a small park on Drexel’s campus with a beautiful view of the Center City skyline, and we’ll happily add our Picnic Package to your stay and send you off with a delicious meal to accompany your sightseeing.

Schuylkill River and Trail

The Schuylkill River (definitely an intimidating name! It’s pronounced SKOO-kill and is Dutch for Hidden River) is one of the two rivers that run through Philadelphia. Along with the Delaware, the Schuylkill River played a big part in the American and Industrial Revolutions. A walk along the trail provides a beautiful view of the skyline and, now in the spring, lovely greenery to enjoy! To get to the trail from Cornerstone, it’s just a 20 minute walk past the Art Museum on foot, or a 5 to 10 minute drive.

You can also stop along the river at Kelly Drive between Girard Avenue and the Playing Angels Statues at Fountain Green Drive, or at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Montgomery Drive and the Falls Bridge, for some extra lush cherry blossoms.

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center

The Japanese House in West Fairmount Park is one of the most beautiful spots in Philadelphia no matter the time of year. The house was built by the architect Junzo Yoshimura with traditional materials and methods and moved to West Fairmount Park in 1953. Besides the stunning architecture of Shofuso, the site also boasts an elaborate pond filled with colorful koi fish, a small island, and a tiered waterfall, a tea garden with a traditional tea house, and 20 modern murals donated to the Center on permanent display inside the house. Shofuso does require timed tickets to get in, but the entire property is full of cherry blossom trees, the most noteworthy being a weeping cherry tree that is decades old! There couldn’t be a better time of year to come down to Cornerstone, which is just a ten minute drive from Shofuso, and appreciate a truly unique site in Philly.

Gardens In and Outside the City

There are a number of wonderful gardens around and outside Philly that are just enchanting:

• Bartram’s Garden
• Morris Arboretum
• Longwood Gardens

Events Happening in Philadelphia

Besides the beautiful gardens, be sure to check out the events & exhibits happening all around Philadelphia this spring:

• PHS Philadelphia Flower Show at FDR Park (June 11-19)
• Harry Potter: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute (through September 18)
• Water, Wind, Breath: Southwest Native Art in Community at The Barnes Foundation (through May 15)
• Waiting for Tear Gas at The Philadelphia Museum of Art (through July 17)
• Keith Haring, a Radiant Legacy at the James A. Michener Art Museum (through July 31)
• Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss at The Academy of Natural Sciences (through July 24)
• Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink at Dillworth Park (through June 17)
• Philadelphia Phillies & Philadelphia Union Games