Philadelphia Spruce Street Harbor Park
Philadelphia offers a number of activities during the spring and summer season. This is yet another outdoor space for family fun. I noticed people on my Facebook timeline posting pictures from Spruce Street Harbor Park. This is another venue in my backyard that was worth a drive into the city. It is located off of Columbus Blvd (Delaware Avenue) at Spruce Street along Penns Landing. The kids and I decided to go and I was pleasantly surprised with the overall design. The weather was perfect enough to enjoy some outdoor sights. I enjoy the city for activities, however, my pet peeve is PARKING. The parking lot is $20 unless you are a Blue Cross & Blue Shield employee parking is $13. (***eyeroll***). There is on street parking on Columbus Boulevard, if you are lucky enough to find parking in a designated area. Ok, I digress.
Now for a look inside of this urban oasis of activities. Spruce Street Harbor Park opened in 2014, it is open from July to August. It is a unique space at Penns Landing because it offers a boardwalk, a beach, a fountain area and misting stations. The main attraction for the #SSHP is a number of floating barges with lily pad gardens, a pop-up restaurant and bar and nets over the water. I would suggest checking the calendar of events because throughout the season there are festivals, concerts, and movies on the Great Plaza. There is also a Facebook page for activity updates, Spruce Street Harbor Park. If you want to unwind and relax there are hammocks, Adirondack chairs or find a seat underneath an umbrella in the beach area. Just a tidbit of information, Huffington Post voted the urban beach, one of the best urban beaches in the world, who knew?
What would Philadelphia be without a great selection of foods, the food vendors are set up in cargo containers along the harbor boardwalk. For the foodie in you, there are delicious summer foods from Federal Donuts with their famous donuts by the bag and chicken sandwiches(note: the food here is not the same menu as the other Federal Donuts throughout the city), Graso Group(offering chicken fingers, fries, hot dogs and other fare), ice cream from Franklin Fountain(my favorite banana a cup is $5 and you get a hearty scoop), a water ice truck that sells funnel cake(yummy) and I spotted a food truck Distrito’s for my chicken tacos. For adults seeking alcoholic beverages, there is a concession serving craft beer and cocktails which must be consumed inside the Oasis.
In the Columbus seating area, there is plenty of movable seating, an oversized chess game, oversized soft Legos, a large Jenga game. Another attraction for the kids is the cargo container with plenty of arcade games to get the kids attention. The arcade has a photo booth for those who like to take those quirky and memorable pictures. The Independence Seaport Museum has admission to tour the ships that are docked on the waterfront. Now if you walk pass the ship Gazela you will find the beach area with lounge chairs, beach umbrellas and a simulated pebble beach material. If you need to cool off, don’t forget to visit the Mist Walk. There is also roller skating on the other side of harbor park, which is $3 admission per person, $10 per person for skate rentals.
