Parking

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Well, this past weekend was an exciting one up in Fairmount park. On Forbidden Drive, there was apple cider pressing, and there were open houses over at both the Pennypack and Wissahickon Environmental Centers. I managed to catch the last few minutes of the apple pressing, which was enough time for me to crank two apples through the cider press, sample some cider, and see a ten year old make apple butter and then watch in dismay as the apple butter came exploding out of the poorly sealed squirt bottle. So much for that.

The cider pressing was just a bonus (for me at least), the real reason I went up to Wissahickon Valley Park was to check out the Tree House. Sadly, no, it's not an actual house built in a tree but is rather called that because a tree grew through the front porch up until the 1990s. The Wissahickon Environmental Center is located inside the Tree House and features an aquarium, stuffed birds, a slice of the tree that used to grow through it, and fun stuff for the kids. I'll be honest, as a childless twentysomething, it was kind of underwhelming. But, I'm sure if I had kids, they would have loved it (actually, okay, my boyfriend was really fascinated by the fish). Out back is a small pond filled with "attack frogs" and even further into the back is a bee collection. The center is usually only open during the week, but has open houses on the first Saturday of each month.

While the educational stuff inside the Tree House may not be all that exciting (unless that's your thing), the woods and trails surrounding it are amazing. I felt that I was far away from the city, instead of still in it. The area was formerly called the Andorra Tree Nursery, and was at one point in time the largest nursery around, taking up 1,400 acres and featuring 232 species of trees. The owner of the farmhouse in the 1800s planted beech trees up and down the drive leading to the house. If you take one of the trails leading towards Northwestern Avenue, there will be some signs directing you to something called the "Great Beech." Do not skip the Great Beech. It is the most impressive tree ever. Along the way on the other trails are signs pointing toward some white birch trees and providing information on the hardwood forest and it's just well, nice, to see some trees and animals you don't normally get to (there are chipmunks too!).

It's pretty hilly over in the Wissahickon, and I wasn't really expecting to hike around, so I tired out before I could really get deep into the trails. Also, not to be all misanthropic, but some other people came along, chattering loudly on their cell phones and that kinda, well, ruined it. Seriously, you're kinda deep in the woods, put the phones away. So, my visit to the Environmental Center just scratched the surface of what's in Wissahickon Valley Park. Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for more on this treasure on the edge of the city.

Upcoming Events in Parks:

Get Involved:

• Dickinson Square Park Clean Up Saturday, 9AM, Tasker and 4th Streets (previous Parking).

Dance:

• Line Dancing at Malcolm X Park. Wednesday, 10/7, 6-9PM

Festivals/Flea Markets:

• Harvest Festival at Gorgas Park, Ridge Avenue and Hermitage Street. Sunday, 10/11, 11AM-4PM.
• Antiques and Craft Fair at Louis Kahn Park, 11th and Spruce Streets. Saturday, 10/10 (Previous Parking).

Farmer's Markets:

• Cliveden Park, Wednesdays, 2-6PM, Chew Avenue and Johnson Street
• Schuylkill River Park, Wednesdays, 3-7PM
• Fitler Square (Previous Parking), Saturdays, 9AM-1PM
• Clark Park (Previous Parking), Thursdays, 3-7PM, Saturdays, 10AM-1PM
• Rittenhouse Square (Tuesdays, 10AM-1PM and Saturdays 9:30AM-3PM
• Palmer Park Frankford Avenue and East Palmer Street, Thursdays, 2-6PM