A Trip to Rittenhouse Square

Summer is the time to let loose and relax.  For me, that means I am able to kick back and do only the things that I enjoy. A natural born couch potato, my summer activities usually include an iced tea and the remote. I concluded from an early age that the great outdoors, with its great sunburns, mosquito bites, and poison ivy, was not the place for me. However, there comes a point when you have seen all the reruns on TV and reached the end of your Netflix’s queue that you just need to get out of your house. Hiking, trail biking, and rock climbing – all free activities to be enjoyed in parks near the city had zero appeal to me. I decided the best way to join the park scene would be to ease into it, so, I decided to give nature another chance in the form of Rittenhouse Square.

Not your typical park, Rittenhouse Square is a large green space located in the Southwest region of Philadelphia amidst restaurants, apartment buildings, and dozens of shops.  It boasts tall trees for shade, plenty of grass for a picnic or Frisbee toss, and ample benches for reading. For someone like me, who is not quite ready to leave the luxuries of the city, Rittenhouse Square and its counterparts; Washington Square, Logan Square, and Franklin Square offer an appealing balance of nature and city.
             I could relax on the grass with the comforting knowledge that a café with wifi was a mere fifty yards away.  While I thought I would be checking my watch and itching to get back into air conditioning, I found myself reconnecting with the city. I could take in the beautiful architecture of the area and felt a sense of community with my fellow park goers. Places like Rittenhouse Park are priceless in a busy city like Philadelphia. They offer an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the hot city in the summer.  Whether you plan to spend your day lying beneath the trees or just to take five minutes to sit on a bench, these patches of green are a great place to recharge your battery and take a moment to appreciate Philadelphia.