Philadelphia has one of the largest urban park systems in the country -collectively referred to as Fairmount Park- and the man and I are lucky enough to live very close to one of my favorite parks in the system, Wissahickon Valley Park.

Wissahickon Valley Park includes Forbidden Drive, Devil’s Pool, The Indian (a mysterious statue that I heard about for eight years before finally finding him today on our long Sunday hike) and a multitude of other great places, including the Valley Green Inn (which features Yappy Hour every Tuesday from 5-7pm … bring your pup and enjoy cocktails and snacks, for man and beast alike, on their heated outdoor deck ~ absolutely genius for people like the man and myself who have recently become three).  There is even a section of park where Lucy can run free of her leash and meet up with doggie friends also enjoying their dog park-esque freedom in the woods.

Forbidden Drive is 5.42 miles long and features the only red covered bridge in any major city.

Spring is coming …

The Fingerspan bridge … modern weathering steel bridge (this girl crossed it quickly … I’m not the biggest fan of heights!) Lucy also needed a little persuading.  It was cool walking over the bridge, though, because even though you are totally enclosed, you can see through the walls and the floor and you’re fairly high up, so the view down the stream is pretty gorgeous.

We hiked for about two and a half hours, finding The Indian with some help from fellow hikers.  It was not what I expected, and it’s a steep switch back path from one side to reach him, but well worth it.

The legend of the statue of The Indian has many variations.  I liked the idea that it was an anonymous Lenape Indian Chief watching his people move West as the Eastern lands became over-populated.

This is the view of the river from the foundation of the old Mill (in fact, the last working mill in Pennsylvania!).

As I type, the man and Lucy are working on getting the fire pit roaring outside.  We are going to enjoy a relaxing Sunday evening.  I hope you’re enjoying yours, too!