Pathways along the Schuylkill River are favorites for cyclists, joggers and strolling couples. RELATED LINKS Philadelphia City Guide

Fairmount Park has thousands of acres of greenery, miles of recreational trails, dozens of historic buildings, a major art museum and America's first zoo. The expansive park straddles the Schuylkill River northwest of downtown Philadelphia and has something for everyone. In addition to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which anchors the southern end of the park, Fairmount Park highlights include:

The Fairmount Park Houses
Preserved within the park are a number of 18th- and early 19th-century mansions that once served as country retreats for affluent Philadelphians. The homes are now open as historical museums focusing on domestic life of early America. Visit the homes on your own, or join a guided tour offered by the Park House Guides of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. See the Fairmount Park website for information.

Boat House Row
An association of private boating clubs known as the Schuylkill Navy has been holding rowing regattas on the Schuykill (skoo-kul) River since the 1850s. Fifteen of their picturesque Victorian-era boat houses can be seen along the east bank north of the art museum.

The Philadelphia Zoo
Founded in 1874, the zoo houses more than 1,400 animals from around the world at a 42-acre complex on the west bank of the Schuylkill, with some of the original Victorian-era buildings and landscaping preserved. See www.philadelphiazoo.org.

Japanese House and Garden
The Japanese House, as Philadelphians call this replica of a 16th-century Japanese house, was built in 1953 for temporary exhibition by New York's Museum of Modern Art. The structure was moved to a permanent location in Fairmount Park's Japanese tea garden in 1958 and is open to visitors daily from May through October. See

Weekends on West River Drive
Saturdays and Sundays from April through October, this scenic park road is closed to automobile traffic, making it a festive venue for cyclists and roller-skaters. Drive Sports offers bikes and skates for rent from a trailer at Boat House Row.