Stomp Out Cabin Fever with some Prescribed Nature Time
Spring is here, despite what your eyes may tell you! By now you’re probably in the depths of cabin fever, hopelessly longing for warm days. We want to remind you that as of today, the Vernal equinox is behind us. The clouds will be gone soon, and winter will be a distant memory.
The beginning of spring is a great reminder to get outside. While we believe every day is a great day to spend outside in nature, since August 2017, pediatricians at CHOP centers throughout Philadelphia have actually been prescribing time outside to child patients through the NaturePHL program. The goal of NaturePHL is to increase children’s outdoor play time by prescribing time in Philadelphia’s great outdoor public spaces.
GoPhillyGo wants you to shake that cabin fever, and be healthy and happy this Spring. We’ve picked out some of our favorite places to get out and experience nature. Be sure to check out all of our great destinations, and plan your prescribed nature trip today!
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is an easy SEPTA ride away from Center City. There’s miles of trails, so you can take a nice long walk, and see plenty of wildlife along the way.
Rent an Indego bike and use our bike share directions setting for an easy ride through Fairmount Park. Check out the cherry trees as they begin to bloom. Leading up to the Cherry Blossom Festival in April. Shofuso Tea House and Garden opens on March 24th, and is a great starting point for a hike along the paths in West Fairmount Park.
Across the Delaware, gardens are opening too! Head to the Camden Waterfront for the opening weekend of the Camden Children’s Garden on March 24th. Camden city residents can receive reduced ticket prices.
If you’re interested in a day-long adventure, bike the entire length of Pennypack Path. Read about our recent trip along the trail here.
You can visit the Cobbs Creek and Roxborough CHOP Primary Care centers to get a nature prescription for your child. Both facilities are near trails, and the Cobbs Creek facility is directly across from Cobbs Creek Park. Explore the 3.2 mile paved Cobbs Creek Trail and Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center or hike a lower dirt path that winds along Cobbs Creek .
Whether you get outside in honor of spring or just to get a breath of fresh air, make sure you prescribe yourself some outdoor time as soon as possible. Research shows the more time spent outdoors, the happier all of us are, so plan your trip to a fantastic trail or park on GoPhillyGo today!
