Ridley Creek State Park
Ridley Creek State Park encompasses over 2500 acres of Delaware County woodlands and meadows. Park visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities year round.Activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, picknicking, fishing, cross country skiing, sledding,etc.
The restrooms in picnic areas #7 and #17 are open year round. There are hundreds of picnic tables in 14 picnic areas. Each area is equipped with restrooms and charcoal grills. Several of the areas have large fields suitable for sports. Areas #3, #8, #11 and #17 have playground equipment and picnic pavillions. Pavillions are on a first come, first serve basis.
Ridley Creek is stocked with trout and provides excellent angling. The portion of the creek from Sycamore Mills Dam to the mouth of Dismal Run is a catch and release, fly fishing only area. The park has about 13 miles of hiking trails,about 5 miles of biking/jogging trails(Bikes are prohibited on unpaved hiking trails), and about 4.7 miles of horseback riding trails.(www.hiddenvalleyhorsefarm.com)
There are gardens by the park office that are a popular attraction and wedding site. The mansion ballroom is available for weddings and events.
Organized Group Tenting is available to qualified organized groups and is available from April to October. Also on the grounds of the park is the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation that has been a working farm for over 300 years. It has been restored to a late 18th century appearance complete with animals typical of the period and authentically clothed historical interpreters.
(All info above courtesy:http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ridleycreek/index.htm)
Newlin Grist Mill
The Newlin Grist Mill is located at 219 Cheyney Road in Glen Mills, PA. The Newlin Grist Mill, a 1704 grist mill and 150 acre park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of several working grist mills in Pennsylvania.The mill was operated by Nathaniel Newlins descendants until 1817 as a commercial mill grinding a variety of grains. The mill was in operation until 1941 and the original dam and mill race are still supplying power to the mill today. Visitors can still watch corn being ground like it was in Colonial times. The park office was once a train station and trains use to stop there and load milled grains to be transported to ports like Wilmington. From there the grains would be prepared for shipment to the colonies. The park includes 150 acres of nature walks, trout fishing ponds and streams,picnic areas, baseball diamonds and a playground.
(all info above courtesy:thebrandywine.com)
More info visit:newlingristmill.org
John Heinz Wildlife Refuge
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is one of more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. The refuge is situated in Philadelphia and Delaware counties. It is home to the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania, a 145 acre manmade pond and more than 300 bird species. Of the 300 species of birds, more than 80, nest within the refuge, including bald eagles. In addition to birds the refuge is home to frogs, turtles and snakes....none of which are venomous. It is also not uncommon to see groundhogs, fox, deer, rabbits and other mammals as well.
With such an abundance and variety of wildlife, bird watching and photography are popular activities at the refuge. Once as large as 6000 acres, the marshland was once home to the Lenape Indians. There are ten miles of trails that loop throughout the refuge and its habitats. All trails are open to nikers and many are open to cyclists as well. Within the grounds og the refuge is the Cusano Environmental Education Center built to promote the refuge's education based mission. The building, built with the "green theme" in mind, is built on stilts so as to impact the flow of water around the building's footprint as little as possible. The building uses solar power, geothermal heating and cooling and recycled builing materials. Floors are made of recycled tires while recycled water bottles make up some of the decking and recycled chalkboards are used in the classrooms. The refuge offers several interesting hiking trails for individuals, couples, families and groups. Bring a camera, a picnic lunch or just a bottle of water and make a day of it enjoying nature at its finest.
The refuge is open year round from sunrise to sunset.
(all info courtesy: planphilly.com)
