Walking & Cycling Tours with Bob Thomas

Bob Thomas at New Jersey Central Turntable No. 3
by: Phil Straus

Parks Alliance Board President Bob Thomas, an architect and historian, leads regular hikes to magical and often unseen places in Philadelphia’s parks and in the countryside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  These evening and daylong adventures convey the history, power, value and preciousness of our open space and the need to preserve and protect it. 

For All Tours, Register by Email to: friends@philaparks.org OR by phone: 215-879-8159.

Scroll down for a list of upcoming tours!

GENERAL INFORMATION:

DIFFICULTY RATINGS

Easy: Good surface, short length, can be enjoyed by almost anyone in good health with good walking shoes.

Moderate: May contain some rough or wet surfaces, some steep paths. Length greater than a "short walk or ride". Can be enjoyed by almost anyone who walks or exercises regularly, and with sturdy shoes, unless otherwise noted.

Challenging: May contain rough surfaces, overgrown areas, and steep terrain. Length may require walking more than 10 miles or most of the day. Can be enjoyed by almost anyone whose stamina allows a full day of exercise, and with hiking boots unless otherwise noted.

RAIN: If raining or threatening, tours will be cancelled and rescheduled unless otherwise noted. Watch for future listings.

FEES:
Evening and half-day tours: $15.00
All-day tours: $30.00

REGISTER EARLY!  Due to the increasing popularity of our tours, we ask that you prepay to reserve your space.  Please register here.  In order to preserve the quality of the tour, all full-day tours have a firm limit of participants as shown. Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list. If you are unable to attend, please let us know at least 48 hours prior to the tour and we will issue a refund and offer your space to the next person on the waiting list.  For additional information, please contact the Philadelphia Parks Alliance: 215-879-8159, friends@philaparks.org.

A $5.00 discount will be applied for members of the following sponsor organizations:

American Institute of Architects; American Society of Landscape Architects; Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia; East Coast Greenway; Green Space Alliance; Hostelling International; Pennsylvania Environmental Council; Philadelphia Parks Alliance; Preservation Alliance; REI; Schuylkill River Greenway Association; Sierra Club; University City Historical Society; Women's Transportation Seminar.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: AIA members are eligible for CE Credits for some of these tours. Contact Pat Schwartz at AIA Philadelphia: pat@aiaphila.org

MEETING PLACES: if not shown, will be given with registration, and are generally accessible by public transportation.

UPCOMING TOURS: 

Stay tuned!

PHOTO GALLERY of past tours!

Touring with Bob featured in the April 2009 issue of Grid Magazine!