For a perfect view of Philly at dusk, stroll east from Strawberry Mansion Bridge along the Schuylkill River Trail about a half-hour before sunset. Along the way, as the sky slowly changes color, stop every so often to glance behind you as dusk unfolds to the west.
First, you’ll pass by Peter’s Island—a lush mound of trees in the middle of the river. Up ahead, Columbia Bridge is a stunner, with its stately stone passageways curving over the water. Then there are the cool public artworks—like Big Bling, Playing Angels and a fading mural dedicated to Schuylkill rowing clubs in the rocky tunnel just before Girard Bridge.
If you time it right, you’ll end up at Boathouse Row just as the lights are switched on, offering you a backstage view of one of Philadelphia’s most-photographed attractions.
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