Great Plaza At Penn's Landing

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing is a popular destination in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


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Summary

Located along the Delaware River waterfront, the plaza offers many attractions and events throughout the year. Some good reasons to visit include the impressive views of the river and skyline, the variety of festivals and concerts held on the plaza, and the many historic landmarks nearby.

Specific points of interest to see at the Great Plaza include the Independence Seaport Museum, the USS Olympia and USS Becuna submarines, and the RiverLink Ferry. Visitors can also enjoy the seasonal Blue Cross RiverRink, which offers ice skating in the winter and roller skating in the summer.

Interesting facts about the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing include its history as a busy port during colonial times, its use as a concert venue for famous musicians like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, and its role as a backdrop for many films and television shows.

The best time of year to visit the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing depends on personal preferences. Summer offers many outdoor events and activities, including outdoor movies and fireworks displays. Winter brings the popular ice skating rink and holiday festivities. Spring and fall offer milder weather and a quieter atmosphere.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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