Philadelphia has many places of interest but few have the same view you get from the Belmont plateau.

The plateau's name comes from Belmont Mansion, a Georgian-style house that served as the "summer retirement" home of colonist William Peters. In the summer, it's host to the Greek Picnic. Because of its relatively flat surface, it's also a popular spot for cross-country runners and bicyclists to test their endurance. The Plateau also has baseball and softball fields. In the winter, sleds zoom down the plateau's small hills.

Belmont Plateau's perspective on Center City is unparalleled, offering a nearly unobstructed view of the skyline, from the Inquirer Building to the Walt Whitman Bridge. Nature-watchers can spot red-tailed hawks circling the skies above.

Today's Belmont Plateau is quite different from the plateau of the late 80's.  The park was a haven for drug dealers and crime.  Belmont Plateau of the Past

This picture was taken in July during the morning hours on a Saturday.  The night before the park was filled with hundreds of people, police on patrol and even an ambulance making the rounds looking for customers.  This picture is just a small fraction of the trash left behind by the Friday night partiers.

Today the park is full of hikers and mountain bikers on the weekends and offers many activities the whole family will enjoy.