Along the Delaware River: Exploring Destinations in Bucks County
Bucks County along the Delaware River holds several intriguing destinations worth visiting. Personally I believe the best time to visit is fall but any warmer time of the year would be lovely. The river’s refreshing scenery, combined with the rich heritage of the rolling countryside, and luxurious upscale living bring a touch of elegance to this trip. I love that there is a little something for everyone blending history and architecture with art, nature, fine dining, and entertainment. Any one of these destinations can be a trip in and of itself or combinations can be made or even a multi-day trip to cover it all at once.
Pennsbury Manor:
The authentically reconstructed country home of Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn, Pennsbury Manor is pleasantly situated on the Delaware River allowing for scenic picnicking. This 43-acre plantation contains the manor and various outbuildings to support the big house. The Welcome Center has an introductory film clip and a comprehensive museum educating the visitor about the life and times of Penn along with a history of the Manor. Tours of the home and grounds are offered lasting approximately 1 ½ hours. Our family took a day trip here a couple of years ago on a fantastically beautiful fall day the kids had off school. Honestly it was one of my favorite trips, in part because of the weather, but everything about it was just perfect for our family of school-aged kids. My oldest daughter had just finished a unit on William Penn and it was neat to see the history come alive for her. The docent kept the tour fascinating for kids, the museum was actually interesting (!), sitting by the river watching the kids throw pebbles into the water made me have a warm, fuzzy feeling, and the spectacularly beautiful fall foliage on the PA turnpike all helped to make this trip memorable for years to come.
Want to do a whirlwind mansions tour?
Once the playground for the super rich and famous, the banks of the Delaware River north of Philadelphia was home to many grand “country estates” during the 18th and 19th centuries. Unfortunately, the industrial age and expanding population brought about the demise of most of these estates, including a particularly outstanding one. The eldest brother of Napoleon, one-time king of Spain ousted by the collapse of the Empire and Battle of Waterloo, Joseph Bonaparte fled and settled on the Delaware River building a massive estate of more than 1000 acres, elaborately landscaped with lush gardens, fountains, vistas, and even an artificial lake. Additionally, his art collection was considered to be the finest in America at the time. The elegant mansion Point Breeze is gone now, demolished, along with the original Pennsbury Manor. Luckily, a few gems remain, maintained by private foundations or government programs and are open for tours.
Andalusia is a rather unusual mansion altered in the 1830’s by Thomas Ustick Walter, also responsible for the wings of the U.S. Capitol building, to resemble the Greek Parthenon! Home to a former president of the 2nd United States Bank in Philadelphia Nicholas Biddle, it remained in the family until well into the 20th century helping to preserve the interior from very little change. Visitors today can tour the home and the surrounding gardens ($20/person), and like so many other former estates it has become a popular event venue. The gardens here are quite extraordinary, comparable to anything I’ve seen in Charleston, South Carolina at some of the famous plantations. The whole property is truly an oasis of beauty on the Delaware River.
Glen Foerd, an Italianate structure just down the river, is another spectacular estate, commissioned in the mid-nineteenth century and dramatically altered in 1902. Almost immediately after the renovations, the wealthy industrialist Robert Foerderer died leaving his widow to make it a home. An avid art collector, she amassed quite a collection of fine arts including sculptures, rare books, and furniture. Eventually, her daughter continued the work until her death in 1971. The Fairmount Park Commission in conjunction with a private conservation group maintain the home as a public park and museum. Visitors can tour the grounds including the lovely river view, along with open house hours on Saturdays from April to December, all for free! The interior is quite striking and would be well worth a visit.
Washington Crossing Historic Park:
Located further north sits Washington Crossing Historic Park commemorating the famous river crossing of George Washington on Christmas day 1776 during the American Revolution. Visitors can take a tour of park grounds learning about the events leading up to that critical turning point in America’s struggle for freedom. Recreated boats are housed on site used by re-enactors every year on Christmas day. Various other historic structures round out the tour experience including the Thompson-Neely House and Mill.
Our family particularly enjoyed the Mill tour as we got a tutorial of how wheat was processed at that time, which was a rather lucrative and important industry in colonial times. Another worthwhile site to explore is the Bowman’s Hill Tower, a rather odd structure situated atop a large hill commanding a bird’s eye view of the Delaware River and surrounding Bucks county countryside. The tower is 125 feet high with an interior spiral staircase resembling a lighthouse. Built in 1929 to commemorate what may have been a lookout point in the Revolutionary War, it has become a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike. We attempted to visit in fall but unfortunately missed the peak season for foliage-viewing but nonetheless, the kids enjoyed climbing the stairs and being up so high. Spring would be an ideal time to take a walk through the Wildflower Preserve located at the base of Bowman’s Hill.
New Hope:
I visited New Hope a few times as a child, but have yet to take my family for more than a passing drive through. Located a short way north of the park, this popular tourist destination is charming and artsy. One unique feature is the proximity of the canal, which runs through the town parallel to the Delaware River.
The Delaware Canal State Park is a wonderful place to bike, hike, boat, and learn the history of the canal-building era. The New Hope Railroad offers nostalgic train rides in and around the town, perfect for young families.
Peddler’s Village is a sprawling outdoor mall complex containing a myriad of quaint shops, restaurants, hotel, and a family entertainment center. Artists display their work throughout the cobblestoned walkways, and you can participate in the arts with a show at the iconic Bucks County Playhouse. Young children will appreciate the Bucks County Children’s Museum, loaded with hands-on activities and fun while you learn. Dining options here are ample and diverse, so do plan to be in New Hope for a meal.
Want more?
Consider visiting these noteworthy Bucks County destinations further north, although they are not located directly on the riverfront. The town of Doylestown has many unique sites primarily featuring the works of Henry Mercer. Check out this previous post I wrote to learn more. http://www.daytrippermom.com/fonthill-and-mercer-museum-doylestown/ Besides the usual activities of hiking and picnicking, the Ringing Rocks Park has a peculiar feature which draws tourists. You can bring a hammer and strike a rock in the large boulder field and hear it ring like a bell! The park is also home to the largest waterfall in Bucks County.
I always glean inspiration when I write these posts, but this particular post has given me a refreshing perspective and rekindled the fire I have for day tripping. You could spend a lot of money and time on a big, fancy trip somewhere far away, and yes, you would have fun…but if you don’t have the time and money for that, there are so many wonderful trip ideas nearby. The Delaware River has stimulated a variety of tourist destinations on its shores just waiting to be explored. Make plans to see for yourself!
