By, Brianne Harrison
No matter what age you are or how you like to spend your free time, Bucks County offers something for everyone! Formed by William Penn in 1682, Bucks County has enjoyed a colorful history and is now a popular tourist destination as well as a wonderful place to live.
Museums and Historical Spots
Those who like spending time in unusual museums will find Doylestown a perfect spot to visit. The charming county seat not only boasts beautifully preserved 19th and early 20th century architecture, but is also the home of four highly respected museums.
The Mercer Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in pre-industrial America. The 6-storey structure, constructed from reinforced concrete, was built between 1913 and 1916 by eight day laborers, a horse named Lucy, and Henry Chapman Mercer, an historian, architect, archaeologist, collector and ceramist who belonged to one of the county's most distinguished families. Mercer believed that the story of human progress and accomplishments was told by the tools and objects people used. The museum houses 50,000 artifacts, 60% of which are on display. These include a Conestoga wagon, a 2,000-year-old whale oil lamp, and Native American tools and implements which date as far back as 8,000 B.C. Trades as wide-ranging as cider pressing, blacksmithing and needlework are represented. One of the more unusual exhibits is a 19th century vampire hunting kit, which includes powdered garlic and a gun with silver bullets!
Every Mother's Day Weekend, the Mercer Museum hosts the Folk Fest, a family-friendly event designed to entertain and give the community a chance to experience history. Over ninety costumed artisans give demonstrations in making early American crafts and sell their wares, allowing festival-goers to land mom that fabulous, last-minute gift! Entertainers on two stages include folk singers, jugglers and puppeteers; and special demonstrations include glass-blowing, shoemaking, sheep shearing, blacksmithing, hearth cooking and pit sawing. The 6th Pennsylvania regiment sets up a pre-Revolutionary War-era encampment where you can learn what it was like to be an 18th century soldier. A craft tent, mini farm with animals, dress up trunk, hayride and horse-powered carousel delight the kids. All proceeds from the event benefit the educational programs of the Bucks County Historical Society.
Located not far from the Mercer Museum is Fonthill, Henry Mercer's former home. Built between 1908 and 1912, employing the same methods used to construct the museum, the house boasts 44 rooms, 180 fireplaces and more than 200 windows of various shapes and sizes. On display inside is an eclectic collection of Persian, Chinese, Spanish and Dutch tiles as well as 900 prints from Mercer's extensive collection-which numbers more than 5,000-and includes etchings from such well-known artists as Durer, Hogarth, and Van Leyden.
For those interested in seeing the house, guided tours, behind the scenes tours, holiday events and murder mysteries are offered. The mansion sits on 60 beautiful, wooded acres which are open to the public. Every summer, the estate hosts an old fashioned Fourth of July celebration, which includes such time-honored pursuits as a 19th century baseball game, watermelon eating contests, pony rides and a picnic basket raffle.
Located on the grounds of the Fonthill Estate is the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. This organization was formed by Mercer in 1898, and the building was constructed in 1910. It was built in the style of Spanish Mission churches in California, and the exterior is decorated with tile mosaics. The Tile Works is a "working history" museum, and tiles are still produced and available for sale there.
Located next to the Doylestown library, across the street from the Mercer Museum, is the Michener Museum, named for Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Bucks County native James Michener. This unusual looking building was once the local prison; it was transformed into an art museum and opened in September 1988. Since then, it has undergone two expansions to become the lovely place it is today. The museum has over 2,500 pieces in its collection-works by Bucks County artists, other well-known painters, sculptors and artisans, and an exhibit paying homage to other local luminaries, such as Oscar Hammerstein and Moss Hart.
Anyone interested in visiting historic parks need look no further! Bucks County was at the very center of the American Revolution, and you can still visit such spots as Valley Forge, where Washington and his troops spent the bleak winter of 1777-1778, and, of course, Washington's Crossing. The park is just across the Delaware river, near Trenton, NJ, and consists of 841 acres of parkland with a visitor's center.
Not for nothing is Bucks County known as a "genius belt". The home of writers and artists both famous and not boasts an extensive cultural community. Two local theatres, Town and Country Players and the Bucks County Playhouse, cater to the dramatic crowd. Town and Country Players is a non-profit community theater which has been going strong for more than 50 years. From April to October, locals flock to the 230-year-old converted barn to enjoy theatre-in-the-round performed by amateur community thespians.
Bucks County Playhouse, a New Hope landmark since the 1930's, has enjoyed a highly distinguished life. Long known as a "pre-Broadway" theatre, where new plays and new talent could be tried out, the Playhouse has hosted such stars and legends as Bob Fosse, Liza Minelli, Grace Kelly, John Lithgow and Angela Lansbury. The theatre mainly stages musicals and children's theatre.
Longing for the golden age of movie theatres, when the popcorn was fresh, the theatres were small and you weren't bombarded with commercials for Coca Cola? Doylestown's County Theatre is the answer to your prayers! Built in 1938, the art-deco theatre was enormously popular until the rise of television forced it to close in the 1970's. In 1992, Closely Watched Films, a local society dedicated to showing art films, leased the property and reopened it in 1993 as a non-profit community-based project. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the local community, the County was renovated in 1997 and restored to its former beauty. True to the goals of Closely Watched Films, the County shows mostly art-house, independent and foreign films. It also shows old classics through its Hollywood Summer Nights program. Even a trip to the snack bar is unusual: shoulder-to-shoulder with the gummy bears and Raisinettes are Ghirardelli chocolate bars and biscotti in several different flavors. Anything you could possibly imagine is available to sprinkle on your popcorn; and yes, that includes butter and salt.
Those who love to sing are welcome to audition for the Bucks County Choral Society. What began in 1973 as a small group of locals who wanted to form a choir has grown to become the premier choral ensemble in the area. They have toured Europe and performed twice in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Their upcoming concert will feature works by Handel, Beethoven and Mozart, among others.
Shopping
No sleepy villages, these. The towns of Bucks County are bustling commercial spots chock full of chic stores stocked with interesting and unusual articles.
The towns of Doylestown and New Hope are especially well-known for their shopping. Doylestown's two main streets are lined with buildings dating back to the early and mid 19th century, which house all manner of shops. For those searching for unique clothing, there are Chelsea, Lily of the Valley and Bucks County Dry Goods, which offer an intriguing selection of stylish, high-quality clothes and housewares by companies such as Free People and Jonathan Adler. If you're heading to Ascot or just need some special headgear for a summer wedding, stop in Sayde Rose, a shop specializing in exquisite, almost pastry-like hats. Gentlemen seeking clothes for special occasions should try Vantresca's, a men's clothiers which specializes in tuxedoes and formal wear.
For the scrapbooker, model-train enthusiast or general crafter, there's Herb's Hobbies and Crafts, offering everything from cake decorating tools to Breyer model horses. Catering to the latest craft craze are two knitting shops: Forever Yarn and Lisbet's Knitting Café. Quilters and sewers love browsing the extensive selection at Sew Smart Fabrics on State Street.
The equally charming village of New Hope is the place to go for antiques, a fact all aficionados are aware of. Well-known as a Mecca for creative people, New Hope is also an excellent spot to find art, as it houses numerous galleries which cater to all tastes and budgets.
For a truly unique shopping experience, take some time to enjoy Peddler's Village, located conveniently in-between New Hope and Doylestown. Designed to look like an 18th century village, with winding brick paths, a stream, a mill and quaint little shops, Peddler's Village features 70 specialty shops spread out over 42 acres, the Golden Plough Inn, and several restaurants. Giggleberry Fair caters to the young crowd, who love the fully restored 1920's carousel, the game room and the mountain obstacle course. The village hosts several events throughout the year, including a scarecrow display and competition in the fall, the Strawberry Festival, fine arts and crafts show, a gingerbread house competition and display, and a holiday open house and Grand Illumination.
If the weather's too cold, hot or rainy, there are three malls located within forty minutes of Doylestown. The Willow Grove Mall, located about twenty minutes from Doylestown, was once the site of an early 20th century amusement park. Antique banners for such sideshow acts as the strong man and the bearded lady, as well as old carousel horses, are still on display inside the mall. Also twenty minutes from Doylestown is the Montgomery Mall, in North Wales. If you're willing to go a little further, the King of Prussia Mall, forty minutes away by the turnpike, is well worth it. The largest mall on the east coast, it has eight department stores (including a Nordstom and Bloomingdale's) as well as 365 shops, ranging from Gap Kids to Cartier, Tiffany's and Armani Exchange. Great for window shopping!
Relaxation and Recreation
Worn out after a long week of work, or just want to treat yourself to a manicure? Bucks County is home to dozens of spas, at least four in Doylestown itself. They all offer the usual services: massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, but many offer something a little different. Annodam Day Spa has packages specifically designed to cater to gentlemen and a spa geared towards children called Seedlings; Serenity offers hydrotherapy and massages using essential oils.
The equestrians in the family will enjoy a visit to the Bucks County Horse Park. Established in 1999, the park is comprised of almost 130 acres of trails for riding, carriage driving, hiking, jogging and biking. There are two dressage rings, an all-purpose show ring, cross-country course, two polo fields and a stadium jumping field. Frequent horse shows in all disciplines are open to the public, and every Sunday there's a polo game. The park is only fifteen miles north of Doylestown.
If you're in the mood for a quiet stroll, the canal running parallel to the Delaware river is perfect. Towpaths snake from Lumberville to bucolic Phillip's Mill and beyond, allowing you the opportunity to enjoy nature and the 18th and 19th century stone houses lining the river. You could also take an hour long mule barge ride down the canal while a musician-historian relates canal lore and sings folk songs.
For a little water-related excitement, stop by Bucks County River Country, the east's largest water recreation facility. There, you can rent tubes for a 3-6 mile float down the Delaware, go canoeing in Tinicum or Upper Black Eddy, or take out rafts or kayaks.
Bucks County's parks offer an excellent opportunity to get in touch with nature. Nockamixon State park, spread out over 5,283 acres, is the perfect spot to go boating, fishing, hunting, or biking. A half-acre pool is open in the summer months for swimming; the park is open through the winter for ice fishing, sledding and cross country skiing. Peace Valley Nature Center is an animal preserve with 14 miles of trails snaking through the woods, where you can keep a lookout for birds and the occasional deer.
By, Brianne Harrison
It's the height of summer, and at few places in Bucks County is this as apparent as it is at Doylestown's Central Park on Wells Road. People of all ages have turned out to enjoy the sunshine and the many amenities the park has to offer. Teenagers lounge on the grassy hill, shout greetings to friends, or take to the trails which wind through the woods. Joggers clutching i-Pods run rings around the soccer fields, where a group of youngsters are happily kicking a ball around. There's a party in one of the pavilions, and the smell of ribs and chicken sizzling on the barbeque whets the appetites of everyone nearby. The true centerpiece of the park, however, is Kids Castle, a towering 35-foot wooden playhouse that's the stuff of every child's dreams.
The castle, recently voted Best Playground in Philadelphia Magazine's Best of Philly issue, owes its existence to the sort of enormous community effort for which Doylestown is well known. Local children designed the castle through an art contest held in 1996. The designs were later refined by a committee consisting of community members, architects and children. When the call for help went out, area businesses donated money and volunteers poured in 3,000 strong to erect the now-famous structure, which opened on June 22, 1997. Kids Castle boasts swings, ropes to climb, dozens of nooks and crannies to explore, a downtown promenade designed for toddlers, and its crowning glory: a twisty slide which snakes from the very top all the way to the ground, a must-try for every child visiting.
But Central Park is not only for the young (or young of heart!). Spread out over more than 100 acres, the park is designed to cater to the whole family. There are two basketball courts, five tennis courts, a three-acre multipurpose field, three soccer or hockey fields, even a golf tee! A running track encircles the soccer fields, and the trails snaking through the woods are enticing on hot summer afternoons.
Sports and play aren't the only options, of course. A picnic pavilion is available for rent-a perfect spot for a warm-weather birthday or graduation party. A small, adjacent playground is perfect for children still too young to manage the castle on their own.
During the summer evenings, the Sounds of Summer program takes over the park, treating locals to an eclectic choice which ranges from Gilbert and Sullivan to Irish bands to country music. Supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the shows are all free and tend to draw large crowds (nearly 10,000 people attended the concerts in 2003).
The first weekend in October, the community turns out for the Oktoberfest, held at Central Park. This alcohol-free event, now entering its eleventh year, features rides, games, staged entertainment, a corn maze and a 5k race, along with a chance to meet local representatives, friends and neighbors.
Central Park is located less than five minutes from central Doylestown, adjacent to the Township Building, across the street from the Doylestown Lea residential development. The park is open year round, but Kids Castle closes when the first hard frost sets in and opens in mid-April.