Bucks County

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is full of historical charm and conveniently close to Philadelphia. Our suggested routing begins in this delightful area, extends your journey along the Delaware River as it winds its way north, and ends in the Pocono Mountains. Each segment of the trip is different but together they make for a few days’ enjoyable excursion in this part of Pennsylvania.From the city of Philadelphia (for sightseeing suggestions see section beginning on page 51), it is an easy drive into Bucks County taking I-276 to Route 611 north into the heart of the county. This is an area where the weekending crowds from the neighboring cities flee to tend their gardens, mow their lawns, and enjoy life in the country. Scattered about are picturesque towns and villages of great charm with old stone-built homes, some dating back into the 18th century. Here and there are great antique shops and restaurants.Spend a day meandering pleasurably through Doylestown and New Hope with time for antiquing, for a leisurely lunch, and perhaps for attending a performance at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope. A short stroll across the bridge in New Hope takes you into Lambertville, New Jersey, which provides great browsing opportunities for a delightful afternoon. There is nothing more charming than the drive on Route 611 alongside the Delaware Canal and the Delaware River. This is countryside at its best—winding roads force you to take a slower pace, mature trees hang their branches low toward the street and the water, all is green and lush. Opportunities abound to pause to take a photograph, to walk, bike, or run along the old canal, and to stop at one of the many inns for lunch or an overnight stay. From New Hope there is a 2-mile mule-drawn barge trip in the spring, summer, and fall months—a delightful way to relax, to see into the lives of those who live along the river, and to listen to the songs of the history of the canal.Route 611 winds its way north into Easton, a college town and also the home of the National Canal Museum and the Crayola Factory.From Easton continue north on Route 611 to Stroudsburg and then along Route 209 and the Delaware Water Gap. Here you find recreational activity of every available type year round. Whether you enjoy fishing and boating on a lake, skiing on a mountain, whitewater rafting on a fast-running river, hiking, biking, horseback riding, or camping, all these and more are available in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and nearby Pocono Mountains.