DAY 1 - Covered Bridges, Walking and Biking

Covered Bridges
There are many colorful covered bridges, mostly colored red and/or white, built in the 1800’s, which give the feeling of a slower time.  Here are just a few which are within 30 minutes of Darrah House and will take two to three hours to visit.  For more covered bridges to explore, visit http://www.bccvb.com.

The Loux Covered Bridge is located on Wismer Road built of hemlock in 1874.  Although similar to the other bridges, Loux Bridge is a bit plainer and is known to be the second shortest bridge in the County.

Cabin Run Covered Bridge is located on Covered Bridge Road and was built in 1871.  It crosses Cabin Run Creek and is only a short distance from the Loux Bridge.

Van Sant Covered Bridge, also known as Beaver Dam Bridge, is located on Covered Bridge Road and was built in 1875, it crosses Pidcock Creek.

Pine Valley Covered Bridge, located on Old Iron Hill Road, was built of hemlock and pine in 1842.  It is one of the oldest structures in Bucks County.

Schofield Ford Covered Bridge is located in Tyler State Park on Swamp Road.  It was built in 1873 and burnt down by arsonists in 1991.  Volunteers rebuilt the bridge in 1997, bringing it back to its original design made of hemlock and oak.

When you stay at the Inn, we can give you driving details to all of these wonderful and historic bridges.

Walking and Biking
The Delaware River is a popular and scenic destination for biking and walking in Bucks and Hunterdon County.  The canals are an excellent place to start your trip.  Pennsylvania’s Delaware Canal and New Jersey’s Delaware and Raritan Canal both run parallel to the Delaware River and are accessible at many points along the river.  These paths are completely flat and have crushed rock, a great surface for walking and biking.  Many of the paths along the river start from places like New Hope and Lambertville and are a great way to work up an appetite before heading back to town for dinner, or you can use many of the bridges that cross the river to make a loop back to where you started.  The best bike circuit starts in New Hope, heads through the communities of Lambertville, Stockton and Center Bridge; it totals seven miles and can be completed in an hour and a half.

DAY 2 - Galleries, Antiques, Shopping

Bucks County is famous for its Antique shops and Artist Galleries.  We have developed a list of the "must-see" antique shops, galleries and boutiques in our area.

Peddler’s Village, Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, PA 18931 - 70 Specialty Shops located on 42 acres of landscaped gardens with an old-fashioned atmosphere.  Hours: Mon. - Thur. 10 am - 6 pm; Fri. - Sat. 10 am - 9 pm; Sun. 11 am - 6 pm (215) 794-4000

Bucks County Antique Gallery, 8 Skyline Drive, Chalfont, PA 18914 - A unique shopping experience in one of the largest antique stores in this area.  Hours: Wed. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Sun. 12 - 5 pm. (215) 997-3227

Carol & Friends - In the Village Barn, Rte. 263 & Edison-Furlong Road, Furlong, PA 18925 - Browse through this nostalgic atmosphere and find a collection of estate china and furniture, antiques, and collectibles. Hours: Tues. - Sat. 11 am - 5 pm. (215) 794-0954

Crown & Eagle Antiques, Inc., 4 Yardley Ave., Fallsington, PA 19054 - This antique and craft co-op is located in a historic village where you will find an old-time general store with a creative blend of handcrafted items and antiques.  Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm; Sun. 11 am - 5 pm. (215) 295-0251

Trading Post Antiques, Rte. 413, 532 Durham Road, Wrightstown, PA 18940 - Here you will find a modern antiques co-op filled with 60 showcases and 6,000 sq. ft. of antiques and collectibles in an original 1724 Trading Post.  Hours: 10 am - 6 pm, daily. (215) 579-1020

Yeagle’s, 5860 Route 202, Penn’s Purchase Shopping Center, Lahaska, PA 18931 - Go down memory lane when you visit this family-owned business.  Perfect for the collectors of M.I. Hummel, Walt Disney Classics Collection, Snowbabies, collectors plates, PenDelfin, Looney Tunes and more.  HOURS: Tues. - Thurs. 10 am - 5 pm; Fri. - Sat. 10 am - 8 pm; Sun. 11 am - 5 pm. (215) 794-7756

Day 3 - Historic Places

Pennsylvania is rich in history and Bucks County has many major historic sites.  We have outlined several that we know you will enjoy.

The Moland House
The Moland family’s farmhouse was built of stone in 1750.  In 1777 George Washington made it his headquarters during a 13-day encampment.  During that time, Marquis de Lafayette, 19, joined the Continental Army.  They kept watch from the farmhouse for British Army scouts and prepared for battle.  When George Washington and the Continental Army left the Moland house, they came upon a path which led them to the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

Henry Chapman Mercer
Henry Chapman Mercer was born and died in Doylestown.  He was a historian, archaeologist, artist and tile-maker.  He leaves behind three National Historic Landmarks.

His home, Fonthill, now the Fonthill Museum, is located on 60 acres and was built between 1908 and 1912.  It was made completely of hand-mixed concrete and consists of 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 32 staircases, and over 200 windows of varying size and shape.  Inside this concrete castle are Mercer’s original handcrafted tiles and tiles he collected from around the world.

Henry Mercer also established the Moravian Pottery and Tile Workshop (adjacent to Fonthill).  It was completed in 1912 and is now owned and operated by the Bucks County Historical Society along with his castle, Fonthill, and the Mercer Museum.  His success with his handcrafted, decorative tiles can be seen in Pennsylvania’s State Capitol depicting 400 scenes in the Commonwealth’s history.  These beautiful works of art can also be seen in other buildings throughout the United States and the world.

The Mercer Museum was built between 1913 and 1916 by Mercer himself, and eight laborers, plus a horse (Lucy).  This is another one of Mercer’s castles which homes the Spruance Library - a research library containing over 20,000 volumes of books, periodicals, pamphlets, photographs, maps and more.  A primary source of materials for genealogists and historians.  Henry Mercer’s world-famous collection of ancient artifacts and early American "tools" are displayed here.

Pearl S. Buck House
A National Historic Landmark building, the Pearl S. Buck House was home of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author.  This estate was originally built in 1835 on 60+ acres and is now the site of several special events throughout the year.  It may also be rented for private special occasions or corporate functions.

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck founded two organizations, each which had a tremendous impact on children.  "Welcome House" is an adoption agency for, as Buck referred, "Amerasian" children.  People didn’t want to adopt Indian-Americans at that time, so it became a foster home for children who were put up for adoption.  It has since found more than 7,000 families to learn and care for these underprivileged children.

Later came the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, which provides underprivileged children and their families a chance to be educated and provide cross-cultural experiences.  The goal of the foundation is to make a more humane place in the world for children of every background.