Pack your hammer!

Pack your Hammer for this trip! Yes, you read that right. This adventure was certainly a unique one! In just under 2 hours traveling from New York City, you will arrive in the wooded hills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

This trip is ideal for the spring but the county offers something fun to do in every season! 

First Stop: Boulder Field

If you are looking for a short hike that challenges your balance but isn’t long and strenuous, this is the hike for you. 

Head over to Ringing Rocks! Imagine a field of boulders that you can not only climb across but also hit with a hammer. Each rock has its own unique sound that continues on like music. When you get to the rocks, I promise you will not be alone. Everyone brings a hammer! It is a short walk from the parking lot to the rocks, plus there is a beautiful waterfall if you keep walking along the trail. It will challenge your balance but it’s a lot of fun to climb through the rocks. I highly recommend checking it out! I would also recommend a sturdy shoe or hiking boot to avoid twisting your ankle and ruining the rest of your road trip.  Ringing Rocks is also a campground. You can reserve a spot or a cabin and stay the night! Best part is, it is just minutes away from the Delaware River. Some other local attractions include Nockamixon State Park, Sand Castle Winery, Ralph Stover State Park, Bucks County River Country, Hellerick’s Family Farm,Crayola Experience and Lost River Caverns. 

Next Stop: Shop & Dine

 Peddler's Village has an event for every season. In the springtime it’s all about STRAWBERRY EVERYTHING! I absolutely love this little spot any time of the year. They have a festival for every holiday and every local fruit. Yes, fruit! They have a peach festival, a blueberry festival, an apple festival and so much more. The strawberry festival is usually in the middle of May. I had a blast tasting the shortcake, donuts and even the beer! There are plenty of vendors to check out or you can just relax on the lawn and listen to the music. Some of their festivals include the gingerbread house competition, enchanted evenings and the family mystery walking tours. You can stay at the Golden Plough Inn or find a local Airbnb. Peddlers Village also offers a beautiful wedding experience! 

Day 2: Outdoor Exploring

The next day, it was time to explore the outdoors again. First stop, 500 acres of American History at Washington Crossing Park. The drive to this park comes with breathtaking views along the Delaware river.  I am such a American History nerd so I loved being able to see where George Washington actually crossed the Delaware river!! I teach my students about this so it was pretty amazing to see it in person. If you are not a history nerd like me though, you will still enjoy the views! You can walk across the bridge, check out the turtles, and climb Bowman’s Hill Tower. The view from the top is spectacular and it’s not even a bad climb if you don’t do heights. The park offers some local events as well, including book clubs and hiking tours. Lastly, they are known for their famous reenactments! 

Next Stop: Sweet Treats

After that, it was off to House of Cupcakes in Princeton, NJ to stop in for some road trip treats for the drive home. Princeton is such a nice town to walk around and check out the local shops. If you are looking for a town to just explore for the day, this is a great one. They have everyday flavors including salted caramel, red velvet and my favorite, works in dirt! They also offer seasonal favorites like caramel apple, maple walnut and pumpkin spice.

We also stopped at Terhune Orchards to bring home some healthier sweets! They had pick-your-own strawberries and asparagus, as well as a wine tasting with live music! It was the perfect way to end the trip. The pick-your-own season is from May to October but they offer year-round visiting hours. The Winery hours are Friday through Sunday 12-5pm. The tasting room is actually an adorable 150 year old  red barn! Don’t forget to visit the farm store on your way out for some homemade pies and other treats!

If you are headed to Bucks County, PA I would also suggest stopping at Boyd’s Cardinal Winery to taste their Jalapeño wine. This is a must-try, plus they offer some great recipes for cooking with Jalapeno wine. I know it sounds crazy but it's worth it! They also have agave wine, which has a very unique taste. I loved visiting the wine shop and sitting outside at the wine barrel tables.

While you’re on the wine kick, make sure to check out New Hope Winery. The rustic, adorable barn will be sure to lure you in. Lucky for us, they are reopening in January 2021! This vineyard gives you the ultimate Pennsylvania experience. 

One last thing to remember when planning your road trip, be sure to book with Hotels.com! The secret prices are always a good deal and for every 10 rooms you book, you get one FREE! You can’t go wrong. If you don’t feel ready for a hotel yet, you can book with Airbnb for a safe and comfortable vacation with a stay-home feel. 

If you are looking to book your Bucks County Vacation but you don’t know where to start, check out Visitbuckscounty.com. You can choose from many hotels based on your comfort level. I love that you can look up the best “main streets” in the county to explore. There’s nothing better than walking up and down main street when checking out a new place! 

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy a mini getaway! This trip is less than 2 hours from NYC and filled with affordable and seasonal attractions for any time of the year!