8 Must Do's on a Weekend Getaway to New Hope, Pennsylvania
Situated in the peaceful Pennsylvania countryside – and just an hour north of Philadelphia – Bucks County is a region known for its perfect blend of quaint small-town charm and big city culture. Among those small towns you’ll find New Hope, with its upbeat and colorful main street teeming with eclectic small shops, phenomenal dining, and a few noteworthy boutique hotel stays. Perfectly sandwiched between Philadelphia and New York (and only a 3-hour drive from Washington DC) Bucks County Pennsylvania is a perfect weekend getaway destination for city dwellers who are looking to escape to the countryside.
1. Book a stay at New Hope’s newest luxury boutique hotel
The Riverhouse at Odettes is a small boutique hotel property that sits just around the bend from the bustling shops and restaurants that line New Hopes colorful Main Street. This stunning waterfront property features 38 luxurious guest room and suites, making it just small enough to feel both energizing, yet discreet.
At Odette’s arriving is an experience of its own- photos simply cannot do this property justice, I found myself instantly in awe of its grandeur appearance set against the Delaware River upon arriving. Nearly everything in this hotel is a work of art – from its high drama color schemes, to its salvaged artifacts sprinkled throughout from Odette’s past life as a boisterous cabaret – “Chez Odettes”.
Our guest suite felt nothing short of opulent, and I easily could have spent the entire weekend right there just soaking it all in. Luxury features included a stunning riverfront view and balcony, a sitting room and kitchenette, bath with spa rain shower and plush robes, and a king size feather top bed that was possibly the best night of sleep I have had in my entire life. I could go on and on about this room and how it made me feel, which is exactly what a high-end stay should do. The River house at Odette’s exceeds all expectations, and it is worth every penny. Check out the video feature of our stay at Odettes here on Instagram!
Tip:
If you are seeking a more affordable lodging option, check out some of the surrounding areas outside of New Hope for some budget friendly stays. The Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast located in Langhorne, just 20 minutes outside of New Hope, offers rates starting at just $100.
2. Explore the gardens at Andalusia
Andalusia is a historic mansion and estate situated on the Delaware River about 30 minutes from New Hope. The grounds of Andalusia feature spectacular gardens and native woodlands perfect for an afternoon of exploring. I felt a sense of fairytale magic while strolling the grounds here (pro tip: it also makes for an incredible photo back drop)
To visit Andalusia, you will want to plan in advance in order to reserve your tickets. In addition to self-guided tour options, be sure sure to check out the “Champagne Garden Tours” running on select dates this Summer!
3. Visit Sand Castle Winery for a tasting
Sand Castle Winery sits on 72 sprawling acres overlooking the Delaware River in Erwinna, Pennsylvania (a scenic 20-minute drive from New Hope). Designed to look exactly as it sounds, like a life size sandcastle – this winery is certainly one of a kind. Stop by for a tasting of their selection of award winning, estate grown wines and learn a bit along the way from their enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. Pro Tip – The Rosé is phenomenal. Be sure to book your visit ahead of time by visiting their website here.
Tip:
If you plan on visiting Sand Castle Winery & will be traveling there from New Hope be sure to set aside some time to explore the small towns you will pass through along Route 32. A few charming spots you may want to check out: Lumberville, Point Pleasant, and Frenchtown NJ!
4. Explore New Hopes eclectic shops and dine riverfront at Stella
Among the many things I love about New Hope – perhaps my favorite of them all – is its fantastic collection of colorful and eclectic small shops. Main Street is filled with surprising and unordinary finds; A vintage clothing shop packed with 70’s flare, a record shop, and even a shop dedicated to all things crystals, cauldrons and tarot reading cards.
Once you’ve shopped to your hearts content, its time to wine and dine at one of New Hopes best restaurants. Stella sits along the riverfront promenade and is tucked within The Ghost Light Inn. Dining at Stella was an absolute foodie delight! The restaurant is inspired by local ingredients and the menu changes seasonally.
We started with a basket of fresh assorted breads, which may I say were dangerously good. For dinner Brit enjoyed the pan roasted sea scallops with curried cauliflower, lentils, and cilantro-macadamia nut pesto & I had the burgundy rosemary braised beef short ribs. It was absolutely divine *chefs kiss*. Pro tip: Save enough for dessert and a post dinner cocktail! We indulged and had the caramelized white chocolate cheesecake with luxardo cherries and paired it with espresso martinis.
5. Take a tour of Fonthill Castle
Located in Doylestown, just a few miles from New Hope; Fonthill Castle Dates back to the early 1900’s. Dreamed up and brought to life by Henry Mercer as a place to showcase his life work as a renowned archeologist, artifact collector, and tile-maker. Mercer’s eccentric personality and many obsessions are personified and seemingly frozen in time inside Fonthill’s over 40+ rooms and corridors. This off beat castle is one of a kind and certainly a must visit while in the area, be sure to book your tour in advance!
6. Step back in time at the Mercer Museum
Once you’ve finished your tour at Fonthill, head over to The Mercer Museum to explore another of Henry Mercer’s castles located in Doylestown. Unlike Fonthill, which was built to be Mercer’s home, the Mercer museum was built to exhibit his massive collection of preindustrial artifacts from everyday life in America. While that might not sound exciting, the presentation of the items inside the Castles 6-story concrete atrium is what sets this place apart, making it feel as if you’ve stepped on to the set of a Harry Potter film.
Wandering through all 6 levels of the museum is a unique experience and one filled with many strange & interesting items and treasures. Tickets to the Mercer Museum can be purchased here! Be sure to leave time in your itinerary to grab lunch in Downtown Doylestown once you finish up at the museum!
7. Visit the charming shops at Peddler’s Village
A visit to Peddler’s Village feels much like stepping straight into a story book with its enchanting gardens, winding brick pathways and colonial styled shop fronts. The Village features over 60+ boutique shops, over 90% of which are small locally owned businesses (how awesome is that?) in addition to a variety of charming cafes and restaurants. Check the calendar on their website before you visit to catch one of the many festivals that happen each year at Peddlers.
8. Tour the beautiful countryside home of Pulitzer prize winning author, Pearl Buck
Bucks County has no shortage of extraordinary people who have once called it home. Perhaps most notable of them all was Pearl Buck, a Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning American author known widely for her humanitarian work. Her picturesque 86-acre estate is now a National historic landmark where visitors can tour her home and learn about her legacy.
During our visit we took a unique and interactive tour around the estate called “Taking Action” which centers around Pearls life experiences as well as the many humanitarian causes that she fought for during her lifetime. The special thing about this tour is the interactive and conversational element. In each room and with every story our tour guide asked us thought provoking questions relating the injustices of the past back to those happening in the world today. It was personal, and inspirational and probably one of the most meaningful historical tours I have ever been on. Visit their website for more information on booking this tour and visiting the property.
The ways to spend a weekend getaway experiencing New Hope and the surrounding area are simply limitless and will almost certainly leave you planning your return. Check out Visit Bucks County for more on everything this beautiful region has to offer and get planning your own escape.
A big thank you to Visit Bucks County for generously hosting us and covering the costs of our visit. All recommendations and reviews remain genuine, these opinions are my own.
