The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville Edition June July August 2021

KIDZ CONNECTION PAGE 12 theconnectionsnj.com SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS 1. SHOP & DINE LOCAL 2. GIVE A SOCIAL MEDIA SHOUTOUT 3. BUY A GIFT CARD FOR A FRIEND & ENCOURAGE THEM TO BUY FOR SOMEONE ELSE Find LOCAL options in THE CONNECTION MAGAZINES After months of lockdown, my family and I have been spending our weekends taking day trips to small towns in and around New Jersey. These smaller places offer fresh new sights and experiences. New Hope, PA is a great town to visit as we come out of the pandemic situation. I rst visited New Hope, a scenic small- town on the Pennsylvania border, in October 2019. New Hope is directly adjacent to the Delaware River, and at nighttime, the glow- ing Halloween decorations on storefronts and lanterns cast re ections on the water, roads below and bridges. However, the town is a vibrant place to visit any time of the year. New Hope is perhaps best known for Bucks County Playhouse, or “America’s Most Famous Summer Theater.” According to its website, New Hope was named after the building, which was constructed in 1790 after the Hope Mills burned down. The mill was saved again from demolition in the 1930s when a group of performers renovated it into a theater, which included Broadway play- wright and Bucks County resident Moss Hart. The Bucks County Playhouse opened on July 1, 1939 and stands proudly in New Hope to this day, hosting classes, summer camps, workshops, and its famous year-round plays. View a listing of the shows here: https://bcptheater.org/ On select Sundays, viewers can watch live streams of Buck’s “Word of Mouth” events on their YouTube channel, bcptheater info, in which real people tell real stories with a monthly theme. While you are still in New Hope howev- er, the back courtyard of Bucks County Play- house is the perfect place to look over the riv- er. It provides sightseeing at any time of day or year, allowing for safe, socially-distanced sightseeing in an outdoor environment. At night, the string lights and patio chairs and tables in the back of Bucks County Playhouse are an ideal spot to enjoy food and company. Ice cream is good at any time of year and Nina’s Waf es and Ice Cream is the perfect treat. Its best menu item is right in the name: a warm, uffy Belgian waf e topped with any avor of house-made ice cream, all served in a paper tray. One can nd almost every cuisine in New Hope. Taverns, cafes, outdoor restaurants, and wine bars abound in the town. Some famous eateries are: Bow- man’s Tavern, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restau- rant, Nektar Wine Bar, Jaffron Indian Restaurant, etc. Things to Do The trails of Bowman’s Hill Wild ower Preserve are great for a family walk together while appreciating the meadows and creeks. Ride the New Hope Railroad, a 1925 steam locomotive. Passengers hop aboard for a 45-minute ride through Bucks County’s picturesque countryside. Delaware Canal State Park is a great place for hiking, picnicking, and biking. Join a lantern led walk through pictur- esque streets where you’ll learn about a his- toric ghost- lled inn on Ghost Tours of New Hope. Tours meet at Main and Ferry Streets and private sessions and gift certi cates are available year-round. Boutique shops abound in the town of New Hope. Hand-crafted household items, jewelry and pottery are among the many unique gifts available at Heart of the Home. Look your best with the latest European fash- ions for men and women at Savioni Design- er Boutique. When the state of the world is so uncer- tain and global travel is still a risk, sometimes there is nothing like the value of the small town. Local sights, artwork, and businesses would love your patronage, and you never know what you could nd right nearby. Links: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ninas-waf es- and-ice-cream-new-hope?osq=ice+cream https://www.ninaswaf es.com/ https://bcptheater.org/ https://bcptheater.org/about/history/ https://www.youtube.com/user/bcpthe- aterinfo While you are still in New Hope however, the back courtyard of Bucks County Playhouse is the perfect place to look over the river. It provides sightseeing at any time of day or year, allowing for a safe, socially- distanced sightseeing experience in an outdoor environment. Ride the New Hope Railroad, a 1925 steam locomotive. Passengers hop aboard for a 45-minute ride through Bucks County’s picturesque countryside. VISITING NEW HOPE By Jaimie Yue SUMMER DAY CAMPS Together again. Forever exploring. Making a splash. June 28th to Sept 3rd For kids entering grades K thru10 Activities, daily swimming, weekly themes! Before/After care options & Financial Assistance available gscymca.org/camp SUM VIBES MER DAY CAMP AT SOMERSET HILLS YMCA BRIDGEWATERYMCA | SOMERVILLEYMCA Branches of Greater Somerset County YMCA