By Jaimie Yue
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 first 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 glowing Halloween decorations on storefronts and lanterns cast reflections 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 playwright and Bucks County resident Moss Hart.
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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, 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 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 Waffles and Ice Cream is the perfect treat. Its best menu item is right in the name: a warm, fluffy Belgian waffle topped with any flavor of house-made ice cream, all served in a paper tray.
One can find almost every cuisine in New Hope. Taverns, cafes, outdoor restaurants, and wine bars abound in the town. Some famous eateries are Bowman’s Tavern, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant, Nektar Wine Bar, Jaffron Indian Restaurant, etc.
Things to Do
The trails of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower 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 picturesque streets where you’ll learn about a historic ghost-filled inn on Ghost Tours of New Hope. Tours meet at Main and Ferry Streets and private sessions and gift certificates 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 fashions for men and women at Savioni Designer Boutique.
When the state of the world is so uncertain 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 find right nearby.
Links:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ninas-waffles-and-ice-cream-new-hope?osq=ice+cream