New Hope

The cosmopolitan village of New Hope, a hodgepodge of old homes, narrow streets and alleys, courtyards, and busy restaurants, attracts artists, shoppers, hordes of day-trippers and motorcyclists, who clog both streets and boutiques on summer weekends. It's also one of the East Coast's most popular weekend getaways among gays and lesbians. The town, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is easy to explore on foot; the most interesting sights and stores are clustered along four blocks of Main Street and on the cross streets—Mechanic, Ferry, and Bridge streets—which lead to the river. Some parts of town are older than others. As you might guess from their names, Ferry Street dates back to colonial times; Bridge Street is Victorian.