cd

We are thinking of a last minute road trip next week to Valley Forge, Lancaster, Intercourse Pa. Can you recommend attractions and places of interest? We like to explore new areas that we have not been to that has Historical meaning. Any information is welcomed and appreciated.

schmerl

I live about ten minutes away from Valley Forge Park and lived here many years before I actually took a formal tour of the park. Go to the visitors' center...do a tour, etc.
Here's a site with info:
http://www.valleyforge.org/things-to-do/national-park/

Fra_Diavolo

I guess depending on how long you've been together, Intercourse might be of historical interest.

cd

schmerl, what else do you like or enjoy in your area? Or area's within a day's drive?

Amy

I really like the Landis Valley open-air Museum in Lancaster. http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-lancaster.cfm It's lovely this time of year.

Of course, if you want to come into Philadelphia on your trip, there's a long, long list I can give you...

vincenzo32951

Longwood Gardens.
Hershey Park.

(I was betting an Intercourse joke would be in the first reply.)

Vttraveler

The Ephrata Cloister is NE of Lancaster, very interesting.

Birdie

Schmerl, I used to live 10 min away from Valley Forge! In Paoli.
You might find the Wharton Esherick museum interesting.

http://www.whartonesherickmuseum.org/index.html

There are some beautiful arboretums in the area which should be gorgeous now.

http://www.chanticleergarden.org
http://www.mainlinetoday.com/Main-Li...listing/26892/

When I'm in Lancaster, I just enjoy biking or driving through the farmlands. Sunday is a great day because a lot of Amish are out in their buggies rather than working in the houses and fields.

elberko

I live about 10 miles from VFP, too!

The Esherick Museum Birdie mentioned is great...ashamed to say I didn't get there till last year. Note you MUST have a reservation.

schmerl

Others have already answered with some things I would recommend....Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, etc.
Or course there is the historical area in Philadelphia as well. You could take the train into the city.

cd

Thank you all! I will be printing this out and looking up all your suggestions! Thanks again
Amy re: Philadelphia, I would love to have a list from you. We have been twice but I am sure there is something that I have missed and
Independence Square is always worth going back to. Tell me about the train. Where would we catch it? might be worth a round trip instead of driving.

Amy

Philadelphia...a "just the very beginning" list:

MUSEUMS:
Barnes (Impressionist Art, reservations needed; one of a kind)
Rodin Museum (small, near the Barnes)
Philadelphia Museum of Art
National Museum of American Jewish History (fairly new; I really like it)
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (it's got its own sphinx, plus CuXi's crystal ball and loads of other treasures)
Philadelphia History Museum

HISTORIC SITES:
Independence Hall complex
Carpenters' Hall
Dolly Madison house
Elfreth's Alley/Christ Church
City Hall (tours, and a great view from the tower)
Wanamaker Building (department store; go for the organ concerts!)
Mansions of Fairmount Park
Franklin Court Museum

ONE OF A KIND:
Reading Terminal Market
Shofuso/Pine Breeze Villa
Eastern State Penitentiary
Italian Market
Franklin Square
Magic Gardens (South Street mosaic museum and garden)
Dream Garden (mosaic of quite a different kind in Curtis Building, right across from Independence Hall; one of the most beautiful things in the city, in my opinion)

NATURE:
Bartram's Garden
Wissahickon/Forbidden Drive
Schuylkill River Trail/Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk
Tinicum Wildlife Refuge (John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum)
Fairmount Park Horticultural Center (near Shofuso)

Pix of a few of these are here: http://missalg.tumblr.com/


FOOD: Okay, that's a thread of its own (do check for the latest bits, though.) http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...iladelphia.cfm

It's such a marvelous city for just walking, too! You can walk from one feast to another if you like to have a goal in mind.

cd

Wow, what a list Amy! Thank you so much! I doubt if we will visit any this next week but our son thinks he will be in Philadelphia for a couple of months this summer on business, so this will really come in handy both for us and for him