Philadelphia Excursions

For a Half Day

Valley Forge: Valley Forge National Historical Park (tel: (610) 783 1077; website: www.nps.gov/vafo) is one of the most revered shrines of the American Revolution. George Washington's Revolutionary army camped here during the bitter winter of 1777-78. The site contains original 18th-century buildings - including Washington's headquarters and a memorial chapel. Located 28km (18 miles) northwest of Philadelphia, on Route 23 and North Gulph Road, it is open daily 0900-1700. Grounds are open daily from 0600-2200. Nearby is the Wharton Esherick Museum, on Horseshoe Trail Road (tel: (610) 644 5822; website: www.levins.com/esh3.html). Known as the ‘Dean of American Craftsmen', this eccentric artist is best known for his sculpted furniture, displayed in his studio-home, along with his paintings, ceramics and woodcuts. It is open Sat 1000-1700; Sun 1300-1700 and other times by appointment. The enormous King of Prussia Mall is also located at Valley Forge.

For a Whole Day

Pennsylvania Dutch Country: Approximately 103km (64 miles) west of Philadelphia along US-30 are the rolling hills and quaint villages known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Here, Amish and Mennonites live an old-fashioned lifestyle without electricity, cars or modern conveniences. They are known for quilts and Shaker-style furniture, plus delicious foods like shoofly pie, funnel cakes, dumplings and homemade root beer. It is important not to photograph the Amish and, since there are slow-moving horse-drawn buggies, to drive carefully on the back roads.

The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, 501 Greenfield Road (tel: 1 800 723 8824/PA DUTCH; website: www.padutchcountry.com), offers a free guide with maps covering highlights of the area. The Heritage Center of Lancaster County, 13 West King Street (tel: (717) 299 6440; website: www.lancasterheritage.com), is a decorative arts museum featuring furniture, silverware and quilts. The Amish Homestead, 2034 Route 30 East (tel: (717) 768 3600; website: www.amishexperience.com), a mid 18th-century farm; and the surrounding towns of Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Strasburg are also worth visiting. 

Bucks County: For quite some time, the old farmhouses and covered bridges that dot the lush countryside have attracted art colonies, summer theatre, country inns and even wineries. Authors Pearl S Buck and James Michener (there is a museum in Michener's honour at Doylestown) as well as lyricist Oscar Hammerstein have called it home. Stone houses, narrow alleys, boutiques and galleries have made the charming town of New Hope a tourist favourite. For further information, contact the Bucks County Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel: (215) 639 0300 or 1 800 836 2825; website: www.buckscountycvb.org).

Hershey: Located in central Pennsylvania's Derry Township, approximately 130km (81 miles) from Philadelphia, this chocoholic Garden of Eden is a fun excursion. The gooey sweet brown stuff and facsimiles of it (like Chocolate Avenue's Hershey kiss street lights and the human kisses, Reese's peanut butter cups and Hershey bars that roam the entertainment complex) are everywhere. It is huge, with Hersheypark (an amusement park featuring 60 attractions, including rides, 10 roller coasters and a zoo), Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and even the elegant Chocolate Spa at Hotel Hershey. Do not miss the 3-D movie complete with sensory effects and dancing candy bars at Hershey World, the official visitor's centre. There are plenty of free samples too (tel: 1 800 437 7439/HERSHEY; website: www.hersheypa.com).