13 Reasons to Visit Bucks County in 2013

13 Reasons to Visit Bucks County in 2013

Bucks County is the place to be in 2013! From exciting new exhibits to fantastic festivals, this charming Philadelphia suburb is buzzing with things to do all year-round. Here are 13 reasons to check out what Bucks County has to offer this year:

For a complete list of things to do in Bucks County, check ou VisitBucksCounty.com.

1. The Michener Art Museum in Doylestown celebrates its 25th anniversary with an exciting exhibit on Grace Kelly’s life from October 31, 2013 through January 26, 2014. The Michener is the first American venue for this interactive exhibition with Prince Albert of Monaco attending the opening!
2. Peddler’s Village in Lahaska will celebrate a new summer festival this year. “Blueberries and Bluegrass” is scheduled for Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. All are invited to enjoy a weekend full of blueberry treats and entertainment from swinging bluegrass and country music to children’s activities and games
3. Takethe kids to Sesame Place and enjoy Twilight admission on your first visit and the next consecutive day is FREE! This new package includes a one-night stay at a Sesame Place preferred hotel, admission to the park after 3 p.m. on your first day, a meal at any of the park’s three restaurants and a family photo! Valid April 27 through June 24.
4. The Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center will open its doors after a lengthy renovation. Witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 10 and meet George Washington himself. The new Visitor Center will feature 17,000 square feet of space, a 247-seat auditorium, state-of-the-art artifact storage system, dedicated exhibit galleries, an expanded gift shop and a new multi-purpose event and education room.
5. See the story of both women’s and baseball history come to life at the Mercer Museum in 2013. The new “Linedrives and Lipstick: The Untold Story of Women's Baseball” exhibit opens January 26 through March 17. Learn about the forgotten side of America's national pastime with images and selections from one of the nation's largest collection of women's baseball memorabilia. 
6. Green Hills Farm, the former home of Nobel Prize winning author Pearl S. Buck and her family, will undergo the final phase of an eight-year restoration project with a grand re-opening celebration planned for June 26, Pearl S. Buck’s birthday. The national historic landmark home will re-open with refinished floors, fresh paint and surfaces, more artifacts on display and new electrical wiring throughout.
7. In addition to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Pride Parade May 12-19, New Hope Celebrates will host the 2013 Regional Pride conference. The conference begins March 8 and allows members to network, learn new methods to market LGBT Pride and explore all that New Hope and Bucks County have to offer.
8. Brace yourself for the next big thing to hit building designs—a carbon zero home! Imagine a structure that is built with recycled products, heats and cools itself, gathers its own water, recycles its own waste, and produces food. All this is possible with an Earthship. Scheduled to be completed in Spring 2013, the Earthship at Silver Lake Nature Center is the only place in this part of the country where you can see a building of this magnitude.  
9. Shady Brook Farm turns 100 years old! From its humble beginnings selling produce off the back of a truck, a century later, the Fleming Family has evolved Shady Brook into a farm that still grows acres of fruits and veggies, boasts a large farm market and garden center, and is known regionally for its seasonal events such as the Holiday Light Show and Pumpkinfest. A festive 100th birthday party will take center stage in June!
10. Check out our hotels’ new digs! Centre Bridge Inn recently completed their new River Room reception are that now features an additional second floor balcony overlooking the river. The Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia NE- Bensalem renovated and re-branded from a Hampton Inn.  The InnPlace Hotel Bensalem, located directly in front of PARX Casino, will begin renovations in 2013 to become a full-service hotel. The Hampton InnWarrington/Doylestown is undergoing a $400,000 renovation in the first quarter of 2013 to replace all furniture, light fixtures and flooring in all public areas.
11. Who says learning can’t be fun? The Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope has installed two new exhibits: “Stomp Out The Trash” encourages kids to keep our waterways clean through interactive video and “The Motion Machine” is a giant magnetic wall where kids test pathways for a ball to travel through.
12. Rose Bank Winery recently opened its new Rose Ballroom. This country setting boasts cathedral ceilings with exposed rafters and scenic views of the vineyard and sheep pasture and can hold up to 250 guests. The winery also features The Buckman Barn and Vintner’s Ballroom & Loft, accommodating 100 guests and 200 guests, respectively.
13. Ayear after going dark, the Bucks County Playhouse underwent major renovations and re-opened with a shortened summer season last year. 2013 will be its first full season since the reopen. The Playhouse has been an institution in the theater community since 1939 with stars like Grace Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Walter Matthau and Robert Redford gracing the stage. The season will kick off with the acclaimed Jerry Herman classic, Mame!

What are you most excited for this year in Bucks County? Please share with us in the comment section below or on our Facebook page Facebook.com/VisitBucksPA