How to Spend 36 Hours in Kid-Friendly Bucks County

Whether your family loves the outdoors, is interested in history, or just wants to play, here are three kid-friendly trip ideas for a fun-filled 36 hours in Bucks County:

Kids at Play

• There’s no better place to start your child’s adventure than the Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope. This hands-on experience lets kids work in a general store, dig for buried treasure, build their own race car and even take a ride in a hot-air balloon! 
• Just a short drive from the Museum is Giggleberry Fair at Peddler’s Village. Giggleberry Fair is home to the Grand Carousel, a fully restored 1922 carousel featuring 46 wood figures, including horses, giraffes, lions and even a spotted hog! Giggleberry Fair is part of Peddler’s Village, an 18th-century shopping village in Lahaska that boasts more than 70 unique shops.
• Spend a night at the Courtyard by Marriott in Langhorne, moments from Sesame Place. The Courtyard is home to The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect that provides guests with healthy food and beverage options as well as a kid-friendly indoor pool.
• After a good night’s sleep, the Courtyard offers a complimentary shuttle bus to Sesame Place. Elmo, Big Bird and all the Sesame Street friends come to life at the only theme park dedicated to America’s favorite children’s television show. Take a ride on the Vapor Trail, stroll through Sesame Neighborhood and enjoy a show at Elmo’s World Live. Don’t miss the Neighborhood Street Party Parade that marches down Sesame Street every day!

Outdoor Adventure

• Let the current be your guide on a rafting trip down the Delaware River with Bucks County River Country in Point Pleasant. Rafts can carry up to five on a four-hour float down the river. The rafts will not tip, even in the Delaware’s mild whitewater currents. Bucks County River Country also offers snuggle tubes, a cozy tube for two.
• Grab a hammer and experience the natural wonder of Ringing Rocks Park, about 20 minutes north in Upper Black Eddy. The park’s eight-acre boulder field is a geologic wonder. When struck with a hammer, the rocks give off a high-pitched ring like a steel pipe. After taking your swings, hit the trail to explore the rest of the park, home to Bucks County’s tallest waterfall.
• Rough it during your Bucks County stay at the nearby Colonial Woods Campground in Upper Black Eddy. Open April through November, Colonial Woods has more than 200 campsites for you to park your RV or pitch your tent. Cabins are available for those who enjoy the comforts of home.  A robust events calendar is offered all summer long.
• Spend a day down on the farm at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in June; peaches and apples in August; and pumpkins in October. While there, indulge in the on-site Uncle Dave’s Homemade Ice Cream stand. Seasonal flavors include; Eggnog, Summer Pumpkin Pie, Billionaire Chocolate and more. Special events are planned year long, including Fall Fest and a Holiday Light Show. 

Historic Fun

• Follow in the footsteps of George Washington at Washington Crossing Historic Park. Learn about the famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas day, 1776. The recently-renovated Visitor Center tells the story of the “10 crucial days” that followed and paved the way for American victory. Tours are available Friday through Sunday. Bowman’s Hill Tower, a 125 ft. tall monument dedicated to George Washington, is available to climb Tuesday through Sundays. Local volunteers re-enact the crossing every year on Christmas Day, and the park has living history demonstrations throughout the year.
• All aboard the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. The Railroad’s 1925 steam locomotive pulls passengers from New Hope to Lahaska on a nine mile, 45 minute ride through the Bucks County countryside. Hourly excursions run year round, and the railroad also runs holiday trains for Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
• Take a lantern-led walk with a Ghost Tour of New Hope, run exclusively by our local ghost guide. You may come across the phantom hitchhiker or see Aaron Burr pear through a window with sightless eyes. Tours run June through November.  
• After a busy day, enjoy a peaceful night’s stay at the 1870 Wedgwood Inn in New Hope. The Loft Suite is perfect for a small family with two bedrooms, private bath, eat-in kitchen and living room. History lesson: The inn was once a part of the Underground Railroad and housed many runaway slaves during the 19th century. It is believed that 12-year-old ex-slave, Sarah, still takes refuge at the inn. Her ghost has appeared at numerous occasions to various girls visiting the inn telling her story of slavery and escape.
• Step back in time to Colonial America at Pennsbury Manor. The Manor house, opened in 1939, is a reconstruction of William Penn’s provincial home, based upon archeological finds and written documents. See colonial craftsmen plying their trades during Sundays at Pennsbury, April through October. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under the pavilion, explore the Manor’s many outbuildings and visit the stables to see the on-site oxen and sheep.