Summer is the season meant for making memories—so why not set out on a road trip? Head to these seven destinations—all under three hours from Center City—to escape Philly when you’re in need of a break.
There is something for everyone in Doylestown, PA. Begin your visit at the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle (mercermuseum.org), and dive into the rich history and art of the 18th and 19th centuries. For dinner, head to Genevieve’s Kitchen to taste plates like seared duck breast and black pepper pappardelle (genevieveskitchen.com). To end the night, catch a show at the Comedy Cabaret (comedycabaret.com), where Kevin James, Jay Leno and Ray Romano have graced the stage.
Shop the latest fashions at Milou (shopmilou.com) and State & Union (stateandunion.co), which carry brands like Ulla Johnson, Shinola and Zimmermann. Next, browse local artists’ works at Square Pear Gallery (squarepeargallery.com). For a casual end to the day, head to The Creamery (kennettcreamery.com), Kennett Square’s old dairy barn where a plethora of local food trucks, breweries and musicians will be all summer long.
Begin your visit with a hike at the Goat Hill Overlook (njhiking.com) and explore the 190-year-old Delaware and Raritan Canal. After spending time outside, head to the Lambertville Station Restaurant (lambertvillestation.com) for their Sunday brunch menu, which was deemed the best brunch in the state by Best of New Jersey. Expect plates like brunch crepes and the French lobster roll.
Relax at Nurture Spa (nurturespa.com) with one of their many award-winning treatments. If you’re looking to explore New Hope’s natural beauty, stroll through the grounds at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (bhwp.org) where irises, prickly pear cacti and azaleas begin popping up in June. Once the sun sets, catch a play or musical at the Bucks County Playhouse (bcptheater.org)—summer shows include “Mamma Mia” and “Dial ‘M’ for Murder.”
Find art pieces and exhibitions by local artists at ArtYard (artyard.org), Frenchtown’s contemporary art venue. Next, head to the center of town to Olive with a Twist (olivewithatwist.com) where a variety of gourmet olives, vinegars and cheeses await. For dinner, stop by The National Hotel (thenationalhotelnj.com), for dishes like wagyu beef petite filet and saffron shrimp risotto.
Lititz, PA proclaims itself the “Coolest Small Town in America,” so why not visit this summer and see why? Settle down in the afternoon for a cup of tea at A Tea Affair (ateaaffairlititz.com), where traditional luncheon, garden and high tea ceremonies are served. Then, for dinner, enjoy purple potato gnocchi and grilled coriander tuna at Per Diem, located inside Hotel Rock (hotelrocklititz.com), Lititz’s new sleek entertainment campus.
At The Looking Glass Art Gallery (lookingglassartgallery.com), you’ll find landscape pieces that speak to local and national audiences. Before dinner, enjoy tapas at Glass at the Ledges Hotel (ledgeshotel.com) where they pair the best American spirits with their small plates. Enjoy dinner at The Settlers Inn (thesettlersinn.com), where seasonal menus are prepared with the freshest ingredients from farms in the area, with items like the tarragon velouté salmon and filet mignon with cabernet reduction.
Photography by: Photos courtesy of Brands
