10 Great Day Trips from Philadelphia

^{Image above: The fountains at Longwood Gardens, near Philadelphia, are one of Longwood's major attractions. Photo by sockii.}

One of the most popular day trips from Philadelphia is a visit to Longwood Gardens, located just about an hour west from the city in Kennet Square, PA. The gardens spread over 1,000 acres of woodlands and fields and is considered one of the United States' premiere botanic gardens.

What originally began as a working farm transformed slowly, from when brothers Joshua and Samuel Peirce began planting trees for an arboretum in 1798. Wealthy industrialist Pierre S. du Pont purchased the land in 1906 to save the arboretum from being sold for lumber, turned it into his private estate and began considerable expansions on the property. He added many features including the impressive greenhouse, the fountain system, a pipe organ, and exotic plants from around the world. In his will, he left the majority of his estate toward the continued maintenance and expansions of the Gardens, so that they could continue to be enjoyed by visitors long after his death.

Longwood Gardens are open year-round and there's something to enjoy in every season: blooming spring flowers, fountain displays in the summertime, fall foliage in all colors and a Christmas light display in the winter. There are regularly scheduled concert performances, dining events, classes and workshops and family fun like summer camp and tree-houses. Hours and ticket prices vary by the season, you can find all the details on their website.

Of course you can expect the biggest crowds on weekends, and you'll want to arrive early for the best parking spaces. There is a shuttle bus that operates (with advance notice) between Longwood and the Wilmington, Delaware train station, which is a quick connection from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station via Amtrak.

You can see more pictures of Longwood Gardens in my photoset on Flickr.

Often overlooked in the shadow of nearby Longwood Gardens, Winterthur is another beautiful estate southwest of Philadelphia just north of Wilmington, Delaware. It was once the home of Henry Francis du Pont, an important horticulturalist and collector of early American furniture and arts.

Winterthur, the house, was built in the early 20th century to replicate the feel of 18th and 19th-century European homes. du Pont continually expanded and built upon the estate, adding more rooms and eventually opening the main building to the public as a museum of Americana. Today the museum contains over 85,000 objects and is a delight to explore for anyone interested in colonial American history.

The surrounding 979 acres of the estate include 60 acres of naturalistic-designed gardens; originally the estate consisted of 2,500 acres of dairy cattle pastures and grazing land. It is interesting to contrast the gardens of Winterthur with those of Longwood; each has its own unique style and beauty. Winterthur is open year round with regularly scheduled walks, tour and talks on gardening and history. Special events include their annual Yuletide display and the Delaware Antiques Show. You can bring a picnic lunch or dine in their cafes on site, and it's a very romantic place to enjoy a date with someone you love. There are many kids activities and themed attractions for children in the gardens as well!

Located just beyond King of Prussia, less than an hour (traffic willing) from Philadelphia, you will find Valley Forge National Historical Park. This is the site where the Colonial Army spent the Winter of 1777-1778. While the British troops enjoyed warmth and comfort in nearby Philly, the Colonials, under Washington's command, endured harsh conditions yet also critical training and rejuvenation. This encampment at Valley Forge is considered a turning point in the history of the Revolutionary War, and Valley Forge was designated the first state park of Pennsylvania in 1893.

The park consists of 3,500 acres of land with restored historic structures, recreated encampment facilities, museums and memorials. Lots of great physical activities can be enjoyed in the park, too. You can explore almost 20 miles of marked hiking trails that pass by important sites like Washington's Headquarters. Bring your bike to enjoy paved and unpaved, designated biking trails. Go birdwatching, horseback riding, take a trolley tour, or check out one of their regularly scheduled special events.

Not just for summer outdoor fun, Valley Forge is great to visit on a snowy winter day. Not only is it beautiful but you can imagine the hardship of the Revolutionary War troops encamped here.

About an hour and a half west of Philadelphia, you can find yourself in a completely different world: that of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Lancaster, PA is America's oldest Amish settlement, and here you will still find thousands living in traditional "plain" ways. Horse-driven buggys share the roads here with modern vehicles and you can visit many small towns and farms in the area to learn about its history, enjoy hearty Amish foods and sweets, or simply relax and relish the day away from it all.

There are numerous organized tours available, from farm and factory tours to those in hot air balloons or helicopters. There is much more to Lancaster than just the Amish, however; there are vineyards and breweries, arts and cultural attractions, great shopping in boutiques and galleries, the Dutch Wonderland Theme Park and regularly scheduled events and festivals. If you have the time, it could easily be worth spending the weekend here, staying in a quaint bed & breakfast or even on an active farm.

Head about an hour north out of Philly, straight up I-95, and you have the choice between two utterly charming small towns with thriving arts and cultural communities: New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ. Each is a great place to spend the day shopping, dining, and just walking around in an environment so very different from Center City.

New Hope lies on the West Bank of the Delaware River, and was once an industrial town and frequent stop-over point for those traveling between Philadelphia and New York City. Today it is a thriving tourist destination - although mostly for tourists from both cities looking to get away from it all with a lovely visit in elegant Bucks County. There are tons of specialty boutiques, cute restaurants and bars, and regularly held festivals. All summer long there are fireworks on the river on Friday nights.  On the way to New Hope from Philly, you'll also pass Peddler's Village, a charming area with specialty vendors, holiday specials and events throughout the year. It's hard to believe you're so close to the big city.

Just across the Delaware (connected by a car and foot-traffic bridge) is Lambertville, New Jersey. It, too, is a delightful town of rich history and now teeming with galleries, boutiques, fine restaurants and more ways to spend the way. In the 18th Century, the area was a developed as a primary stopping point for ferries crossing the Delaware, passengers headed between New York City and Philadelphia. Once a factory town, it diminished for decades until seeing revitalization as an arts center in the late 20th Century. Now, many Philadelphians "in the know" prefer to head over to Lambertville over the more commercialized New Hope. Why not take a day exploring both and decide for yourself?

New Jersey has some delightful small historic towns and villages, too! About an hour south-east of Philadelphia, for instance, you will find Mullica Hill. The area was settled in the late 17th century by English and Irish Quakers. Before the American revolution, it was little more than a cluster of homes, a grist mill, and two taverns. After the Civil War, expansion continued and notable Victorian homes were built, some of which still stand today and have been restored to maintain its historic charm for residents and visitors alike.

Mullica Hill today is home to a number of wonderful independent businesses, galleries, boutiques and antique merchants. Most all of the attractions are located along its easily walkable "Main Street", making it a fun place to take a leisurely stroll and shop for unique finds. For a bite to eat, the blueplate restaurant is an excellent choice serving local, seasonal fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's an Amish Farmers Market, Hill Creek Farm for apple picking in the fall, and several nearby wineries offering tastings and special events (I especially recommend Heritage Vineyards and Wagonhouse Winery, both within about 5-6 miles of Main Street.) Also worth noting that all restaurants in Mullica Hill are "BYOB", so stop by one of the wineries before you enjoy dinner!

If you don't think about New Jersey when you think of world-class wines, think again. In June of 2012, a blind taste test was held between some of France's finest wines and those from up-and-coming vineyards in New Jersey. The results of the tasting showed Jersey wines are now in serious competition with those produced in the "Old World" - three of the four top white wines were from Jersey.

The Garden State Wine Growers Association currently includes 38 wineries and vineyards around the state, many of which are located in Southern Jersey not far from Philadelphia (South Jersey has in general better climate and soil for wine grapes than North Jersey.) Most wineries have tasting rooms open on the weekends (or all week long), and you can also enjoy vineyard tours, festivals and live music at one of their regularly scheduled special events. I especially recommend a visit to Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery, which serves some of the best wines I've tasted in NJ in a charming room with lots of small plates and desserts to enjoy as well. On weekends they have specialty dinners and live music entertainment that invite you to linger for hours. It's a real escape from the city!

You might not realize it but Atlantic City is only about an hour's drive from Philadelphia, down the Atlantic City Expressway.  You can also take the regularly running Atlantic City Line offered by NJ Transit between 30th Street Station and Atlantic City (free shuttle buses will take you from the rail station to many of the major casinos.) With it so simple and quick to get there, you can easily enjoy the day - or an exciting evening - in AC.

Take a walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the beach, or try your luck in the casinos for a few hours. Catch a concert or other special event - I actually prefer to see concerts at Atlantic City venues like Boardwalk Hall or the Borgata over comparable concert halls in Philadelphia. Then enjoy a great meal in one of AC's excellent restaurants - or maybe a legendary sandwich from the White House Sub Shop.

If the crowds and buzz of Atlantic City is too much for you, then head a little further south down into the real rural tip of New Jersey. It doesn't get much more rural and isolated than Fortescue in Cumberland County. Route 55 will get you there in a little over an hour from Philly, or you can take more scenic farm roads and watch how the landscape transforms from large tracts of sod and ornamental farms into a fisherman's paradise.

Fortescue itself is only home to about 400 - and even less since Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to this coastal area. However, fisherman still flock to its rustic, quiet beach where you're likely to find more Horseshoe Crabs than humans. So bring your fishing gear or just enjoy the peace and tranquility for a while (this is not a beach for swimming). On your way back to Philly, stop in for some terrific Jersey shore crabs and seafood at the Bull on the Barn Bayshore Crab House - a real Jersey experience!

If Fortescue is a little too rustic for you, how about Cape May? Located down at the very southeast tip of New Jersey, about 90 minutes from Philadelphia, Cape May is a charming shore town complete with gorgeous Victorian architecture, quaint restaurants and of course great beaches. The Cape May Chamber of Commerce website has lots of current information on upcoming events and a downloadable visitor's guide.

Head down to Pilesgrove, New Jersey and you might feel like you're actually in the heart of Texas - at least on summer Saturday nights when it's time for the Cowtown Rodeo! Every Saturday during the season you and the family can enjoy a full, authentic rodeo experience that draws fans and competitors from across the country. Seven professional rodeo events are held every week: bull riding, bareback bronco riding, saddle bronco riding, steer westling, girls barrel racing, team roping and tie down roping. Get a seat on the bleachers close to the action and you won't believe the skills and fearlessness of the cowboys and cowgirls in action.

There is, of course, lots of great fair foods available like pulled pork sandwiches, water ice and ice cream - or you can bring your own (food and drink!) On Tuesday and Saturday mornings and afternoons, Cowtown is also a busy (and slightly bizarre) flea market. You can buy everything at the market: local produce, discount housewares, jewelry and handbags, perfumes and even (don't ask me why) Mexican wrestling masks.

You can stay on top of current events and upcoming special nights at the rodeo by following Cowtown's Facebook Page.