As born and raised Pennsylvanians, we have a lot of love (and recommendations) for adventuring in our home state, so we’re kind of embarrassed to admit that it took an invitation from the Bucks County Tourism Board for us to finally spend a weekend exploring this particular charming region of Penn’s Woods. In just over 24 hours here, we hiked some beautiful trails, learned about the area’s history, and even found some haunted spots.
Located three-and-a-half hours from our home in Washington, DC, less than an hour’s drive from Philadelphia, and about 90 minutes from New York City, is Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and just like the state itself, this county is diverse! It is home to historic inns with modern touches and troubled pasts, countless “Delaware Crossings,” if you will, connecting the Garden State to the Keystone State, beautiful overlooks and outdoor spaces, and most surprisingly to us, a vibrant culinary scene that would impress the most finical foodies.
So if you enjoy a solid mix of leaf peeping, unique hiking and biking trails, delicious food, covered bridges, and ghost stories, keep reading, because this is the perfect weekend getaway itinerary for you!
12:00PM: Homestead Coffee Roasters
We blew into town after our 3.5 hour trek north from DC and immediately stopped for coffee (Aleah) and cookies (Seth) at Homestead Coffee Roasters. This cute little general store serves up breakfast, baked goods, caffeinated drinks, and direct access to the Delaware Canal Towpath, where we took a quick, little stroll and enjoyed our spoils before heading to our next stop.
12:30PM: Ringing Rocks County Park
Afterwards, we headed a few minutes down the road to Ringing Rocks County Park where we tried our hands at being in our own “rock” band (pun intended). This park is notorious for its rocks that “ring” like a bell as a result of their mineral composition. Be sure to bring your own hammer and appropriate footwear to safely traverse the boulder field and trails. If you want to extend your stay, a short and easy loop trail will lead you to the tallest waterfall in Bucks County.
1:30PM: Scenic Drive Along River Road
A drive along Route 32, aka River Road, will take you to your next destination. Running parallel to the Delaware River and connecting many historic towns and main streets, this is the perfect path to take in the foliage views from the comfort of your car.
There are also several covered bridges right off this route that are worth checking out. Visiting each one will only add a few minutes to your drive as the majority of the bridges do not have areas to park and get out to take photos. We really enjoyed Frankenfield Covered Bridge (pictured above) which does have a little pull-off spot. If you’re interested in checking out more of the county’s 12 covered bridges, we’ve linked a map here.
2:30PM: Lunch at Black Bass Hotel
We worked up quite an appetite and were ravenous when we arrived at our next stop. Lucky for us, Lumberville’s Black Bass Hotel offers an excellent lunch menu. To start, we shared their poached pear and arugula salad and seared sea scallops in a fava bean purĂ©e with crispy Tasso ham; Both were absolutely delicious. I ordered their signature dish, the Charleston Meeting Street Crab as my entree, and Seth went with their baked cod Florentine. Both of our meals were 10/10, and we enjoyed them from a table overlooking the Delaware Canal and River, which was the cherry on top!
3:00PM: Check-In to Black Bass Hotel
We based ourselves at the historic(ly haunted) Black Bass Hotel. Built in the 1740s, this inn is one of the oldest in the country and has even earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, this boutique hotel is home to a restaurant, bar, and eight beautifully restored suites. We stayed in the River Suite which was equipped with a clawfoot soaking tub and a spacious balcony overlooking the river.
3:30PM Explore Lumberville
Steps from the Black Bass Hotel is the Lumberville-Raven Rock Foot Bridge (pictured above/top). It is one of only two pedestrian-only bridges that spans the Delaware River, and a walk across it will lead you to New Jersey’s Bull’s Island Recreation Area where you can bike, hike, boat, or bird. Alternatively, you can stay in Pennsylvania and take a walk or bike ride along the Delaware Canal.
5:00PM: Ralph Stover State Park – Hike to High Rocks Vista
Ralph Stover State Park is home to miles of trails, but this particular overlook can be found along a trail just a few steps from the parking lot. We like to call this a “bang-for-your-buck” trail as it boasts a beautiful view of a horseshoe bend in Tohickon Creek Gorge that requires little effort to access. There is also a safety fence at the onset of the overlook, making it very family-friendly. While hikers must stay behind the safety railing, if you keep walking along the ridge, some peek-a-boo views open up along the way. Ralph Stover State Park is also one of the only state parks in Pennsylvania open to rock climbing, so you might spot some rock climbers scaling the 150-foot rock face.
6:30PM: Dinner at Golden Pheasant Inn
This French-inspired restaurant blew us away! We started with fresh oysters on the half shell that were shipped in from New England that morning and pheasant pâté. We followed those with a filet atop potatoes and a half rack of lamb with pumpkin risotto and a fresh fig glaze; both of which were cooked to a perfect medium rare. We ended the night sharing a pistachio dacquoise and the remainder of our wine. From the friendly staff to the delicious 5-star food, this place is a must!
10:00PM: Try to find Gravity Hill
Bucks County is full of haunted spots, and Gravity Hill is no exception. If you’re able to find the exact spot, the word on the street is that when you put your car in neutral, it will be pulled upwards instead of rolling down the hill. You can find this natural phenomenon on Buckingham Mountain near an old African Methodist Church and graveyard– if you dare.Â
7:15AM: Sunrise from our balcony at the Black Bass Hotel
We contemplated heading back to High Rocks Vista to catch the sunrise over the Tohickon Creek Gorge but opted to sleep in a bit and enjoy golden hour from our balcony instead. We packed up our things, grabbed our first cup of coffee from the lobby, and then headed across the street for breakfast.
9:00AM: Breakfast at Lumberville General Store
Directly across the street from the Black Bass Hotel, is the Lumberville General Store. Here you can find all the essentials for the day’s most important meal as well as a spacious outdoor seating area. Beyond yummy pastries and breakfast sandwiches, they offer a variety of caffeinated drinks and even have self-serve coffee ice cubes for all of my fellow icy cold caffeine queens who don’t want a watery drink first thing in the morning.
10:00AM: Washington Crossing State Park
Your next stop is Washington Crossing State Park, where you can explore a variety of both historic and natural sites. We recommend climbing to the top of Bowman’s Hill Tower and taking in the panoramic views of the countryside from 125 feet in the air. If you’d like to experience both Bowman’s Hill Tower and another paid attraction in the park, combination tickets are available and will save you a few dollars on entrance fees.
Que the aforementioned attractions… a combo ticket can be purchased to get you into both the tower and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. This 134-acre preserve is home to over 700 plants native to Pennsylvania and is the only accredited botanical museum dedicated to native plants in the country.
The Thompson-Neely House and Farmstead is another great stop. This 18th-century home was used as a field hospital for injured continental soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Today, visitors can explore its preserved structures and learn about life as an early American settler, and the role the farm played in the American Revolution. The Delaware Canal also runs through this site and just a few steps from the parking lot, you can find the Thompson-Neely Bridge– one of six authentic camelback bridges remaining along the canal.
12:00PM: Great Barn Taproom
A fall trip to Bucks County is not complete without stopping in New Hope. This town is chock-full of gems, but we wanted to make sure that we got in a stop along the Bucks County Ale Trail. If you have more time in town, there are over 30 craft breweries where you can check in to earn points and prizes. We chose to stop at the creek-side haunt that is Great Barn Taproom where we sampled beers (don’t sleep on their OktoBearFest) and devoured some pierogies.
We fell in love with Bucks County in just 24 hours and are already ready to plan a trip back! Let us know what we should add to our itinerary next time down below!
