Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

What a fantastic piece of history, go, stop and read the plaques and take pictures. What an amazing…read morepiece of history

Well maintained space without signs of overt modernization make this place a worthwhile…read moreexploration. Industrial relics exhibit excellent decay and are easily accessible. Short walking trail takes you through the greenspace pebbled with old structures, into small wooded areas, over a bisecting stream, and along forgotten rail tracks. Quiet, and surrounded by development though you wouldn't know it.

An old library book, Gardens of Philadelphia, made me aware of Highlands Mansion, and…read morecoincidentally friends wanted to have a play date at Castle Park, so on our way home we checked out Highlands. The mansion is apparently under restoration so I did not tour it, but I did see the gardens. While these gardens are nothing compared to the scale of the Brandywine DuPont estates, they are impressive for a former private residence. The most remarkable thing about them, to me, is their use of dramatic tall freestanding walls. Designers seem to agree that the best tool for success in landscaping is creating outdoor "rooms" or dedicated areas with hedged/fenced/walled/etc. boundaries to delineate and discern one outdoor space from another. I've toured many gardens domestic and abroad and I've never seen such a liberal use of wall structures that were apparently built solely for ornamental landscaping purposes (as opposed to ruins or retaining walls). Yes, you see decorative walls employed at Longwood and Chanticleer, but none so gigantic as these. Highlands was working with flat plain meadow and the goal seemed to be to create multiple garden-framed large lawn spaces, free of tree debris or too much shade to affect the grass. The walls are designed to tower as high as ornamental trees, but without the maintenance, root issues, leaf drop, etc. and they green-ify these walls with ivy trained all over them. Voila, vertical garden, architectural interest, height, and allowance for terrain diversification. I grew up adjacent to the trove of magnificent DuPont estates in the Brandywine Valley. I'm now fortunate to live 2 1/2 mi from Chanticleer and 7 1/2mi from Tyler Arboretum (Jenkins is closer but it doesn't appeal to me). I would recommend the destinations closer to me for full day visits, while Highlands gardens would only take a half hour for the formal area, and more if you choose to hike a trail or tour the manse. Still, it may be a half-day visit at most. While not a day trip destination on its own, it is a worthy stop if in the area, and I do recommend it to anyone interested in garden design who's already toured the others I mentioned. This is also an event venue, and the formal space is certainly made for such use, so it's lovely people can enjoy the space as it was intended when conceived.

While the mansion is still undergoing renovations so we were not able to include that and so my…read morereview may change in the future. Don't expect to take even a full afternoon visiting but it is a lovely preserved estate around the city. There's some goats, and the grounds are enjoyable to take an hour or so to walk with nice historical signs for context. There is some parking but it likely gets packed in high traffic times. I can't put it in my top gardens available for Philadelphia, it's good to have treasures like these to keep the sense of history and love of horticulture the area has long held.

This review addresses a public street safety concern in Nazareth, PA…read more At the Main and Mauch Chunk Streets intersection, at the very center of town, there is a 15-foot rut of exposed trolley track protruding through the road surface. This track, left since 1932, poses hazards for motorcycles, bicycles, strollers, wheelchairs, and pedestrians. Many individuals, especially those with mobility challenges, struggle to navigate this area; they get stuck in the groove and find it hard to steer out. This intersection is busy due to corner establishments such as an ice cream shop and a daycare, which attract families and seniors. Additionally, the Nazareth Borough Municipal Building is only a block away, making it a common route for police and local officials. While nearly all of Pennsylvania's roads have issues, this specific area is particularly risky. This review aims to raise awareness rather than criticize the Nazareth Borough Municipality, urging caution when using this intersection.

The Boro of Nazareth just completed extensive work on Belvidere Street between Broad St and Main…read moreSt. now that the work is complete someone has cut a new hole in the new just replaced asphalt ? And politicians wonder why the general public is pissed. I'll bet if the money to do all the work came out of their pocket whatever is being done now ! I know I would make sure work being done last week would have included whatever they are doing now! What a waste!

First some history from the Internet about the site…read more "Coplay Cement Company Kilns, also known as the Saylor Park Industrial Museum, is an open-air historic site located at Coplay, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The nine kilns were built in 1892-1893, and used for the production of Portland cement. They are constructed of locally produced red brick, and are known as Schoefer vertical kilns. They were shut down in 1904. The Coplay Cement Company donated the kilns and surrounding land to Lehigh County in 1975, for a cement industry museum. It is operated as a partnership between the County of Lehigh, which owns and maintains the site, and the Lehigh County Historical Society, which provides educational services. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Saylor Cement Museum honors David Saylor (1827-1884), the father of the American Portland cement industry, and the people who built this industry into one of the most important in the Lehigh Valley and the nation. Lehigh County was a natural spot for cement production. Cement is made from rocks containing lime, silica, and alumina; Lehigh County limestone "cement rock" contains all three ingredients. In 1866 David O. Saylor helped found Coplay Cement Company. In 1871, he received the first American patent for Portland cement, which is much stronger than the natural cement that had previously been produced in this country. Saylor's Portland cement built bridges, docks, jetties, roads, aqueducts, subways, and skyscrapers. By 1900 the Lehigh Valley made 72% of Portland cement produced in this country. The first kiln at the Coplay Cement Company was a dome kiln. Dome kilns were inefficient; they had to shut down often. In 1893 Coplay Cement built Mill B, containing the Schoefer kilns standing today. Originally enclosed in a large building, Schoefer kilns could run continuously. Soon, however, the even more efficient rotary kilns came into use. Mill B's outdated Schoefer kilns shut down in 1904, and Coplay Cement later used Mill B's buildings for storage." The four main things at Saylor Park would the remnants of the kilns, the playground, the community pool and it's a spot where you can pick up the Ironton Rail Trail. The key to this site at this point in time is trying to save the kilns. Lehigh County is trying to obtain the money needed to save the old furnaces which appear to be the last Aalborg style kilns left in the world. The current work being done at the site is due to a $200,000 federal grant with Lehigh County kicking in an equal amount to finish the work on Kiln #1. While nice, a full restoration of all the kilns is estimated at somewhere around $5 million dollars which is money that right now does not exist. Hopefully over time some type of public-private partnership can be formed to get the rest of the work done but in the meantime the site can be enjoyed at a distance and the Rail Trail that cuts thru the park is a fantastic repurposing of an old rail line that would never have been used again. If you go: The outdoor historic site, playground and Rail Trail are open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset and the Coplay Community Pool is open seasonally. Plenty of free parking is on site.

This place is fantastic. Has a park and a bike trail that goes on for ever and a day. The old kilns…read moreor so fantastic. I felt like I was standing back in time. I recommend this place for anyone who want to get out and live. The history and modern meets here

I visited Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve this past Saturday when I was exploring New Hope for…read morethe day. It's a nature preserve and botanical garden with a lot of grounds to explore. It was busy on a warm Saturday afternoon, but there was plenty of parking on the road leading up to the Visitor Center. Then, after you've purchased your admission, you can wander their 12 or so trails that wind through five miles of the grounds. The highlights of my visit were the trails that ran along the creek, the stone bridge, and the new pond. In summer, it was a bit too hot for the wildflowers (I bet spring is incredible here), but it was green and wooded and beautiful. I spent a couple of hours exploring the grounds, and it was a great way/place to stretch my legs and take a break from town! If you like a trail, Bowman's Hill is a great place for that just minutes from the center of New Hope.

I saw my first hummingbird moth at Bowman's, so it'll always have a special place in my heart!!…read more For real, though, it's very nice here. The staff are friendly, they have periodic walks led by naturalists, and there are lots of pretty things to see: butterflies, frogs, birds, and lots of flora. The gift shop leaves a lot to be desired, but I guess that's not really the point of coming here, huh?

Great views of the area from atop the mountain. Didn't go inside the pagoda because it was closed…read morewhen we arrived on our unplanned visit. The only thing I disliked (hated) about the visit was the amount of litter and trash in the woods and area surrounding the pagoda. Come on, folks! :( If in Reading or nearby, check it out!

On this cloudy day, the winding drive up to the pagoda was still enjoyable and worth the trip…read more It was disappointing that pagoda itself is closed to the public. You cannot walk on it or around it. Additionally the surrounding trails are closed and locked. While the area could use some restoration but it's still so worth visiting! Seems like a missed tourist opportunity for Reading. Regardless the view from it, even on a crummy weather day, is still spectacular. Take the drive up, you'll be glad you did!

What a unique opportunity to visit a factory from times past being used in the present! I had some…read moretime to spare passing thru Bethlehem, and google recommended for me to stop-by at this one-of-kind spot. It was a bit of a maze to find the parking lot (thankfully, FREE), but after that I had a quiet afternoon enjoying the SteelStacks. One of the suggestions I got was to enjoy the walkway --- which is an elevated path along the side of the ol' steel factory. It's odd to walk by a factory that in its glory days had 100's of workers, to now being visited by tourist in a solace stroll. In any case, it's always great to see the birthing place of the steel that has given us so many iconic US landmarks, i.e., like the Chrysler Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. See - bet you didn't know that! If you're ever around this area, take in this one-of-a-kind location, it needs to experienced to be believed.

Exceptional walking experience, great visual appeal. There's lots to do. I walked on the elevated…read morestructures so much to see. Nice places to sit and have an outdoor lunch and indoor restrooms as well

It is truly a gem to stumble upon a tomb of an unknown solider. My husband found this location on…read moreroadsideamerica.com, nestled in a residential area in the town of Bethlehem, Pa, found between 1st Ave & Market St. It is believed that the soldiers buried here fought during the Revolutionary War. The American Revolution took place between 1775-1783. It occurred between the 13 North American colonies and colonial government (who supported the British Crown) and the fight for independence from Britain. A lot of history worthy things occurred from this timeline which included the congress vote to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Battle of Saratoga (in NY) and the Treaty of Paris. Obviously there was a whole lot more going on during this time period and highly recommend that you do your research and do this war justice in learning the history. After the Declaration of Independence was established, General George Washington (yes that Washington) and his army were driven out of New York by the British, and across New Jersey, into Pennsylvania. Because of that, numerous of hospitals were established in New Jersey and Philadelphia. General Washington moved north to the Lehigh Valley, and so other hospitals had to be established, including a hospital in Bethlehem, which became the main hospital in this area (which now is part of the Moravian College). Bethlehem was the perfect place to set up camp and a hospital as it was far enough from the front lines that was beyond the reach of the British. Unfortunately as wounded soldiers were kept in such close quarters, illness spread. Unfortunately there were many soldiers that did not make it back to Philadelphia and were eventually buried here in Bethlehem. In 1932, a single set of remains was placed here at this site. And then in 1996, three more unknown soldiers were added, as you can imagine that over time, homeowners may discover unknown soldiers when they accidentally dig up remains. On the tomb, a plaque reads "Within this crypt rest the bones of an unknown soldier in the War for Independence. He was one of more than five hundred men who died in the Continental Hospital here at Bethlehem and were buried on this hillside." May the remains of four Revolutionary War soldiers lie in peace.

This reminded me of the stories my grandpa used to tell of when he fought in the civil war. When I…read moreentered the tomb I couldn't help, but start to cry. I felt the dark spirit of the unknown soldier enter my body and take over my soul and mind. I can still feel him with me today, he guides me. Highly Recommended, great for the kids

Love! We had the most idyllic bike ride here from Easton to Stockton (about 33 miles) with stops…read morealong for drinks and lunch. It's well maintained, mostly gravel though so if you have a road bike you'll have a little more resistance but it was such a beautiful ride--- Delaware river on our left and the canal on our right. It's also reasonably used so every 15 min or so we came across others on bike or walking so never felt isolated. It makes for the perfect leisure ride with stops on the way. The towpath runs parallel to the Delaware and Raritan in NJ but we stayed on the Pennsylvania side to be wedged between water on both sides. Stops worth mentioning along the way-- The Narrows, Golden Pheasant Inn and off the trail walking the bridge (must dismount) to the NJ side in Stockton, Starving Artists Cafe.

Very nice place to take a walk, bike ride, or run on a dirt path along the Delaware River. The…read morepath is kept clean & free of debris. Very easy to park as there are multiple parking lots along the trail. The trail offers glimpses of the river & has a lot of beautiful wildflowers & different kinds of tree's along the trail. Very few port-a-johns & the one's we encountered were not clean. Other than that, it's an enjoyable trail.