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

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 is a really cute hidden local treasure - very charming and pretty. We had some wedding photos…read moretaken here, so it will always have a special place in our hearts! Lots of cool spots outside for photos, and the inside is really cute as well. I'm not sure they usually open the house, but the grounds are very nice to walk around. We stopped by again recently and had some time to reminisce before heading out because it was too cold.

I have been disgustingly obsessed with this place for a good 20 years. When I used to live in the…read morearea, I'd drive on lake road just to get a few glimpses - or sneak up on the Matheny side to get a good look. When I saw that Blairsden was being served as the Mansions In May this year, I nearly died. The finest example of Beaux Arts architecture in the US ( built by Carr'ere and Hastings - who also built the New York Public Library & the Frick) So when tickets went up for $50 a piece - I quickly snapped a few up and alerted my wonderful BF (who has no interest in this) of what we were to do on Mother's Day. Turnout was expected to be tremendous, so 25 shuttles were offered to and from the mansion from the Fowler rd parking area. We got there at 12:00 and waited just a few minutes to board. By the time our shuttle was full, there was a good 20 people waiting for the next bus. We entered from the main gates on peapack rd and zipped up to the top of the hill. There were about 100 people waiting to enter the home in front of us - well worth the wait. Each room has been redesigned by interior decorators from around the US. Most of the rooms had tidbits of history here and there. Original sinks, faucets, lighting, fire hose, elevator, etc etc as well as molding, fireplaces, windows, flooring. This house was a masterpiece! I only wish they had spent more on the grounds as you were unable to see the ravine built for the home. Again - this is just for the month of May and all the proceeds to toward a good cause (Morristown Medical Center) GO GO GO!!

Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County is a cool destination for history buffs and…read moreoutdoor enthusiasts alike. I've often walked the tow path from Yardley to the park and back, which is a great little hike and quite beautiful. The park commemorates George Washington's legendary 1776 crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War, where he and his troops marched on Trenton and captured the town from British allied Hessian soldiers. It features well preserved historical landmarks and a bunch of exhibits. Visitors can explore the visitor center's museum, which showcases artifacts, interactive displays and there's also a short film detailing the historic event. The park also offers guided tours of the McConkey Ferry Inn and other 18th century buildings, providing a glimpse into colonial life. I also have to mention the annual re-enactment of Washington's crossing, which is a must-see in my opinion. Overall, this is a very nice community asset and cheers to local residents who keep it vibrant and engaging after all these years.

(Note: This review is for the Thompson-Neely Section of Washington Crossing Historical Park, since…read moreI didn't have time to visit the main section! Washington Crossing Historic Park is more than 500 acres, and it has several sections.) The Thompson-Neely Section includes the Thompson-Neely Bridge, the Thompson-Neely House, the Thompson-Neely Grist Mill, and a memorial cemetery (graves of Washington Crossing soldiers). The Thompson-Neely House and grounds served as an encampment site for part of the Continental Army in December 1776. So there's a lot of history here, and you can walk along the Delaware Canal Towpath to each of the sites in this section. It's perhaps not as organized as the main section of the park; there's no visitor center in this section, but it's not too complicated - there's parking near the General Sullivan Pavilion and the house and grist mill, and then you can wander to each of the sites. (I don't recall a map of the section anywhere, but each site is on Google Maps, and that's what I used to make my way between them.) I was at the park in the late afternoon, and I don't think the house or grist mill was open, but I enjoyed walking along the towpath to the memorial cemetery, the bridge, and to see the exterior of the house and grist mill. New Hope has a lot to offer, but Washington Crossing Historical Park is great to include on your itinerary for exploring the area if you want to take in a little local/regional/American history!

The Albert Einstein bust / monument / statue by Robert Berks in Princeton (1953) is easily seen…read morefrom just north of the corners of Stockton St and Bayard Ln. Small, yet very impressive. This bust served as the basis for the 24-foot full bodied Albert Einstein Centennial Monument at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. (1979). Large scale and amazing. It's a hidden gem in D.C. Pictures of both attached.

Delighted to finally stop my car and get out and find the statue of Albert Einstein!!…read more Well worth the adventure ! This park has many statues in it and delightful benches . Alberts home is not that far from the statue . A wonderful they have the statue that tells a little bit of his story and significance to the Princeton area which he loved so very much, and America / the WORLD in general .

Mom and I loved our self guided tour of this fascinating art tile factory. You get to see the tiles…read moremade the way the founder did. The building is so cool and you can buy hand crafted pottery. Loved it!

A "working museum," Moravian Pottery & Tile Works was founded and built by Henry Chapman Mercer in…read morethe early twentieth century, and the facility still produces handmade tiles using techniques that Mercer developed, and reproductions are crafted using his original molds and locally sourced clay. You can show up and just shop in their store (lots of tiles to choose from) or you can take a tour. The tour starts with a video (a pretty old one!) that explains the history and the architecture of the tile works and the process used by the tileworks to make its tile (pretty much the same as 100 year ago). Then you can wander through the self-guided tour path and see a demonstration of some tiles being pressed and talk to the staff about the tiles and process. It's definitely one of the many places worth visiting in Doylestown. It makes a great day or weekend trip combined with some of Doylestown's other attractions (like Mercer's home Fonthill, which is just next door, and the museum he founded in town). The tiles are beautiful, and it was great to learn and see how they're made!

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

Princeton is a beautiful college town and I could spend days exploring every nook and cranny. Among…read moreone of the hidden gems in Princeton, is venturing the very same steps that Albert Einstein walked. What an incredible experience for me. Despite countless visits back East, I didn't appreciate it as much as I do now that I've gotten older. If I return here after all the COVID restrictions, I hope to spend more time here.

I came up here on a very humid and hazy day. The visibility was a little low, but we could still…read moresee pretty far out. The steps were steep, but not too terrible. At the top of the tower the staircase gets even more windy and narrow. I do feel as though $7 was on the higher end to just climb the stairs and come down. Though, if I had the chance I would come back in the fall, as I imagine the view is spectacular during that season.

I've been here during the summer and during the Fall, it's always a beautiful view! I haven't been…read moreback in a while but both times the elevator was broken. (And even when it is working there's still steep steps to walk up just fyi). You can buy tickets there and they do a combo with the wildflower preserve too. It's a pretty drive up there as well. Definitely recommend.

If you haven't taken the covered bridges tour, do so. It's such a beautiful drive, even when the…read moretrees haven't fully come in yet--the scenery still feels peaceful and worth it. We made a weekend out of it and stayed overnight in Bethlehem, which made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend.

What's that old song lyric? "The best things in life are free". It may not have been quite free,…read morebut for the price of a tank of gas we were able to spend a lovely fall day with our closest friends taking the covered bridge tour in beautiful and historic Bucks County PA.. And that seemed among the "best things" to us. So we wanted to post a heads up to others via Yelp about this tour for others who might enjoy it. There are but twelve covered bridges remaining of the original three dozen originally built in Buck's' County Pennsylvania. Thanks to the hard work of some dedicated folks, the twelve that remain are maintained for all of us to enjoy. This driving (or biking) tour will take you to all of them - or some if you prefer not to do the entire tour. For our two bits, this is a great way to spend a day, including a stop at Bowman's Hill Tower to take in the views and the history of that site (it's on the tour path so you're missing out if you don't stop here) and Bowman' Wildlife Preserve. In particular on a beautiful fall day as we did last week. (Both the Tower and Preserve are in New Hope.) The Wildlife Preserve has a picnic area outside the gates so taking along a picnic lunch is a great idea. And inside the gates, there are bathrooms at the visitor center...hooray. See the website posted at the of the page for more info on each of the bridges and the driving map. Another good bridge tor website is located here. http://letsget.com/html/Directory/community/comm_states/comm_counties_pa/comm_ya_bucks/covered_bri.html#TOUR