WHAT A BLAST. We came here for my birthday kind of ironically because online we saw reels saying it…read morewas the "weirdest museum ever," and thought it would be kind of funny/maybe even creepy. Little did we know it was actually FASCINATING; it was so fun to admire every last piece in the museum. The tram guide was great, the pre-recorded audio is helpful and interesting, and the collection is so varied and extensive that you can't help but love it. The pipe organs - fabulous. The walkable "toy box" collection was great after the tram. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone - it was soooo fun.

What a fun thing to do! We didn't know what to expect and want to say we all really enjoyed the…read moreexperience! Admission was reasonable and enjoyed the self-guided part while waiting for the next tram departure time. There was everything you could imagine - except one thing! A TELEX MACHINE (which I used to operate). When I asked the staff if they had one none of them even knew what I was talking about (early 20's)! We took the tram tour and really enjoyed it. The tram moved at a nice pace so you could really take in everything. So much to see - everywhere. It was a really fun way to spend a few hours on a rainy day! But I urge you to visit rain or shine!

First of course some history:…read more Hope Lodge was completed in 1748 by Samuel Morris who was a wealthy Quaker businessman. As a young man Sammy worked with his father at a mill complex in Ambler. Later he bought and sold commercial property in Philadelphia along with owning ships, a quarry, kilns, a tannery and Mather Mill which is only a block away from the mansion. As if that wasn't enough, Morris also had side hustles as being the justice of the peace for Whitemarsh, Philadelphia county commissioner and an assessor for Philadelphia county. While Morris supposedly had never been to England, he adopted the most current architectural style of the day in both England and America, Georgian, named for King George I who was reigning at the time. The style was popular in Great Britain for its balance and symmetry. Fun rumor #1 is that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered some advice on the mansion's design in exchange for some quarried lime and farm goods. Now here's where the historic part comes in. In 1777 the Whitemarsh Encampment, a six-week period of the American Revolution when the Continental Army camped in the surrounding fields after the Battle of Germantown and before encamping at Valley Forge occurs. During that time the house was used as the HQ of George Washington's Surgeon General, John Cochran. Fun rumor #2 is that while Washington never slept at the mansion or on the property, supposedly GW rode his horse through the first floor hallway of Hope Lodge during a visit. There is no evidence to support this claim, even though the hallway is wide enough, but no doubt that Washington would have visited Dr. Cochran frequently during the encampment. Eventually everything gets sold to English banker Henry Hope. Hope, to give you a sense of his importance, has enough juice at the time that Adam Smith in the 4th Edition of his still read today economics masterwork The Wealth of Nations, dedicated the book to Hope. Also if the Hope family name sounds familiar it's because among other things the Hope Diamond was named after them due to their ownership of the diamond. Never intending to live in Whitemarsh, Hope purchased the property as a wedding gift for his ward, James Watmough. It was the Watmoughs who named the site Hope Lodge, in honor of their benefactor. Prior to that and during Samuel Morris's lifetime the property is known as Whitemarsh Farms and Whitemarsh Estate. The property is then sold to a family who for almost the next century uses it primarily for farming. Lack of funds prevented upgrades to more modern things gas lighting and indoor plumbing in the late 19th century which meant the mansion's 18th century integrity is retained. From the Internet: "In 1921 the property is sold to Keasbey and Mattison, a development company whose plan was to demolish the structure and extend a nearby limestone quarry. To save it from destruction, William and Alice Degn bought the property in 1922. Early historic preservationists, they carefully restored the house and added their collection of 18th and early 19th century furnishings. They did not install a central heating system in the main house because of its destructive piping; rather they added a wing onto the existing summer kitchen for a winter residence. Both of the Degns loved flowers, and they created a beautiful rose garden on the south side of the house. After Mr. Degn's death in 1940, and Mrs. Degn's death in 1953, ownership of the house was transferred to the Hope Lodge Foundation, and in 1957, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Today, Hope Lodge is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with the Friends of Hope Lodge, a non-profit support group formed to assist with operations at the site." So what you have today is a house that does not have the historical gravitas of a place where a Founding Father lived, worked or slept but due to the love it has received particularly from the Degn's the actual bones of the house are in amazing condition with the feature being the incomparable woodwork. If you go: Hope Lodge is not unlike a lot of other PHMC sites in that you really have to want to see it. Tours are only done one day a month, usually the 3rd Sunday, at 1pm and 2:30pm. Some months offer special events like a symphony concert, beer tasting, movie night under the stars and the biggie which is the annual re-enactment of the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment which takes place in November. Tour admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, $4.00 for youth age 6-17, children under 5 are free and Friends of Historic Hope Lodge members are free. Cash or check only. Active military personnel and their families are also free. Parking is via two smallish lots one on the side of the property near the gardens and the other in the rear of the property. The property is on South Bethlehem Pike which is very easy to get to from both the PA Turnpike and Route 309.

Exquisite site and gardens. Excellent example of 18th century architecture and furnishings. Great…read morehistorical gem in our own backyard.

I visited the Michener Art Museum a few weeks ago on a Saturday when my husband and I were in…read moreDoylestown. It was my first visit, and I really loved it. The Michener isn't huge, but it's a lovely museum. It's located inside a historic 19th century prison building, which sounds like it wouldn't be beautiful - but it is beautiful: stone walls, an arched entry, a courtyard. It's named for the novelist and Doylestown resident James A. Michener, who established the endowment for the museum and donated significant funds and some paintings from his private collection to the museum, which opened in 1988. As a regional art museum, it collects both historic and contemporary American works, with a focus on the art of the Delaware Valley. Its permanent collection includes nearly 4,000 artworks, including works by famous Pennsylvanian artists. I happen to love Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima and was thrilled to see their work in the museum! I wish we'd had more time so that I can could read for a bit in the Nakashima Reading Room - don't miss it. The museum also has a small outdoor sculpture garden, a small gift shop, and a little cafe if you need a coffee. And on top of all that, their staff are friendly and helpful AND they have great exhibits! We visited for an exhibit currently at the museum - "Anila Quayyum Agha: interwoven" (I had seen her work at a gallery in Houston about a decade ago and was thrilled to find another opportunity to see her work) - but really enjoyed their permanent collection as well. A small but charming and regional art museum with an impressive and unique permanent collection and great exhibits. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

Yes. THAT James Michener, Pulitzer prize-winning author who spun tales of far-away places. He was…read moreborn in Doylestown. Built on the site of the inhumane Bucks County Jail, not only is the art museum diverse, the grounds are fascinating. Before entering, you'll see sculptures and an imposing stone wall -- the site of the last man hanged in Bucks County. Exhibits are on one beautifully-designed level. Most of the artists and/or subjects celebrate the creativity of the region: paintings, sculptures, works that could be called "installations." With the exception of the Mona Lisa (and a few other pieces) I'm not a fan of Renaissance or religious art. Works here span the 1800s to present -- a lot of contemporary -- which may be why I soaked in everything I saw. Doylestown isn't as well known as New Hope ... but, what a charming town with beautiful old homes and good shopping. After going through the museum -- it takes an hour or so -- you may want to walk to Main Street and enjoy a coffee or spot of lunch. We lucked out and inadvertently timed our visit on the same day as Doyletown's popular art show. A stellar afternoon!

I take my 2 y. o. granddaughter nearly every week. There are so many wonderful things to explore…read moreand learn from. They have a walking path through the woods with a natural playground and sandbox, a bird house building to watch and interactive displays, a mini zoo inside a house with small animals and activities including a treehouse. They also have weekly activities and seasonal events for elementary school kids. My granddaughter calls Briar Bush "The Animal House" and loves to put a donation in the collection box before we leave.

They were so friendly and it was a great little center to see the local wildlife and learn. We…read moredidn't get to do the whole path with a stroller but it was nice and shaded on the trail so even on a hot day it felt cooler.

Great art house theater Combined the best new movies with…read morerespect for restored classics Courteous and knowledgeable staff. I've always been a donor to this type facility I'm now 80 and this is the best

Great experience on Main Street in Ambler…read more Ambler Theater is a very relaxed experience with a hand full of staff that makes you feel welcome. The movie theater is very old however it brings with it wonderful charm. My girlfriend and I have been coming here for just about a year now and are thinking of becoming members (this is a non-profit movie theater that exists by the support of its members). This spot reminds me of the Ritz movie theaters in center city without the hustle bustle. Definitely check it out for a date night or a reason to check out the quiant town of Ambler. As always people SYOY!!

I saw the museum while taking a walk while waiting for vehicle service at the Ford dealer nearby…read more Decided to stop in and check it out. Admission for veterans was $8. The volunteer staff was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Great little aviation museum to visit if you are in the area. Both the indoor and outdoor areas had plenty of aviation history to view and explore. They have a small gift area as you exit with T-shirts, models, etc. There is a dedicated parking lot, but if walking from nearby businesses, crossing the road to get here is challenging.

This is an interesting museum, even if you're not enthralled with aviation. Located on a naval air…read morestation-joint reserve base, the land was originally owned by aviation pioneer Harold Pitcairn. (If you never heard of Pitcairn, you soon will.) The facility has 21 aircraft exhibited both inside and out. With an all-volunteer staff of civilians and former military, the docents are eager to share their knowledge. There are displays from WW1, onward which piqued my interest. Also a photo of who they think was the actual model for Rosie the Riveter. (Apparently, several women claimed to be.) The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is reasonable. And if you have to pee .... well, there's a porta potty outside.

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

We live a short drive from this regional gem. The grounds are thoughtfully curated, and there are…read morespaces for the whole family. It's not unusual to see artists, classes, and families at Morris. Despite this, it never feels crowded. We love Morris so much that we joined their membership program a few years back; it's a membership that we keep active. The community programming is a nice add, and we've even picnicked here once. We appreciate the nods to the community (e.g., the scaled down Chestnut Hill West SEPTA stop), and the areas of Morris that speak to all members of the family. We'll definitely be back.

Earlier this month, we made a trip out to Morris Arboretum and Gardens on a Saturday. What a…read moretreasure! We purchased our entry tickets ahead of time. When we arrived at the gate, we showed the email receipt and then were allowed to drive up to the welcome center and a small parking lot onsite. We arrived just in time for the tour that they give at 1pm every day. The tour is customized to the attendees. Our tour guide was Janet. She was great and we learned so much. I would recommend the tour if it's your first time visiting. Unfortunately, the Out on a Limb tree adventure exhibit was closed to the public on the day we visited. But we'll probably be back again later this year because we really enjoyed our time there.

We saw Chris Randall at Smoke & Mirrors--and all four of us had a great time! He's very skilled…read moreand a great entertainer. We were mystified and entertained. The theater has been creatively carved out of an old bank building, and it's very comfortable and intimate in scale. Every seat is a good one! And after the act, you can explore the old bank vault, which is quite a sight in itself. So what are you waiting for? You'll have a good time, just go!

I attended the Saturday night show on July 11, 2026, specifically to see Javi Benitez, who was…read moreprominently advertised on Smoke & Mirrors Theater's website and marquee as the featured performer. Unfortunately, he never appeared. What made the experience even more disappointing was that the theater apparently knew in advance that Javi Benitez would not be performing but continued to advertise him anyway. Customers were not informed of the substitution until just before the show began, after everyone had already arrived and paid for their tickets. Had I known that the advertised performer would not be appearing, I would not have attended. Continuing to advertise a performer who is no longer scheduled and waiting until the last minute to tell customers is misleading and shows a lack of respect for patrons. The replacement performer may have been talented, but that's not who I purchased a ticket to see. Customers deserve accurate advertising and timely notice of significant changes to a show's lineup. Unfortunately, this experience has left me with little confidence in Smoke & Mirrors Theater's business practices. I hope they improve their communication with customers and consider offering refunds or other compensation when advertised performers are unable to appear. I cannot recommend attending future shows unless the theater is more transparent about changes to its advertised lineup.