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.

Downside: tours only on weekdays and currently by appointment, which has limited me being able to…read morevisit before. Also the parking info on the website was confusing, but we parked new the Barracks Museum but not in any nearby reserved spot. It was also a little confusing where the entrance was, but if you pick the wrong door, someone will point you in the right direction to the entrance of the annex. We were the only people on the tour, which is free, so we got to have a lot of great insight. We also got to shoot a ton of questions at the tour guide and he knowingly answered all of them and one he didn't know he radioed in to his team to find out. We started off looking at a stained glass ceiling with NJ sites depicted, looked in the Senate Room, the Representatives Room, the individual parties room, judiciary rooms, and meeting rooms while looking at different art in the hallway and inside rooms symbolizing NJ iconography/historic figures. It was delightful for both the artist and the historian in me. If this place gave tours on weekends, I think it would be more popular. Maybe there's a staffing shortage, and that would be a shame. Weekdays are hard for people to visit, but it is definitely worth it to visit if this sounds like something that would interest you. Note: between the 2 I've seen, PA still has better architecture (and Saturday tours) but that was still nice and more people should see it.

"Trent Town" New Jersey! Yeah!! "Trent town" was recognized as the state capital in 1790…read more Quakers first founded the settlement in the region that later became Trenton in 1679. The Quaker settlement adopted the title "Trent-towne" by 1719 in honor of William Trent who was among its leading landholders. "The Battle of Trenton" took place in the city of "Trent town" where George Washington achieved his first military victory in the course of the American Revolutionary War. In December of 1784, the Confederation congress briefly convened in Trenton. Most famously, Trenton's Capitol briefly acted as the capital of the US. Yep. It was the capital of the United States of America from November 1 to December 24, 1784 Just for that one reason alone it's worth a visit. A lot of great American history took place in this old capitol building. And it is old, it's the 6th oldest in the US. I used to live in New Jersey. I loved living in Jersey. I traveled all over Jersey, Jersey is amazing! Amazing Italian food and awesome diners. Kinda industrial but urban also. A lively lovely little mini metropolis. The US Census Bureau groups Trenton's large, central Jersey, metropolitan area with that of New York while it also borders the large Philly Metropolitan area. Today, Trenton is a super manufacturing hub/industrial area, with a bunch of bridges that cross the Delaware river. It has its own unique beauty. I loved it there. A lot of American History/Historical significance in this Capitol as "Trent town" is among the seven state capitals situated in the Piedmont Plateau. Making the Capitol building in Trenton New Jersey, def one of the 7 you want to see. Recommend.

Best selection of healthy straight species native plants anywhere around and lovely trails and good…read moreprograms.

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.

My brother-in-law brought us to see the Garden of Reflection Memorial. It is simply beautiful! I…read morelove the dual fountains representing the Twin Towers. My wife worked there before we moved to San Diego, so we have a special connection to the buildings and the horror of 9-11. Seeing the steel from the building was very moving. The peaceful setting here is very nice for walking, contemplating, sitting ... remembering. Lest we forget.

Very nice memorial. Tranquil area to relax and reflect on what really matters…read more Really like the fountains depicting the twin towers

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.

The only way this place could be better is if it was open more. It's a direct link to…read morepre-america, and was the place the battle of trenton was likely planned. You can stop in for a tour on the first Saturday of every month, and most months, the third Saturday as well. The House is original, dating to roughly 1765, and housed George Washington for the week, from December 8th to the 14th, 1776, as Washington wavered between heading to Philadelphia or turning north on the offensive. When leaving he turned north, crossed the river at Washington Crossing and turned the tide of the American Revolution. The best idea of Pre-America likely happened here for Washington. Could you have a great idea too?

There was a wooden bridge on the Delaware River between Yardley, PA and the Wilburtha section of…read moreSeeing, NJ, as early as 1835. It provided the only crossing north of Trenton/Morrisville north to Washington Crossing until the Scudders Falls Bridge for Route 95 was completed in the early 1960s. Unfortunately, it was repeated washed away by flooding in 1841, 1903 and finally by the double whammy of Hurricanes Diane and Connie in 1955. Each time it was made stronger than the time before, switching to steel after the October Flood of 1903. Even that wasn't enough to survive two major storms that struck one week apart. Diane didn't do much damage, but saturated the ground so much that the waters from Connie had no place to flow nor be absorbed, but in the over full river channel. Both sides of the Delaware had had enough of replacing this span, and opted to let the soon to be built Scudders Falls Bridge carry the load. Today the Yardley Veterans Memorial across River Road from the Yardley Inn is constructed upon the remains of the western terminus of the gone but not forgotten Yardley-Wilburtha Bridge.

Named for the tumbling rapids coursing through the nearby Delaware River, Fallsington,PA, was…read morefounded in the late 17th Century by members of the Religious Society of Friends, a/k/a The Quakers. In those early days it was a very small village alongside The King's Road between the major pre-revolutionary centers of Trenton, NJ and Philadelphia. It thrived economically, providing wares and services in demand in those colonial decades, including blacksmiths, carpenters, carriage builders, wheelwrights and taverns for weary travelers. By the middle of the 20th Century, Bucks County was growing to such an extent that the historic core of this community was being threatened by outside development for homes and businesses wanting to cater to the expanding population. A group of dedicated Quakers in the area determined to protect the historic and cultural qualities of the region were able to secure financing and legislation to form the non-profit Historic Fallsington organization, which has done an excellent job preserving the original village and surrounding neighborhoods as they were from the 17th - 20th Centuries. It has become a living museum, complete with taverns, restaurants, shops and services that attract history buffs and tourists alike, who appreciate what a truly historically accurate community looked and felt like. This isn't Williamsburg, VA, that has been gussied up by the Rockefeller Foundation, but rather a much more low budget, but perhaps more authentic representation of our early American history. You are welcome to walk around town any day, and sample the goods, foods and other services still available to you. However, if you want a guided tour, they are only offered between May and October by the Historic Fallsington NGO. For those of us living nearby, this is one of the Crown Jewels of the early story of the Pennsylvania Colony and the birth of the nation. It is well worth your time.

What a wonderful treat to stop down the street and come across this grand white building…read more Traveling down this way wasn't as planned, but it gave me the chance to learn about this area! There is a historical Fallsington information Center, and it's filled with books and documentation and many historical things ! You can pick up a walking tour brochure for one dollar then take a stroll for about a mile! This area is filled with beautiful stone buildings with beautiful little gardens everything is kept up so nicely it's a treat for the eyes! I'm here now and I'm enjoying the cicada singing while looking at all the goods in this little shop and then just enjoying the local atmosphere it's so Instagram worthy! Great for a nice walk with a friend imagine yourself living here back in the old days! What a treat to enjoy these days! Next month there Will be a local event where people dress up and there will be music and other things to enjoy from local artisans. I look forward to coming back again and again I bought a wonderful book about the local history of this area. As well as some beautiful postcards of the old houses here that friends from far away might enjoy seeing this type of America! There's also a shop next-door that sells some antiques but mostly adorable little traditional items, little sets with tea bags, ($1.50, cute greeting cards, handmade/drawn cards of stone buildings, little gift sets with nice soaps and lots of little treats! Worth the visit!

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

5 Roosters 1 Lady All live at the Shady…read moreBrook Farm in Bucks County Off a Hill Rd called Stoney in a coup on the corner Of the farm owners front yard Always happy to see me They line up to greet me 'cause they know I have snacks By the stacks Blueberries granola apples The roosters strut heads no hackles While Lady lays eggs A dozen to lay Is her goal for each day Lebron with his ups Flies far far away In his dreams anyway While Orville sits with Lady 'Cause he's her sweetheart And she's his baby As for the other three James, Wilbur, Earl Chickens four five snd six Roosters three four and five Respectively Happy to be Definitely Not step three Just chickens That get to live at the farm known as Shady Off a Hill Rd called Stony In a coup on a corner Of the farm owners front yard For ever so long for so long as is ever.... Stop right there Before you go any further (like Ellen Foley) From thither come hither The story ain't over See back in the day Lady's with me Just Lady and Earle Two love birds Contented and together living happily Like wer'e all supposed to be We'd hunt worms, hold talons Eat Uncle Dave's Homemade Icecream And chug Yoohoo, by the gallons 'Til one day Chicken number five Got to licken He'd be her king So I licked him good And Wilbur squeeled like the lil pig chicken that he is And we was back to bein' Lady and Earle Two smitten youngins Back to smoochin and huggins Until one day Chicken number four Aka James Aka Joker I swear he tried to poke her With his beak or his paw Forget which one I saw So I licked him too (kapow, bam, pow) And it was back to bein' Lady and Earle Like William and Anna Just a girl standing in front of an Earle Asking him to love her Then with the blink of an eye Is when it all happened And when I opened 'em There was Orville and Lady (long pause) She said she's gonna have his baby! I said I'm gonna lick you Orville Wright Wright not said Orville I'll lick you back I'll lick you good Like a real chanticleer should And he did And from that day forward Orville sat with Lady because he's her sweetheart and she's his baby As for the rest of us We're happy chickens too that get to live at the farm known as Shady Off a Hill Rd called Stony In a coup on the corner Of the farm owners front yard For ever so long for so long as is ever.... Come see the chickens and on your way out pick up some Uncle Dave's and some honey roasted peanut butter, they're DEFINITELY for sure 100% the best on the planet.

Last Saturday, we decided to do one final holiday outing with our little - a light show. She been…read moreloving the decorations and Christmas lights she saw in our neighborhood or when driving around, so I thought this would a great family outing to close our the holiday season. If heard of Shady Brooks light show and has never been myself - neither had my boyfriend - so it was the first time for all of us. We paid in advance online and there was luckily a discount so we only paid $25 per car instead of the original listed price of $45 per vehicle. It's was about a 40 minute drive for us coming from the city and we luckily didn't have any traffic on our way there or back. When turning into their site, they had signs to direct you to the lanes/area to drive through the light show. Once we got to that area, we drove up to the booth so they can scan our ticket, handed us a newspaper/booklet to go with it, and we were on our way! The light displays, concepts and sections (e.g. "12 Days of Christmas" with 12 displays of drummers drumming) were very well done. Our little one loveeeeedd it - except for the Grinch of course because, he's the Grinch lol. It wasn't a short drive through but not too long either. Once we finished the light show, we did park and got out to take a quick look at what else was going on and get a lay of the land. Would definitely recommend checking this out for the holidays and we would come back to check out the playground for her, wagon rides, etc.