New Hope, Pennsylvania

Visit this beautiful town and tour the area's wineries, antiques shops, gardens, galleries and gift shops. Spend a weekend at an elegant and 
quaint bed and breakfast, check out the restaurants businesses  
and shops, enjoy the nightlife, recreation and activities. We 
will also be listing shops and activities in nearby Lambertville, 
NJ, just a few minutes away, across the river.

A Little About New Hope's History

Less than an hour's drive from Philadelphia, this eclectic village on the Delaware River offers a fine getaway for the turning of the seasons. New Hope, which grew up around Benjamin Parry's lumber mills on the banks of the river in the late 18th century, holds within its one square mile a cultural and artistic legacy spanning back to some of the earliest European settlements in the New World. William Penn, the state's namesake, was the original owner of the tract of land that is now New Hope and surrounding Solebury Township.

Benjamin Parry's mansion is among the attractions -- built in 1784, the house remained in the Parry family until 1966. The various rooms represent the changes in decorative style that occurred during five generations, from 1775 to 1900.The Delaware winds past Federal-style houses built alongside the wide waterway as it makes its way to the village. It rolls past the spot where General George Washington rallied his troops to cross the frozen water on a bitter Christmas night in 1776.

Ferries make the trip to the New Jersey side, and more than a handful of visitors zip along the slow-moving waters on jet skis. Inner tubes and canoes are popular modes of transportation (although cooler temperatures may keep all but the most adventurous off the water), and sight-seeing tours leave regularly from the village.

New Hope has lured artists since the early 19th century, and has the galleries and artisans' shops to prove it. The village apparently also draws a fair number of chefs, with food offerings from the eclectic to the sublime. Restaurants such as Odette's on River Road and The River's Edge on Main Street offer views of the Delaware, and others sit on the edge of the canal.

Compiled from an article by CNN Interactive © 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.

Directions To New Hope

From Northeast Pa.
Pennsylvania Turnpike South to Exit 32, Quakertown. 
Route 663 East to Route 309 and then take Route 313 South
 to Route 202 in Doylestown. Route 202 North to New Hope.
(we took the scenic route from Easton, along the Delaware River)
Detailed road Map of New Hope

Current Area Weather Conditions
Click for detailed forecast

Map of  Main Street

We've been meaning to take that ride to New Hope for a while, and finally managed to get there on May 10th.  A beautiful day for the trip - sunny and in the 80's, perfect for sightseeing. The trip from Scranton takes about two hours, and it's a pretty drive along the Delaware, from Easton. We could have taken the Turnpike, but we take scenic routes whenever possible. It adds a little time, but it's way more fun.  

New Hope is just as i imagined it - a beautiful historic town with lots of funky shops and great places to eat - outdoor cafes and elegant restaurants, lots to choose from. Although parking seems to be at a premium in town, and you have to feed a meter when you do find one, there are a few public parking areas available where you can park your car for the day ($5.00) and walk around the town. 

We visited lots of  really neat shops, our favorites were the "hippie" shops - one is named "Superkind", another was named "Night Owl 1960's" . One had neat neo-hippie stuff and the other the real deal - vintage sixties clothing - lots of fringe, nehru and frayed jeans, overalls and cutoffs. Lots of  suede and leather (my favorite stuff).  There are others - there was one on a corner that was stuffed with vintage '60's stuff  - lunchboxes, dolls, toys and clothes. Found me another hat there. This shop also had lots of fringe and oriental silk stuff, handbags, skirts, etc. If you visit, be sure to check out these shops. My friend, Mary, would have been in "fringe heaven".

We also visited a really cool shop named "Against The Grain". As you go on upstairs, you're greeted by some cool Celtic music and the fragrance of exotic incense.  This shop sells Medieval clothing and costumes (I always wanted one of those velvet capes) that remind me of Renaissance Faires and castles. Browsing through the beautiful dresses reminds me of the costumes Stevie Nicks wears.  There are Medieval swords, daggers, jewelry, and I saw some beautiful tooled leather journals with Celtic knotwork patterns on them. This shop is worth a visit, too.

The Three Cranes Gallery is a great place to find oriental and Tibetan accessories, leather hats, musical instruments and jewelry. This is where i finally scored the brown leather hat i've been searching for. These are great hats made in Australia. They also carry long cotton dresses and other wearable art.

We visited two shops that sell long cotton dresses, tops, handbags, and  jewelry from India. They both have a really large selection and i had trouble deciding what to choose. But choose i did. Guess I'll have to go back again.

Take a drive over to New Hope on a beautiful day, you'll enjoy it. We didn't have time, but you can either walk or drive over the bridge into Lambertville, N.J. We drove through on our way back - lots of antiques shops, beautiful historic inns and restaurants. Next time, we'll stay overnight. I spotted the Riverboat tour and that sounded like fun.

Silver Maple Farm - A quaint and historic bed & breakfast on a working, 20-acre organic farm in Sergeantsville, N.J., just 15 minutes from New Hope and Lambertville.

Amanda's Bed and Breakfast Rerservation Services - Amanda's is a Bed and Breakfast Reservation Service for small inns, private homes, cottages and yachts throughout Maryland and PA, VA, WV, DC, DE and NJ.

Hollileif Bed and Breakfast - Enjoy a romantic respite, just eight minutes
from New Hope, in the Bucks County countryside

The Warrington - A delightful country lodge in the heart of Bucks County.  Family owned and operated. Five miles north of the Willow Grove Exit (#27) on the PA Turnpike

The Guesthouse at Frenchtown - A 1780 colonial home located on 70 acres for your exclusive use.  Privacy, relaxation, shopping and sightseeing. 20 minutes from New Hope, Bucks County, PA

Unionville Vineyards - One of New Jersey's Finest Wineries. Open Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

New Hope Fly Fishing - Guided Fly fishing excursions on the Delaware River, with Michael John Mullaney

Art & Architecture Tours, 15 W. Mechanic St

Historic Walking Tours, 22 S. Main St, (215) 862-2050

Honey Hollow Watershed, 2877 Creamery Rd, (215) 297-5880

Rices Market  - a 30 acre outdoor market of new and used items, produce, Amish meats and baked goods.