Excursions from Philadelphia

You’ll never run out of things to do in Philadelphia [1], but if you get the chance to take a day or weekend trip beyond the city, there is plenty more to see and do within just a short distance. The Brandywine Valley [2], Bucks County [3], and Pennsylvania Dutch (Amish) Country [4] are the most popular nearby destinations, and they’re only 45–90 minutes away by car.

In all three destinations, charming towns, villages, and farms are sprinkled amidst the bucolic Pennsylvania landscape; some straddle the river into New Jersey and Delaware, in Bucks County and the Brandywine Valley respectively. Bucks County and the Brandywine Valley are home to estates, museums, gardens, wineries, galleries, and antiques.

A bit farther west, the lush, rolling farmlands of Pennsylvania Dutch County beckon visitors to experience the lifestyle of our unique non-electricity-using, horse-and-buggy-riding Amish neighbors. And in each area you’ll find cozy bed-and-breakfasts, a diversity of dining options, opportunities for recreation, and shopping galore—from outlets to antiques to fine art to handmade crafts.

As you explore, you’ll learn about the long, rich history, of each area—many aspects of which are linked with Philadelphia’s [1] history. There are several key Revolutionary War sites in the Brandywine Valley and Bucks County regions, and Pennsylvania Dutch Country developed when persecuted Amish communities came to Pennsylvania from Germany because of William Penn’s pledge of religious freedom.

And while the three excursions detailed in this section are some of the best and closest, there is plenty more to do. Anyone visiting in the summer should follow the stream of locals who head “down the shore“—local vernacular for the New Jersey beach towns. And for all lovers of winter sports, no winter trip to the area is complete without a trip “up the mountains” to the Poconos in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Whether you’re just visiting Philadelphia or you live here and you’re looking for a break, take advantage of the wealth of vastly different cultural opportunities all within a short distance.

Philadelphia’s Best Excursions [5]

• Best Place to See Art: The Brandywine River Museum [6]
• Best Historic Gardens: Longwood Gardens [7]
• Best Decorative Arts Collection: Winterthur Museum and Garden [8]
• Most Charming Town: New Hope [9]
• Best Castle Museum: The Fonthill Museum [10]
• Best Way to Cool Off on a Hot Day: Play on the Delaware River [11]
• Best Market: Lancaster’s Central Market [12]
• Most Historic Theater: Lancaster’s Fulton Theatre [13]