Recently, I went on a girls getaway to New Hope, PA. We were looking for something that wasn’t too far from NYC, offered high quality food and craft coffee bars, was near water and provided an opportunity for some physical exercise. We kicked around ideas ranging from Lake George, NY to Newport, RI. The Delaware River town of New Hope, PA got my attention.
As a native New Yorker, it’s hard to believe I hadn’t considered visiting New Hope, PA before. In the past few years, I have enjoyed many NYC getaways including Beacon,NY, Saratoga Springs, NY, and New Paltz, NY. This trip introduced me to a whole new area to explore in just under two hours drive from NYC. I will definitely be going back to experience New Hope, PA in the fall and winter!
Where is New Hope, PA
New Hope, PA is located in the thriving county of Bucks County, PA. and sits on the Delaware River. It is the most popular of all the Delaware River Towns and is know for its charming Main Street, excellent restaurants and unique shops and entertainment. It is only about 90 minutes southwest of New York City.
The Delaware River Towns are a series of delightful old towns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that lie along the banks of the Delaware River. They are connected by 5 bridges that are both pedestrian and car bridges.
Delaware River Towns in New Jersey: Frenchtown, Stockton, Lambertville, Washington Crossing, and Trenton
Delaware River Towns In Pennsylvania: Uhlerstown, Lumberville, Centre Bridge, New Hope, Washington Crossing, and Morrisville
Each of these towns has something to offer and is worth spending a bit of time in. We covered most of these towns on our trip to New Hope, PA and found there was so much to do and see!
Like any true New Yorker, I love a good pedestrian town. So arriving in a town where I don’t need a car is very appealing to me. For those who want to go to New Hope without a car, there are lots of trains and buses that go to Trenton, NJ. New Hope is then just a short Uber ride away. Once you arrive you don’t really need a car. However, if you do drive, I recommend a few stops along the way.
About one hour into the drive we stopped in the charming town of Frenchtown, NJ. Frenchtown is the first of the Delaware River towns on the NJ side. It is filled with adorable boutiques and coffee shops and is worth an hour or two. We loved the cheeky gifts at Sublime, the decadent chocolates at Libby Beans and absolutely everything at Blue Raven’s Rock Art Revival!
At this point we were only 30 minutes from New Hope, but before settling into our cozy Bed and Breakfast for the weekend in New Hope, we did a little tour of the covered bridges in the area. Bucks County, PA is home to 12 covered bridges. Seven of them lie right between the bridges of Uhlerstown and Washington Crossing. Be sure and take the time to drive by at least a few of to get into the spirit of your weekend in New Hope, PA.
What to do in New Hope
New Hope, PA is a town with loads of authentic character and charm. Main Street is filled with eclectic shops, art galleries and excellent riverside restaurants. Besides shopping and eating, there are plenty of things to do there as well!
- Visit the Bucks County Playhouse. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Bucks County Playhouse is America’s most famous summer theater. Enjoy a relaxed dinner at the newly reopened Playhouse Deck, before taking in a show at this Broadway incubator.
- Climb Aboard the New Hope Railway. Train enthusiasts and Monopoly lovers should definitely leave time to visit the New Hope Railroad. What could be better than a 45 minute ride on the original Reading Company system aboard a vintage 1900’s train? Their marketing team does a great job of appealing to broad audiences and also offers a romantic Wine & Cheese Excursion, A Speakeasy Excursion, a Halloween train and a Santa’s North Pole Express train.
- Bike the Delaware Canal Towpath. Once trod by mule teams pulling boats along the canal, the Towpath is now 60 miles of trail used by hikers, joggers and bicycle enthusiasts. We rented bikes and biked the 15 mile loop from New Hope to Lambertville, to Washington Crossing and back (see map above for reference). Bike rental options include one in New Hope and two across the bridge in Lambertville where you can get an electric bike – or for the rider looking for a good workout – regular bikes. Pro tip: We rented bikes in New Hope but I recommend you rent in Lambertville. The rental place in New Hope is at the top of a hill on a very busy street. It requires a 1 mile uphill slog at the end of the day to return the bikes.
- Go Tubing or Kayaking on the Delaware River. During the warm summer months, there is no shortage of water activities on the Delaware River. Big Bear Gear rentals offers rentals for river tubing or kayaking. They will shuttle you to the location, get you in the water, and pick you up down river. The trip can take from 1-4 hours depending on the water level. Reservations required. The tubing center is about 15 miles north of New Hope on the NJ side.
- Taste the wine on Buck’s County Wine Trail. The Buck’s County Wine Trail incorporated in 2004 and today is comprised of 7 member wineries. Use this guide to find all the great wineries in the region. Each is no more than 15 miles apart so a visit to several is possible in an afternoon. Or try a tasting and tour with this company which includes 3 wineries, lunch, and transportation.
- Explore Washington Crossing Historic Park. – Washington Crossing Historic Park is the 500 acre home of some great American History. The park preserves the site where George Washington crossed the Delaware River and turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. There is an annual reenactment of the famed crossing every December. The heart of the lower park also hosts a historic village of houses dating back to the mid 1700’s. The upper park hosts Bowman’s Hill Tower, the Thompson-Neely House and Grist Mill, and the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Climb the tower for a birds eye view of the Delaware River! Pro tip: We explored the Washington Crossing Park as part of our 15 mile bike ride from New Hope to Washington Crossing. The park is big and much easier to see by bike.
What to Eat in New Hope, PA
Another thing I loved about New Hope, PA were the unique and diverse restaurants. Every meal we had was good and there were plenty of additional places we wanted to try! Keep the following spots high on your list:
- For a quick bite or for breakfast. Located on Main Street, Ferry Market houses a unique collection of food vendors with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Like most food markets, they been slower to recover post Covid, however there are still some great options inside. Especially for a quick lunch. Good breakfast spots include C’est La Vie French Bakery, and Karla’s.
- For a view of the river. Waterside dining is always my priority in warm weather. We had a beautiful meal on the deck at Stella’s, connected to the Ghost Light Inn. You can’t miss the charming yellow house and romantic river views of Martine’s River House Restaurant. The Landing Restaurant offers postcard river and bridge views along with excellent food. While they take a few reservations, they keep a large part of the restaurant open for walk-ins so expect a wait.
- All around good. A Colonial rustic stone building combined with unexpected twists on pubfare makes The Salt House one of the most sought after spots in New Hope. Sprig & Vine’s cutting edge dishes makes you forget you are eating vegan. And Oldestone Steak House, set inside a 150 year-old church, promises an evening you won’t soon forget.
- For a drink. Nektar Wine Bar serves a seasonally rotating wine list as well as ample beer and whiskey options. Located just across the street from the Bucks County Playhouse, its a great pre-theater option. The Dubliner on the Delaware is a classic Irish Bar with a backyard facing the river.
- A short stroll to Lambertville. A short stroll across the bridge at dusk would be a nice way to see the town of Lambertville. There are a few spots located right on Main Street that would make for a pre-dinner drink or a nice meal.