These Bucks County Sunday destinations are worth the gas money
With gas prices on the rise, inflation ticking up and the Jersey Shore outrageously overpriced, a staycation is your alternative to a road trip. Here are three local trips that every Bucks Countian oughta try at least once.
Make them day-long, or just a pleasant Sunday drive. You can thank us later.
Route 413 to points north and Bethlehem
If you live in Lower Bucks County, there's not much to see on Route 413, unless you like hodgepodge suburban sprawl. But hop on 413 north of the Newtown bypass and you can ride all the way to Bethlehem in the Lehigh Valley in a little over an hour.
You'll be out in the country in minutes, but never far from civilization (or gas stations). Restaurants and antique shops give way to farm, fields and meadows. Hungry? It's worth a stop at the Pineville Tavern. Maybe dine in the greenhouse.
More: Is there really a village under Lake Nockamixon? The truth about the creation of state park
Stop at Tohickon Valley, part of Bucks County's park system. Don't miss High Rocks on Tory Road, where cliffs of red shale tower over Tohickon Creek. Or, if looking at rocks isn't your thing, stop at one of two county wineries, Rose Bank Winery in Newtown and Buckingham Winery, where wine slushies await.
Keep heading north and 413 intersects with Route 611 on its run toward Northampton County, then turns into Route 412/Easton Road, where there's Rick's Egg Farm in Kitnersville, and then to Springtown at the top of the county, and then Hellertown in Northampton.
You can turn around at this point, or travel another 15 minutes and visit Bethlehem, with it main streets and outdoor dining. Nice ride.
Enjoy a taste of summer at the Bucks County Wine Trail's summer events
Covered bridges of Bucks County
This is the great grandaddy of sweet Sunday rides that takes you into the lovely, remote hinterlands of Bucks County.
See all 12 covered bridges (you'll need to start early and spend the whole day), or divide your route in half and take two days to see them. VisitBucksCounty.com has a self-guided tour, splitting the tour into eastern and western halves.
The western half takes about two and half hours, the eastern half takes about 90 minutes. The western half takes you to Knecht's Bridge, the most remote covered bridge, so far north you're just a half-hour from Allentown. The eastern half includes the Perkasie Covered Bridge, which is in Lenape Park.
The bridge, the third oldest covered bridge in Pennsylvania, was saved from demolition in 1958, and moved one mile to the park. Bad news: Hurricane Ida wrecked it. Good news: the borough was awarded nearly $700,000 last April to do repairs.
Just a warning: most of the county's covered bridges have no place to pull over to snap pics. The two best bridges for photos are Schofield Ford in Tyler Park in Newtown, and the Perkasie bridge, although it's not completely fixed yet.
And here's a bonus: Both Newtown Borough and Perkasie have vibrant main street districts to grab a bite to eat, check out local businesses or enjoy a little bit of people watching. We like Rams Pint House and Rooftop Lounge in Perkasie for the elevated views.
Also, download or print directions from VisitBucksCounty.com, because the route becomes so remote, wifi is spotty and you can count on losing your GPS. Tip: while a great Sunday ride, the roads are quieter on weekdays and you don't have to share the road with helmeted and Spandexed bicyclists.
Bucks County's River Road/NJ Route 29 loop
The all-time classic Sunday drive. Start on River Road in Yardley with some coffee for the ride, and maybe pick up a book at Commonplace Reader, recently recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as “a little spot of small-town magic” when it named the shop its best bookstore in the suburbs. Then, head north along the river for spectacular views of the water and the homes along it.
More: Hidden Harry Potter nook, cheap reads and more at these 10 independent Bucks bookshops
Stop at Dilly's Corner in New Hope, which serves probably the best malted milkshakes in all of Bucks County. Now you can keep going or detour over for a stroll to stretch your legs on Main Street in New Hope, where there is no shortage of shops, people watching and fun.
But for those dedicated to the drive, continue on, stopping at the Lumberville General Store to take in the country feel of Bucks County from a time gone by and then head up for a good ride to Tinicum and cross into Frenchtown, which has and abundance of eateries, shops and, of course, a river view.
Maybe the best thing about this ride is you can duck off on a side road, say, Paxson Hill Road, and go deep into Bucks County countryside, and be back on your way along the river in no time.
Short hop Sunflower selfie, anyone? It's all part of Styer Orchard field of dream plans for farm
JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Sunday drives to explore shops, riverviews, parks, farms
