Love kayaking in Bucks County? Five great spots to grab lunch on your way to the water
Spending a day out on your kayak is ideal for the summer days ahead.
There’s so much to love about it — the rhythmic splash of your paddle, glimpsing a heron on the edge of a lake, clouds reflecting off the water’s glassy surface, the soft hush of a breeze moving through the trees — all taking you far away from the busy demands of daily life.
The only way to make it better is knowing you have a delicious lunch waiting in your dry bag, a reward once you’ve reached your favorite spot on the water or along the shore.
And since Bucks County has plenty of places to kayak and even more great local lunch spots, we’ve put together a list of five perfect pairings, so you can conveniently grab a delicious meal on the go before heading out on the water.
Giving Pond + Homestead General Store and Coffee Roasters
Part of the Delaware Canal State Park, Giving Pond is a quiet 50-acre respite from the more popular kayaking destinations in the area. The entrance to its parking lot can be found just north of the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge, giving you access to a pond nestled between the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal.
It’s the perfect size for young families with a scattering of islets to paddle around and a few quiet picnic spots with tables and grills along the shore.
Since Giving Pond is in a state park, a Pennsylvania launch permit or boat registration is required.
The Giving Pond: 1125 River Road, Upper Black Eddy; 610-982-5560; dcnr.pa.gov
Just five minutes away is Homestead General Store where they offer a traditional breakfast and lunch menu, which includes sandwiches, hoagies, wraps, paninis and fresh baked goods. And if you want to fuel up before hitting the water, they have an assortment of beverages, like iced tea, milkshakes, smoothies, nitro cold brew coffee on tap and their own Homestead Roasters coffee and teas.
Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Homestead General Store: 1650 Bridgeton Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy; 610-982-5121; homesteadcoffee.com
Lake Luxembourg + Styer Orchards
This 175-acre lake at Core Creek Park is a popular site among kayakers, so if you’re looking for quiet moment out on the water, early mornings or before sunset on the weekdays is the ideal time to visit. Keep an eye out for the bald eagle nest on the eastern side of Woodbourne Road.
Kayaks are available for rent on a first-come, first-serve basis from the Core Creek Park Boat Rental located at the end of Park Road. Additional launch points also include the fishing pier off Tollgate Road or the small gravel lot off Woodbourne and Ellis roads.
Core Creek Park is county-owned, so a Bucks County launch permit is required for all boats.
Lake Luxembourg: 901 Bridgetown Pike, Middletown; 215-757-0571; buckscounty.gov
Within a mile of the park is The Market at Styer Orchards, where you can order lunch to go from their deli, which offers sandwiches, wraps, burgers, cheesesteaks and hoagies all made to order. They also have a bakery stocked with plenty of fresh-baked sweet treats, like cookies, scones, muffins and doughnuts.
Open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Styer Orchards: 97 Styers Lane, Middletown; 215-702-9633; styerorchard.com/the-market
Lake Nockamixon + Fieldstone Coffee Roasters
Located in Nockamixon State Park, this 1,450-acre lake is the largest in the county, giving you plenty of room to explore. Haycock Boat Launch on the northern end of the lake and Three Mile Run Boat Access on the southern end are the most popular starting points among kayakers.
Nockamixon Boat Rental, located near the park’s visitor center, has kayaks and other watercraft available for rent on a first-come, first-serve basis. And an adaptive kayak launch designed for people with disabilities can be accessed from the Tohickon Boat Launch off Mountain View Drive.
A Pennsylvania launch permit or boat registration is required.
Lake Nockamixon: Haycock Boat Launch, 2100-2162 Mountain View Drive, Quakertown; Three Mile Run, 2784 Three Mile Run Road, Perkasie; Adaptive Kayak Launch, 1818 Mountain View Drive, Haycock; dcnr.pa.gov
Just around the corner from the Haycock Boat Launch, you’ll find Fieldstone Coffee Roasters. This little bistro has indoor and outdoor seating, and is also designed for people on the go, offering items like burgers, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, bowls, salads, tacos, quesadillas, baked goods and energy balls. And there are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options, as well.
Fuel up beforehand from their large assortment of breakfast items and craft beverages, including nitro coffees, cold brews, nitro teas, craft seltzers along with bubble teas, smoothies and frappes.
Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fieldstone Coffee Roasters: 4203 Durham Road, Ottsville; 908-219-7300; fieldstonecoffeeroasters.com
Neshaminy Creek via Tyler State Park + Newtown Bagel
For a nice 2-hour up and back paddle, check out a peaceful 1.4-mile section of the Neshaminy Creek between Tyler State Park and Schofield Ford Covered Bridge. The calm current makes for an easy paddle upstream with a slight boost to help you on your way back down.
To get to the creek, follow the main park road to the right until it dead ends at the boathouse area. Rentals are available through Driftwood Water Adventures and can be reserved online.
A Pennsylvania launch permit or boat registration is required.
Tyler State Park: 101 Swamp Road, Newtown; 215-968-2021; dcnr.pa.gov
Head into town beforehand to Newtown Bagel, where they offer a large selection of bagels, baked goods, and sandwiches to-go, like the Philly steak and egg or the Nova lox sandwich. Gluten-free bagels are also available in plain, everything and cinnamon raisin.
Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Newtown Bagel: 31 Swamp Road, Newtown; 215-497-0220; newtownbagel.com
Silver Lake and Magnolia Lake + La Mexicana
Silver Lake is covered with a lot of lily pads, called spatterdock, which can be beautiful to look at, but makes kayaking a bit of a challenge. However, if you’re up for navigating around them, you can then paddle to Magnolia Lake through a creek that connects the two bodies of water. Once on Magnolia Lake, the larger of the two, there is a small island where you can stop off for a quick picnic.
Launch points at Silver Lake include the main entrance off Bath Road and the 2nd Ave parking lot. Magnolia Lake can be accessed directly from Lakeland Avenue.
A Bucks County launch permit is required for all boats.
Silver Lake: 1306 Bath Road, Bristol; 215-757-0571; buckscounty.gov
Magnolia Lake: Lakeland Ave., Bristol; 215-757-0571; buckscounty.gov
Pick up some tacos to-go just two minutes down the street at La Mexicana, a taqueria located in the back of a Mexican grocery store, where you can also grab a Mexican soda or juice, along with some fresh fruit or snacks to make your lunch complete.
La Mexicana: 226 Bristol Pike, Bristol; 215-785-6034
More: 7 BBQ joints in Bucks County to feed your fix for smoked Southern comfort food
More: Beekeeping is gaining popularity in Bucks County. Find out what all the buzz is about
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Where to grab lunch on your way to kayaking in Bucks County waters
