Lunch and a view? Check out these 5 spots in Lower Bucks County

As summer wanes, we can look forward to autumn's crystal days, the kind of weather that make you feel good to be alive and want to stay outside and soak it in. If you work locally, take advantage of that glorious weather by taking your lunch outside.

Here are five spots in Lower Bucks County perfect for a brief getaway from the office to enjoy the sunshine and warm temps.

Bristol Lions Park, at the foot of Mill Street, Bristol

With its benches, shade trees overlooking the blue Delaware River, the only problem you'll have at Lions Park is deciding where to sit and enjoy your lunch.

The steps of the Irish monument are a favorite, and know that the stone Celtic Cross faces in the direction of Ireland. There's also the Puerto Rican monument with stone seating, and park benches in shady spots throughout. Try it once and you'll be back, maybe bringing along co-workers, it's that nice.

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Grundy Mansion and library, 680 Radcliffe Street, Bristol

Bristol gets two spots on this list of outdoor lunch spots because the town has rebirthed itself and is looking sharp.

With its trendy bars, restaurants and shops on Mill Street, it's become a destination, especially for young people. But the cherry on top is the re-do at the Grundy Museum and the adjacent Margaret R. Grundy Library on Radcliffe Street, overlooking the Delaware.

The museum, home of the late U.S. Sen. Joseph Grundy and his sister, Margaret, has undergone a transformation of its grounds, from terraced garden out back, to flower gardens, flickering gas lamps and, of course, the river view.

The Grundy Foundation spent millions upgrading the place, probably the finest example of a tenderly preserved late-Victorian era home in the mid-Atlantic.

"When you walk past these gardens," said Gene Williams, Grundy's exec director, "it's so refreshing, like a breath of fresh air, with bees and butterflies all over the place." There are also seating and tables with umbrellas, since Grundy wants the public to come and enjoy the place.

This is one you'll come back to, over and over.

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Falls Community Park, 9050 Mill Creek Road, Falls Township

Once a stone quarry operation, Falls Community Park is probably the best example of a Bucks County municipality repurposing a work site into one of the most popular — and beloved — local parks in Lower Bucks.

Ask anyone who's a regular and they will tell you, "I love this park." Really. The only problem you'll have is deciding where to take a spot for lunch. https://www.fallstwp.com/departments/parks-recreation/

The place sprawls over 236 acres, with benches, pavilions and lovely views of the water.

"Oh, yeah, this is probably one of the places I'd say is a good place to come and have lunch," said Ang Rosario, 18, who was visiting recently with her twin sister, Aleeah. After lunch, you can walk off your cheesesteak by setting out on the park's 2-mile walking path that circles the quarry lake, which on some days is so blue, it dazzles.

Core Creek Park boat launch, 901 Bridgetown Pike, Middletown

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Core Creek is among Bucks County's nine parks, and there are plenty places to pick for a lunch spot. One suggestion is to pick a bench or picnic table near the boat launch, where you can gaze on the water of man-made Lake Luxembourg and maybe daydream.

The park has an array of shady picnic groves to choose from. Autumn is Core Creek's best looking season.

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Garden of Reflection, 1950 Woodside Road, Yardley

The state's official 9/11 memorial probably doesn't spring to mind for a lunch break.

But the garden, a 62-acre park dedicated to 2,973 souls lost on Sept. 11, 2001, including 18 from Bucks County, is a wonderful place for an hour respite.

The Garden of Reflection was not designed or ever intended to be cemetery of sorts, or morbid or dark, but a place that invites and comforts. "After darkness, Light" are the words that greet visitors.

The beauty of the place, and its peaceful setting may be why over the last 20 years the Garden has become a public gathering spot at times of tragedy in Bucks County.

A generation of children have grown up with the garden and its tall, iconic twin jets of water at its center fountain. We just remind you to take in the fountain's beauty and quiet strength, but avoid going into the reflecting pool. Chemicals are used to treat the water and it is a safety concern.

Also, there's a playground in the park for kids, if little ones are joining the outing.

"What we discovered is that this place is beautiful," said Salman Khan, of Yardley, on a recent visit with his son, Zayaan, 2. "This is his favorite place to come, and when we began to bring him here, it really became a place of joy."

Plenty of benches and shady spots to enjoy lunch, and to reflect and deal with whatever's troubling you.

JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Lower Bucks County spots to enjoy lunch outside