What a fun thing to do! We didn't know what to expect and want to say we all really enjoyed the…read moreexperience! Admission was reasonable and enjoyed the self-guided part while waiting for the next tram departure time. There was everything you could imagine - except one thing! A TELEX MACHINE (which I used to operate). When I asked the staff if they had one none of them even knew what I was talking about (early 20's)! We took the tram tour and really enjoyed it. The tram moved at a nice pace so you could really take in everything. So much to see - everywhere. It was a really fun way to spend a few hours on a rainy day! But I urge you to visit rain or shine!

It's like an I-Spy book came to life! This collection is massive but I really appreciate how well…read moreorganized and categorized it is. It makes it easier for the eye to take in. The tram car goes at a super slow speed so you have time to take everything in. The tour is guided by a pre-recorded audio track but sometimes the driver will provide information as well. The museum also has a small walkable area to explore. There's also popcorn, candy, and drinks to purchase. Some of the items are truly impressive and there's definitely plenty for everyone to point out and find and enjoy. Highly recommend this fun attraction.

What a cool hidden gem in Valley Forge National Park! I took a tour of this museum in November…read more2025. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and intriguing as he guided us around the property and inside the home/studio. Esherick was extremely talented and it was incredible to see his stunning creations. Tips: The tour is inside and outside so dress accordingly. There are steps inside the building. Booking ahead is required and tour group counts are limited.

Another spot that I wish more people were aware of, this museum is a glimpse into the life of a…read morefascinating artistic polymath. If you have any interest in architecture, woodworking, or even just the general history of the area, this place is a requirement.

Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

1 star for adults and kids over 10…read more 2.5 stars for children under 10 This is a small museum. You can do the full loop in 15-20 minutes unless you have little little ones that get engrossed in one of the interactive stations. Not worthy of a field trip. If you really want a decent natural History museum, plan a day trip elsewhere.

It's considered traditional to celebrate Independence Day at a parade, or a barbecue, or a picnic,…read morefollowed by watching fireworks, right? Well, Lion and I must be non traditional folk, because we visited the Delaware Museum of Nature. It was wonderful. The museum is one of those place I've driven by so many times, thinking - hey, really should go there sometime. Just .... didn't. On a broiling hot 4th of July, when the last thing we wanted to do was barbecue or go to a parade, we saw it was open and decided this was our opportunity. Yay! We arrived to a mostly empty museum, with a group of volunteers and staff who were really great! Being in the museum without crowds was lively. I could spend as much or as little time as I wanted with an exhibit. Volunteers demonstrating various artifacts were friendly Jan helpful. We got to meet two different snakes, learn that turtles can actually move quite fast and can climb trees, and learned that after the passing of Dude, the Museum Cat, they gave a new cat in training. Rye exhibits were nicely curated. This museum is not expansive, however they use their space well, focusing on aspects of Delaware's ecology and history. There's a family/kid nature "lab" where people can explore hands in nature. Parking is free in their private lot. It's an open, airy space that is fully accessible. I think we may have started outrun own new tradition this year.

I visited Winterthur for the first time with my mom on Christmas Eve for their Yuletide exhibit…read more I'd been mildly curious about the mansion over the years, and it seemed like a fun thing to do on my day off from work. The mansion is ornate, truly massive, and opulent. It's a true peek into the lifestyles of the rich. The Yuletide theme this past year was centered around Christmas and children's books, like Alice and Wonderland, Twas the Night Before Christmas, etc. When we arrived, we were a bit confused on where to park, as my mom has a handicap sticker. We ended up parking right at the visitor's center where the tram retrieves guests. We didn't have a long wait. On the tram, the driver recommended starting at the house and then walking down to the galleries. She didn't mention the enchanted woods/garden, so I didn't even realize they were there until I got home later that night -- bummer. Some of the folks working the rooms were pleasant, others felt like security guards. One chided my mom for leaning her hand against a wall at one point. Some were knowledgeable, and others clearly didn't want to be there. I appreciated the girl in the garden entry room who snapped our photo with the decorated trees before we stepped into the house! I took many pictures while in the house, and then we traipsed over to the galleries. The gallery building had a doll house, a really well-done gingerbread train station, furniture and other exhibits on the ground floor, and a rotating, very interesting exhibit on African American history on the second floor. After the galleries, we stopped by the museum store, and while most everything was dramatically overpriced, I did find a few cool items in my price range. We were on the grounds for roughly 2-3 hours I'd say before having lunch nearby. Arriving early was a good choice. They do offer reciprocal garden access with other garden memberships (I have one at home in Richmond, VA), so perhaps one day I'll use that access to see the gardens that I missed!

This was not on our list of museums to hit but since the weather was so darn hot we changed what we…read morewere going to do after spending the morning at Longwood Gardens. It helped that we got free admission with our reciprocal museum membership. It was 2:30pm we when we arrived so we didn't have a lot of time. We were given good advice on what to do in our limited time from the folks at the ticket office. We took the garden tram tour which was educational and got off at the house where we did the self guided tour. You only see a small fraction of this giant mansion but that was enough for me. While most of the docents had interesting facts the actual contents of the collection were not that interesting to me. If you are really into this era of American decorative furnishing supposedly they have more in-depth guided tours. We still had time to see a bit more of the grounds around the house but with big thunderstorms rolling in we headed out. I am guessing for some this place is a must... I am glad we got free admission.

This is the best small museum in the area. I learned a lot, and was able to check out tools,…read morewagons, and other things related to ice. I did not take pictures, because I was interested in the tour.

This was a delightful museum, an amazing collection by the "Ice Man". a wonderful collection of all…read morethings ice, related natural ice and manmade ice. They have worked hard to create a sense of how ice and refrigeration evolved and how all of the tools of the trade have evolved over the last 200 plus years. This is a wonderful educational and historical experience not to miss if you are looking for something "Cool" to do for a couple hours. Something interesting to see for all ages. Definitely email soon to get a private tour. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy. Beth Anne Keates, Train Lady of West Chester, author

Visited this museum during their free day (First Sunday of the month) to check out the exhibit for…read moreJerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade. Such a beautiful space ! I can imagine weddings taking place in their courtyard area. The staff was helpful as it was my first time. It's a small but delightful museum, only three floors and the construction of the building itself is very compact and curved. It was great to see the river and the sun shining in through the large windows as you walk up to the top floor. The main exhibit was on the top floor and it was thoughtfully curated with black walls that made the artwork just pop! I was able to pick up a few art prints in their gift shop on the way out. Ample parking but in the free days can fill up fast. Definitely stop in if local or just visiting !

My friends and I spent a rainy afternoon at the Brandywine Museum of Art. Adult tickets were $20…read more We had no problem finding parking in their lot out front. It's a lovely space, it looks like it'd be a great spot for a wedding. There are three floors of art to explore here. Their special exhibit was on the third floor. My favorite exhibit to explore was the illustrators exhibit. I loved the storybook art. We spent over an hour exploring all the fine art here. It got packed by the end of our visit. They were also doing a tour of the grounds. They have a cafe and a huge gift shop here too.

I was fortunate to be able to go when they were offering a cream tea which I can highly recommend…read more It was quite wonderful. The tour was interesting and ok but with limited things to see. There was information about some Stockton family members who lived there but would have liked to have more broad information. The house is quite beautiful and the garden is very nice. I did enjoy the visit but the cream tea was really the best.

This was a neat little house/museum that I hadn't heard of but was just randomly looking up things…read moreto do in the area and found it. It's right next to Princeton's campus and the Battle of Trenton Memorial. My husband is a big fan of all the Signers of the Declaration, and unlike a more restored house about the people who owned the house, it focuses on the Stockton family who lived here and the American Revolution and a special exhibit. We were actually here for a few hours since there's a lot of signs to read and a lot of Richard Stocktons who lived in the house, followed by some governors. When I went, there was also a really interesting exhibit on Ma Bell and the history of telecommunications upstairs. This was a great historical site, a cheap price, and a nice space. Would love to come back when the garden is in bloom, and I will look out for future exhibitions as they rotate in.

In the heart of Abington, and about a hundred yards away from the Roslyn train station, you can…read morefind Briar Bush, a hidden nature preserve tucked away on Edge Hill road. With scenic walking trails, an outdoor classroom, day camps and a small indoor animal habitat, Briar Bush is a great spot for small children, couples on a date, or anyone looking for a brief respite from the urgency of the modern world. With free admission for locals and a small fee for out-of-towners, the preserve is accessible to all patrons provided that they are able to walk down some wooded trails that circle through the admittedly short walking routes. The centerpiece of the trails is a picturesque, secluded pond with benches for sitting and an interactive sign with information on the local fauna and flora. The indoor animal habitat has a small gift shop, pamphlets on upcoming events and information on other parks in the area, and several interesting animals such as a blind possum named Odin, a bearded lizard named Karl, and several other unique turtles and reptiles. All of Briar Bush can be walked through in an hour or so, but the low admission, interactive nature events and scenic walking trails will have you wanting to return again soon.

I don't remember having gone to this nature center. I'll have to bring my grandkids again!read more

I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go here because previous pictures and videos made this museum…read morelook really small. I just happen to be in that direction and figure for 10 bucks. Why not. I stayed here from 12 to 3 PM and I feel like I didn't even get to taking everything that I wanted. It's nice and warm in there and the cold weather. There's so much information they even have a dedicated children's area where kids can come and dress up like little conductors build trans using magnet tiles and more.

Right across the street from the Strasburg Rail Road (literally just a crosswalk away), the…read moreRailroad Museum of PA is a must if you're in the area. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon after a train ride, and wow... this place has more than 100 locomotives and railroad cars inside the building. Not mini replicas. Not models. REAL trains. The sheer size of them up close was mind-blowing! Some cars are open to explore, and even the ones you can't go inside are close enough to touch and grab great photos. Admission was only $10, and we spent a solid 2.5 hours wandering through--even as total non-train buffs. Train lovers could easily make a full day of it. Staff were friendly, and volunteers were spread throughout the museum to answer questions and share fun facts about the trains, which made the visit even better. Just inside the entrance is a well-stocked gift shop with tons of novelty items and unique finds--definitely worth a peek before you head out. Beyond the trains, there are interactive exhibits--Legos, a mini town with history lessons, and even dress-up spots for kids. It's very family-friendly, but smaller kids may lose steam (pun intended ) walking the long rows of cars. Overall? This was a fun, different, history-packed experience that was absolutely worth the ticket price. I don't know that I need to go back, but I'm really glad I went once!