Saturday, May 11, 2019: Almost any day in New Hope, PA, was a good day, but when the weather was sunny, it proved better. After I had lunch, I had planned to tour the Parry Mansion and its 11 rooms of interiors decorated in styles from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nevertheless, as I approached this place, I saw swarms of yellow jackets in front of the mansion leading to the main doorway. So I changed my mind and took a few pictures of the exterior instead. (One can see pictures of the rooms on the website for the New Hope Historical Society.) Next, I headed to the New Hope Visitors Center, 1 W. Mechanic St. and Main St. (215-862-5030). Housed in an 1839 building that once served as the former town hall, the person at the counter was very helpful as she answered questions and pointed out the variety of literature about New Hope and nearby attractions in PA and New Jersey. After this, I explored New Hope’s Main St. area and a few side streets of galleries, shops, and other businesses housed in buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This former mill town has been an artists’ community for most of the 20th century and currently. Between the mostly browsing and some shopping, I spent more than a few hours here. Anyway, there was more to do in this town than just browsing and shopping: The Bucks County Playhouse has been putting on quality plays since 1939; on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, one can view the nearby countryside; and a stroll through the Delaware Canal State Park could put one in touch with nature. Meanwhile throughout the year, this town played host to many events. Overall, there is something for people with many tastes in New Hope!
