Bucks County (in the winter) - Part 3 A Surprise Around Every Corner
Written by: Christine Coviello
More than just B&Bs and crafts, but a couple of things to do in this section of Pennsylvania.
Day 3
Wednesday we started the day with breakfast at The Spotted Hog again. The waitress remembered us and sat us at "our table." It is so nice to feel so comfortable somewhere so quickly.
We checked out of the Golden Plough Inn and drove to Doylestown. This was a new experience, as I had never even heard of Doylestown. Our first stop was The Michener Museum. There was so much to see here. I loved that most of the exhibits were "touch friendly" as they encourage you to open a drawer, or push a button to hear a recording. It made the exhibits come alive, which is so different from the cold and uninviting reputations most museums have.
The first of my two favorite exhibits running right now was "Levittown: a Home of Our Own," featuring the contemporary photos of Joan Klatchko. The first thing that came to mind was how familiar the photos looked to me. I live in Long Island, and we have a town called Levittown here, too. This exhibit was so interesting for two reasons. One was to get the history of the man William Levitt and what his vision was; the other was to see how the "American Dream" hasn’t changed much since that time. People want to own a home, have a family, and be happy. The pictures of Levittown, then and now, still show that although the years have gone by and changed, the dreams haven’t.
The second exhibit, which is upstairs in the museum, was of the work of Randall Exon called, "A Quiet Light." The aspect of this exhibit that I enjoyed most was such a simple addition, but to me added so much. Next to most of the paintings, there was a quote from Randall Exon himself. It either told you what he was thinking or trying to accomplish during the painting, or just some of his thoughts. It really helped you get inside the head of the artist and better understand his work. By the end of my time walking through the exhibit, I felt as though I knew the man and his paintings meant so much more to me because of it. I truly had such an enjoyable experience at The Michener Museum because for one of the first times of my life I felt comfortable and encouraged to learn and enjoy in a museum setting. I wish more museums were like this.
Our next stop was literally across the street at The Mercer Museum. This was another hidden surprise. You have no idea what is waiting for you inside when you enter this building! I spent 5 minutes just staring around the room before even thinking about where to go first. This is a collection of every day human items from times gone by. It is quite eclectic—from tortoise shell hair clips, to an old fire engine, to books, pottery and all kinds of tools. I thought this was a very interesting exhibit, but due to the bitter cold, we had to cut our visit short. I would plan on visiting this exhibit when it is warmer as it is not heated.
We spent some time exploring and shopping our newly discovered town. We walked up and down some of the streets and even decided to stop in Paint N’ Pottery to make a piece of Pottery. It was so much fun and it was nice to make a souvenir from our trip.
Next, we were off to find Inn to the Woods, the bed and breakfast we were staying in for the next two nights. I have to admit that it was a little bit hard to get to, and I suggest going to check in during the day when the streets are lit up to help you on the winding roads. But once we found our way, how pleasantly surprised we were! Brady, one of the owners of the Inn, greeted us at the door. He was so friendly; he really made us feel at home. His love for his home and B&B showed in every word he spoke, and it became contagious because by the time we left, I was singing the praises of Inn to the Woods myself to anyone who would listen.
David let us get situated and then offered to give us a tour of the house. Each room is decorated appropriately for the author it is named after. There are 7 rooms, which range from the exotic in the Kahlil Gibran room to the masculine old west style of the Louis L’amour room. We had the luxury to stay in the Tennessee Williams room with its Southern feminine touches and fireplace—it was just my style.
The thing that makes Inn to the Woods stand out between other B&Bs I have been to is the style and the owners. David and Brady truly invite you into their home with open arms, but at the same time give you the space and privacy you need. Every night we found a treat waiting for us. Whether it was the chocolate-dipped strawberries or the homemade chocolate chip cookies, these were the little touches that showed they care. My only regret is that we didn’t have time to just stay and enjoy the Inn and the surroundings as much as I would have liked. This Inn is the perfect combination of relaxing and calm, but also fun and loose as we sat around the kitchen table with our coffee and chatted about the day. Also, it was beautifully decorated and furnished without being too cutesy and cluttered. I really loved this place already and hated to have to leave, but we had to leave and go to dinner.
We ate dinner at The Yardley Inn. This is a more upscale restaurant. Although the food was delicious, and the menu extensive with interesting and unique choices, I was slightly disappointed in the service. I felt as though we were forgotten about in the corner of the restaurant at times and had a hard time getting a glass of water when needed. The tiered appetizer was delicious and nice to have a choice to try and taste some new things off the menu. We both enjoyed our main courses, but did find that the sauces overpowered the veal. In the end, I think that The Yardley Inn is a nice place to visit for a chance to try different foods and tastes, although it did not live up to my expectations.
We decided to drive through the winding roads on the way back to the Inn. As I am writing this, I am inclined to write "on our way home" because that is how it felt. We settled in for the night, lit the fire, and just relaxed.
