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A summer weekend in New Hope, PA runs on river time. Base yourself at the Logan Inn, open on the same corner of Bucks County since 1727, and you're a five-minute walk from the Delaware River, the towpath, and a Main Street that hasn't lost its 18th-century bones. Tube the river in the morning, browse gallery windows in the afternoon, and end the night on a tavern porch that's been pouring drinks since before the country existed. Here's how to spend it.

Friday: check in somewhere that remembers everything

You'll feel the age of the place before you feel anything else. The Logan Inn is the oldest continuously operating inn in Bucks County and one of the five oldest in the country, with colonial murals on the walls and a staircase that creaks in a way that feels earned rather than tired. A 2021 expansion added 22 contemporary rooms and suites alongside the original 16, so you can pick your era: antique four-posters in the historic wing, or clean-lined contemporary rooms with a Lavazza espresso machine and a "Love Box" of massage lotion waiting on the bed.

Drop your bags and walk straight to Landmark Tavern, the inn's own bar, for a cocktail before dinner. It's built to be the town's living room, and by 7pm on a Friday, it usually is one.

Saturday morning: get on, or in, the river

This is the hour Bucks County shows off. Walk or rent a bike and take the Delaware Canal towpath north toward Centre Bridge, the prettiest stretch of the full 40-mile trail, with the canal on one side and the river glinting through trees on the other.

If you'd rather be in the water, Bucks County River Country or Delaware River Tubing will put you on an inner tube, kayak, or canoe for a lazy float downriver. No experience required, just sunscreen and a willingness to get wet. Both outfitters run shuttles back to New Hope, so you don't need a second car.

Saturday afternoon: wander, shop, eat something from the market

Back in town, New Hope rewards slow walking. Pop into the galleries and boutiques lining Main and Bridge Streets, then graze your way through Ferry Market, a 13-vendor food hall with seasonal produce and prepared food that makes a very good late lunch.

If you've got kids, or you just like carousels, drive fifteen minutes to Peddler's Village in Lahaska, home to more than 70 shops and restaurants, plus Giggleberry Fair for the under-12 crowd.

Saturday evening: dinner, a show, or both

Back at the inn, Ferry + Main is the newer of the two restaurants: an open kitchen, a big central bar, and a menu that swings from butternut squash soup to raw bar towers and dry-aged duck breast. It's the kind of place worth booking ahead for a Saturday.

Before or after dinner, check what's on at Bucks County Playhouse, a few minutes' walk away. It's billed as America's most famous summer theater for a reason (Grace Kelly and Robert Redford both worked this stage), and its season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, so summer is exactly when to catch it.

Sunday: a slow train and a slower breakfast

Before you head home, ride the New Hope Railroad, a 1925 steam locomotive that runs a 45-minute loop through the Bucks County countryside. In summer, ask for the open-air car and let the breeze do the work. Grab coffee from the inn beforehand; there's no rush to this one, and that's the point.

Good to know before you go

New Hope sits about an hour north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City, which makes it an easy weekend trip without a full day lost to driving. Summer weekends book up, both the Logan Inn and the river outfitters, so reserve rooms and tubing slots at least two to three weeks out if you're coming in July or August.

FAQ

How old is the Logan Inn? The Logan Inn has operated continuously since 1727, making it the oldest inn in Bucks County and one of the five oldest in the United States.

How far is New Hope, PA from Philadelphia? New Hope is about an hour's drive from Philadelphia and roughly 90 minutes from New York City.

What's the best way to experience the Delaware River in summer? Tubing, kayaking, or canoeing with a local outfitter like Bucks County River Country or Delaware River Tubing, or walking/biking the towpath between New Hope and Centre Bridge.

Is the Bucks County Playhouse open in summer? Yes. Its main season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, making summer the best time to catch a show.

Does the Logan Inn have a restaurant? Yes, two: Ferry + Main, an open-kitchen restaurant with a full dinner menu, and Landmark Tavern, a casual bar serving tavern fare and cocktails.