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Guide to: Bucks County

Bucks County is one of the Philadelphia region’s most visited suburban areas.

Bucks County is one of the Philadelphia region's most visited suburban areas. It's one of the three original Pennsylvania counties and is home to plenty of history, arts, beautiful natural parks and farmland.

If some fresh air and beautiful scenery is what you're seeking, look no further than this wonderful district.

If weird, unique and handmade piques your interest, then the Mercer Museum is a must-see! It's six stories of pre-industrial handcrafted items like a Conestoga wagon, whale boat, and design objects, tools and other artifacts. Since 1988 the James A. Michner Art Museum, named after the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer and advocate of the arts, has been dedicated to preserving fine art and culture from the Bucks County region. Right next to the Delaware River in New Hope sits Bucks County Playhouse (a former grist mill), which is home to everything from "first class" Broadway productions to other performing arts shows. If you're a history buff then you'll want to check out Bucks County Civil War Museum and Library – here you'll find rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts, periodicals, books, databases full of research and study all focused on one of America's greatest conflicts.

Now you can't visit the Bucks County region without stopping by Peddler's Village. This quaint, specialty shop haven in Lahaska is filled with local boutiques, dining, places to stay and is especially wonderful during the holiday seasons.

If you're a wino, Bucks County is in no shortage of sip-worthy places to visit. Your eyes won't be able to miss the giant 18th century red barn that is the New Hope Winery, which has a large selection of Pennsylvania wines and related accessories, antiques and gourmet gifts. The shop pros can help you fashion the perfect food and wine pairings and they also host wine tastings, special events, and live music shows. Sitting along the Delaware River is Sand Castle Winery, which makes all of its wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Johannesburg Riesling, and Pinot Noir) from their very own vinifera grapes from their vineyard. They offer tours, tastings, and classes.

We haven't forgotten about you hop heads. Vault Brewing Company may be young (established in 2012) but they create some mighty tasty brews. You can visit their unique Yardley brewpub for a tour and a bite from their non-traditional menu. This is a great place to catch up with friends because they have no TVs and no pop/rock music, but instead founders (and brothers) John and James Cain prefer recorded or live jazz and funk to create a special, intimate experience for guests.

How about whiskey? Dad's Hat in Bristol boasts making small batch, natural rye whiskey that your pops would approve of. They are constantly hosting tasting events, dinners, and are more than happy to take you on a tour.

One of the most popular parks in the southeastern Pennsylvania is Nockamixon State Park. You can't swim in its artificial reservoir (but you can in the park's pool, which has waterslides), but you can go boating, fishing, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking and hunting and there are plenty of nearby cabins for lodging during any season. Peace Valley Park in Doylestown is perfect for the nature seeker. The park has identified 250 species of birds and there is a large variety of trees and plenty of hiking and biking trails. There's also an off-limits Special Wildlife Area (with turtles, snakes, herons, and frogs) that can be viewed at a safe location. Upper Black Eddy is home to Ringing Rocks Park – a beautiful place largely inhabited by, well, rocks. The park earned its name for the rocks' ability to create sound when hit, which has captivated scientists. Hello gorgeous! That's what you'll be saying when you see all of the beautiful plants at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. The 134-acre nature destination has over 2,000 native PA species, 80 of which are rare. There's also two-and-a-half miles of "picturesque trails."

Okay, so you're probably famished by now. Time to taste the local fare!

Beaming with colorful charm, Café Blue Moose in New Hope is a cozy BYOB brunch and dinner spot that sits on the river. In addition to the menu, the history of this place is what really makes it unique. It was founded by two teens in 2006 and it's the nation's first youth-run restaurant. The food is French-inspired, European prix fixed style. If you're vegan, vegetarian, or none of the above than you'll want to dine at Sprig & Vine. There's something here to satisfy any palate, and you'll want to wash it all down with their beet lemonade. If you're looking for something more Americana, The Washington House is a homey bar and restaurant, located next to Sellersville Theater, that's serving up comfort food classics with a twist like burgers, shrimp and sausage mac n' cheese, and parmesan crusted chicken.

Now it's time for dessert. OwowCow Creamery is known for its locally sourced, natural and organic frozen treat blends and TripAdvisor ranked it one of the country's 10 best ice cream shops. Not craving the cold stuff? Head over to family owned and operated Yum Yum's bakeshop where they've been frying up fluffy doughnuts for more than half a century.