Bucks County, PA

LocationReport BUCKS COUNTY, PA

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The newly renovated and expanded Logan Inn in New Hope, PA

WHAT'S NEW

Logan Inn in New Hope renovated and expanded its space in 2021 and now includes a restaurant called Ferry + Main, a movie theater, whiskey lounge, members-only cigar lounge, and event space for up to 150 people.

In Bensalem, Pen Ryn Estate opened its River’s Edge Garden Pavilion in 2020. It offers a secluded, close to the river’s edge, 10,000-square foot tented complex that boasts dramatic views of the Delaware River.

Having opened in 2020 near New Hope's downtown, River House at Odette’s presents an ideal setting for a riverfront retreat. The property features a ballroom for up to 150 guests along with smaller group meeting options.

To break up full-day meetings and give collaborative minds a chance to absorb information shared throughout the morning (as well as bond with their colleagues), participants at River House at Odette’s are offered the opportunity to engage in tours for groups of up to 10 that either dive into the storied history of New Hope in collaboration with New Hope Historical Society or into the area's arts and culture scene through the New Hope Arts Center.

For the New Hope Arts Center Tour, participants are provided with maps of New Hope to guide them from the hotel to the arts center as part of a 30- to 40-minute one-on-one tour.

Tours with New Hope Historical Society take about 60 minutes, meandering toward the town center. The tour includes several of New Hope’s top iconic structures, such as Bucks County Playhouse, historic Town Hall, and Ferry Landing before arriving at the Historical Society’s main location at Parry Mansion for a site tour of its 11 rooms that reflect 125 years of decorative changes.

Tours with New Hope Arts Center take place at their central New Hope location, where participants are led through the winding gallery spaces highlighting works from contemporary artists in the Lambertville and New Hope area, as well as the Delaware Valley region.

Created to further the heritage of New Hope as a vital regional arts center, New Hope Arts presents six to eight major exhibitions annually across a broad array of media.

In January, Peddler’s Village - a popular shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Lahaska, Bucks County - will present its annual Village-wide Sales Event. Its 65 specialty shops, almost all of which are locally owned small businesses, will offer special pricing on an array of merchandise, including apparel, accessories, home goods, furniture, fine art and handcrafted items, books, toys and games, as well as plenty of gifts and collectibles.

In addition, the spectacular holiday lights of Peddler’s Village begin on November 19 and continue through January 9, 2022, and their family-oriented evening Fire and Frost Fun event will take place January 7th and 8th. Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA

Meet in an extraordinary Village.

• Ample meeting space • Elegant 66-room inn • 60+ shops • Multiple restaurants & eateries • Beverage tasting rooms • 14-passenger shuttle • Indoor entertainment center

For inquiries, contact Brian Shields at 215-794-4062 or bshields@peddlersvillage.com PeddlersVillage.com

Great Barn Brewery; photo courtesy: Visit Bucks County (VBC); credit: Kevin Crawford Imagery

Free Will Brewing at Peddlers Village; photo courtesy: VBC;

credit: Kevin Crawford Imagery

Red Lion Brewery; photo courtesy: VBC; credit: Kevin Crawford Imagery

FOOD AND DRINK

Currently, there are 22 breweries with 28 total locations on the Bucks County Ale Trail. New additions that have opened in 2021 so far include: Bitchin Kitten (Morrisville); Aristaeus (Langhorne); Neshaminy Creek Brewing (Dublin taproom); and Great Barn Taphouse (Warrington). Two more breweries are expected to open soon - Mystic Ways (Perkasie) in late fall or early winter of 2021, and Van Lieus Brewing Co. (Perkasie).

The Bucks County Ale Trail promotes the locally-grown craft beer scene, which features seasonal and historically-inspired brews. Sign-up on VisitBucksCounty.com/AleTrail and check in with the staff when visiting trail member breweries; visit at least five breweries on the trail and get a free t-shirt.

The rolling hills and moderate climate of Bucks County combine to make it one of the premier grape growing regions of the East Coast. Currently, there are nine wineries in the county, seven of which are on the Bucks County Wine Trail. The latest to open, Vino by Zzino, was added to the trail this September. Many of the wineries on the trail are family-owned and have great stories and history behind them.

The Wine Trail is hosting two events this fall. Wine lovers can taste the newest, fruitiest varieties of wine during the Bucks County Wine Trail’s annual Nouveau Weekend, November 13-14, 2021. Nouveau wines are bottled young with little aging, offering light and sweet tastes. As is tradition in the Beaujolais region of France, the Bucks County wineries offer their own Nouveau from harvest.

In addition, the wineries of the Bucks County Wine Trail also will take part in their annual Holiday Celebration, December 4-5, 2021. Visitors can experience the beauty of the wineries decorated for the holidays while enjoying spiced wines, sampling cookies and artisanal cheeses, and relaxing to the sounds of holiday music. As an added bonus, guests can get a jump start on holiday shopping with special discount pricing, wine gift packs, gift baskets and unique wine accessories. This Holiday Celebration is the kickoff for Light Up the Vines, the trail's second annual vineyard illumination.

Second Sin Brewing Co.;

Stella at the Ghost Light Inn in New Hope, PA

WORKING TOGETHER

“There are so many classic and unique properties in Bucks County that are ready to work with planners and organizers,” says Paul Bencivengo, president and COO of Visit Bucks County. “New locations include The River House at Odette’s and The Logan Inn in New Hope. These two fantastic properties, with rooms on-site, have the flexibility to host small and large corporate events and weddings. The new and existing breweries throughout the county also provide a different vibe for those planners and coordinators looking for fun space.”

Visit Bucks County (VBC) has been in constant contact with its partners since the onset of the pandemic, ensuring that resources for recovery were made easy to find on its website, as well as organizing phone calls, site visits and virtual webinars.

VBC also has worked with members to promote special offers and lodging deals through online advertising, and are now starting to shift gears into promotion for the expected return of in-person events.

LOOKING AHEAD

Visit Bucks County’s team has been hard at work reintroducing meeting and event attendees and group tourists to the county’s offerings since the impact of the pandemic. A Destination Ambassadors program has been created to assist with attending meetings, events and group tour type trade shows, such as the Pennsylvania Bus Association’s Annual Meeting and Sales Retreat in October, and more.

No way one day is enough time. Maybe two days, or even two nights and three “long” days when planning a retreat or a meeting in one of the region's most visited towns. And, of course, add more days when visiting nearby Peddler's Village (or vice a versa) and holding your program on-site at this well-known destination.

New Hope, PA has always been a welcoming town for locals, travelers and groups, but now more than ever it has become a great destination for board retreats, small conferences, and social events. Filled with art galleries, boutique independently owned shops, and a mix of restaurant stylings, New Hope continues to evolve as many of its establishments have expanded and re-developed.

The Logan Inn is the cornerstone of Main Street. After two years of construction, Landmark Hospitality has completed their expansion and renovation of the property, transforming it into a boutique hotel experience and home of curated entertainment. Beyond the main parlor, guests are now welcomed by multiple gathering spaces on elevated planes, including an open kitchen, event space, two dining rooms, outdoor patio, a cigar lounge, a whiskey lounge, and a bar.

Landmark created a split-level basement, encouraging social interactions. One level has a 3,000-bottle wine cellar and large-scale rock-and-roll art that features classic celebrity figures along with a pool table in the center. The second level has a full, old-fashioned movie theater accented with marquee light fixtures, movie posters and a concession stand.

Next to The Logan Inn is Oldestone, opening this month on the site of the former Marsha Brown's, which is managed by the owners of The Greenhouse another Main Street restaurant.

"With Oldestone, we have created something special, while still being mindful of the legacy we’re carrying forward from Marsha Brown’s,” said Michael Sklar, co-owner of the restaurant. "To fulfill our vision, we aspire to be more than just a high-end steakhouse. From the moment a patron walks through the doors of this gorgeous, almost 150-year-old church, we want them to be taken by the refined atmosphere, the distinctive food, the live jazz music in our lounge, and the accommodations of our staff. Oldestone is about the complete experience of a night out."

"It is our objective with this establishment to continue the tradition of history, culture and cuisine for which New Hope has been celebrated,” Sklar continues. “Locals and tourists alike recognize our community’s reputation for hospitality."

"New Hope is one of those towns where you can get lost and almost feel like you are in a bubble miles and miles away from reality," stated Jimmy Nikodellis, general manager of the Ghost Light Inn. "It is great to see the town growing and expanding, but also keeping the same vibe. There have been a lot of new hotels and restaurants open in town in the last year or two. All of these places have their own theme or identity, so it just adds to the many options that already exist."

“Being just a short drive from both Philadelphia and New York City, New Hope is such a charming riverside destination for those seeking a culturally rich, scenic retreat location that sparks creativity, and positive thinking. The addition of the River House at Odette’s to this community has only enhanced the offerings in town and its visibility in the meeting and events markets," observed Ron Gorodesky, CEO, Refined Hospitality, which owns the River House at Odette's.

"We are seeing an emergence of even more social gatherings, corporate retreats, and weddings,” Gorodesky added. “Travelers and decision makers alike are enthused by this eclectic world-class destination for its outstanding arts and culture scene, as well as elevated cuisine and lodging options that the River House brings to the area.”