Visitors Guide to the Valley Forge Area and Montgomery County, Pa. Spring and Summer 2009 INSIDE: Think Outside! Private Passion, Public Art Top Ice Cream Spots Dine Like it’s ’79 & More Montgomery County, Pa. Discover it in this issue... This guide’s feature stories introduce you to several towns in our county. Each is color- East Greenville coded to correspond with the appropriate article title. Towns mentioned more Dine Like it’s ’79... than once are marked with stars. Green Lane Res. Private Passion, Public Art Upper Perkiomen Gilbertsville V a lley Park Green Lane The Perfect Playground Giving Cross Country... Spring Mount Pottstown Schwenksville Limerick H Mainland What’s the Scoop Skippack Lansdale Evansburg Collegeville State Park H Gwynedd Mont Clare Port Providence Wings Field Bryn Athyn Montgomery County Audubon Ft. W a shington Jenkintown Valley Forge National East Norriton State Park Commissioners Historical ParkH Norristown Glenside Huntingdon James R. Matthews, Chairman H Valley King of Prussia Lafayette Hill Commissioner Bridgeport Elkins Park Joseph M. Hoeffel Commissioner Gladwyne Bruce L. Castor, Jr. Commissioner Ardmore Board of Directors Bureau Staff Chairman President Richard J. Odorisio Paul R. Decker Vice Chairman Vice President of Sales and Marketing Director of Electronic Marketing Andrew S. Tod Martha Rich Mayo Kenneth Chen Treasurer Raymond N. Skaddan Director of Finance & Administration Director of Information Technology Keith Seiwell John Lam Secretary Suzanne S. Ryan Director of Communications Director of Membership Sales & Service James Creed Richard W. Kubach, III K. Bailey Fucanan Betsey Guetta Daria Fink Kenneth T. Lawrence, Jr. Director of Convention Sales Director of Tourism Sales Carmen S. Italia, Jr. Suzanne Vargus Holloman David Bradley Tom Haberland Ex-Officio Director of Co-Op Sales and Marketing, VFNHP Michael A. Caldwell Ann Marie Maher VALLEY FORGE CON V ENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 1000 FirstFor Avenue more • Suite details, 101 • King oflog Prussia, on PA to 19406 www.valleyforge.org/valuewww.valleyforge.org • [email protected] or call 610.834.1550 Co n t e n t s Discover it in this issue... The Perfect Playground Giving Cross Country... What’s the Scoop Philadelphia Folk Festival Bryn Athyn Features Jenkintown 6 Valley Forge National Historical Park ................................. 2 Huntingdon Private Passion, Public Art.......................................... 4 Valley The Perfect Playground ...............................................6 Elkins Park Dine Like it’s ’79...1779 that is ........................................26 What’s the Scoop? - The Valley Forge Area’s and Montgomery County’s Top Ice Cream Spots .31 Giving Cross Country Running New Meaning ...........................47 Ardmore Diversions Lodging Attractions & Tours .........................................8 Hotels .............................................................33 Gardens & Arboreta .......................................11 Bed & Breakfasts ............................................35 Historic Sites ..................................................12 City & Country Inns ......................................35 Museums ........................................................14 Campgrounds ................................................35 Recreation ......................................................16 Extended Stays ...............................................35 31 Shopping ........................................................18 Apartment Leasing Services ............................36 Dining Retreat Houses ...............................................36 Fine Dining ....................................................23 Conference Centers Sophisticated Casual ......................................24 Conference Centers with Sleeping Rooms ..........37 Family Restaurant...........................................28 Conference Centers without Sleeping Rooms ....... 37 Brew Pub/Bar and Grill ...................................29 Calendar of Events Café/Deli ........................................................29 Banquet and Meeting Facilities .......................29 Nightlife and Entertainment ...........................38 Caterers ..........................................................30 Ongoing Events and Exhibits .........................40 Restaurants By Location .................................32 Monthly Event Calendar ................................41 Convention Centers - Shows & Expos.....48 Getting Here Transportation, Directions, Airlines ......Inside Back Cover National Valley Historical Forge Park THE F O C AL POINT O F VALLEY FORGE ATTRA C TIONS IS THE 3,600-A C RE VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORI C AL Address: PARK . IT WAS HERE THAT GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON F ORGED HIS CONTINENTAL Rt 23 & N. Gulph Rd Valley Forge ARMY INTO A F IGHTING F OR C E IN THE WINTER O F 1777-1778. Phone: Of all places associated with America’s War for Independence, none conveys the suffering, sacrifice and ultimate 610.783.1099 triumph of our nation more than Valley Forge. No battles were fought here; no bayonet charges or artillery bom- Time of Operation: bardments took place. Nonetheless, some 2,000 soldiers died—more Americans than were killed at the battles Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. of Brandywine and Germantown combined. Valley Forge is the story of an army’s epic struggle to survive against and 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Jun 20 terrible odds, hunger, disease and the unrelenting forces of nature. Rows of cannon in Artillery Park, the soldiers’ through Labor Day log huts and earthen fortifications around the rim of the park are silent reminders of the past. Website: www.nps.gov/vafo Today, Valley Forge is a lush, 3,600-acre expanse of rolling hillsides dotted with flowering dogwood trees. Washington’s original stone headquarters has been restored and furnished, and statues and monuments throughout the park remind visitors of our national heritage. Among them are the Memorial Arch, statues of General “Mad Anthony” Wayne and Baron Friedrich von Steuben, and the Monument to Patriots of African Descent. Costumed interpreters and/or Park rangers are posted at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts, Washington’s Headquarters and Varnum’s Quarters. An 18-minute introduction film, “Valley Forge: A Winter Encampment,” runs every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Park Theater. Museum Gallery Talks are held in the Visitor Center (Apr 4-Jun 21, weekends at 11 a.m.; Jun 22-Labor Day, daily at 11 a.m.; 30 minutes). Recreational facilities in the Park include designated picnic areas, the six-mile Joseph Plumb Martin trail, 10 miles of horse trails and the Valley Forge-to-Philadelphia Schuylkill River Trail. The Information Desk, located in the Visitor Center, can help you with hotel and restaurant reservations, direc- tions and other information about the region. Call 610.783.1099 or log on to www.valleyforgepark.org for program and event listings. The Visitor Center at Valley Forge is where visitors are recom- Jun 21 and daily Jun 22 through Labor Day, from the Park Theater mended to begin their Valley Forge experience. The Center includes behind the Visitor Center. a museum gallery and information specialists to help customize your Call Up the Past visit. This is where guided walks and trolley tours begin. You can call up the past with the Park’s cell phone tour. It’s Also located in the Visitor Center, The Encampment Store at simple and free (other than the cost of your cellular phone service Valley Forge specializes in unique gifts, prints, books and souve- minutes). Available 24 hours a day by dialing 484.396.1018 for nirs. Trolley tour tickets and audio tours may be purchased in the English or 484.396.1015 for Spanish. Just enter the item num- store. Call 610.783.1074 for more information. ber you want to hear. Messages feature natural history facts, as Located in the main Visitor Center parking lot, the Valley Forge well as voices and events recalling the winter encampment of the Canteen features hot dogs, ice cream, soft drinks, health-conscious Continental Army. snacks and much more (open seasonally). Tour It on Two Wheels Washington Memorial Chapel commemorates George If you’re always on the move, try exploring the Park on a bicycle. Washington’s life and the nation’s history with rich, decorative Leave yours home and rent one at the Park instead. Bikes are elements, including statues, carvings and soaring stained glass win- available weekends, Apr 4 through Jun 21 and daily, Jun 22 dows. The National Patriots Bell Tower features the Justice Bell, cast through Labor Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weather permitting. to support women’s suffrage. Washington National Carillon recitals at 2 p.m. Sunday in Jun and Jul and at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday eve- Tour It on Four Wheels nings in Jul and Aug. Rt. 23, Valley Forge National Historical Park. Take the “History of Valley Forge” Trolley Tour, a 90-minute, 610.783.0120. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. guided tour of the Park including stops at the Muhlenberg www.washingtonmemorialchapel.org Brigade Huts and Washington’s Headquarters. Weekends, Apr 4 Tucked away in the woods behind the chapel, the Chapel Cabin through Jun 14 (including Memorial Day), 11:15 a.m., Shop carries handcrafted items, souvenirs, homemade jams, jellies, 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Daily, Jun 15 through Jul 3, 11:15 a.m., candies, gifts and snacks. Proceeds from the nonprofit shop benefit 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Daily, Jul 4 through Sep 7, 10:15 a.m., maintenance of the Chapel. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 610.783.0576.