Things to do / Travel Guide
With so much to see and do in eastern Pennsylvania, there are some sites and activities that are often overlooked or require a little more advance planning, but are well worth seeing and doing nonetheless.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Stay on a private Amish farm and join the resident family. Just like Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley in “For Richer or Poorer,” you can even milk cows, gather eggs, and do chores. A farm stay is an unforgettable experience for both adults and children.
Wilmington, Delaware
At the Delaware History Museum in Wilmington, visitors can see the world's largest frying pan. Used to cook chicken from 1950-1988 at the Delmarva Chicken Festival, it holds 180 gallons of cooking oil, and can cook up to 800 quarters of chicken at one time.
Sailing into History
For any sailing or history buff, a sail on a Tall Ship will certainly be a unique experience. One of the famous U.S. Tall Ships, the Kalmar Nyckel, a 90-foot, 17th-century Dutch 200-ton Pinnace replica, is docked in Wilmington, Delaware. The original Kalmar Nyckel sailed from Sweden to the New World in 1638, leaving its passengers to establish the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley, the Colony of New Sweden in present-day Wilmington. One of the U.S.' pioneering colonial ships, its historical significance rivals that of the Mayflower, yet her remarkable story has not been widely told. From May-October, you can book a 3-hour sail, a 1½-hour-long cruise, or a daylong sail. No sailing skills are required, but you are allowed to participate in the operation of the vessel and help hoist and trim sails along the way. Advance reservations are required.
History Boat
Civil War buffs can spend an exciting day as if it were still the 19th century when they take a round-trip boat excursion to military sites on the Delaware River. The Three Forts Ferry Service runs between Fort Mott in New Jersey, Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island, and Delaware City in Delaware. From April-October, you can experience authentic reenactments of Civil War episodes, both civilian and military, “lantern tours” of the fort at night, and demonstrations of how people lived in the 1800s. This is a fascinating glimpse into the area's history.
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