Explore What Life Was Like Before We Were Constantly Tethered To Our Technology

Churchville Nature Center offers the unique experience to travel back in time to when Native Americans, specifically the Lenape Indians, lived off the land in Churchville, Bucks County and what their lifestyle consisted of.  Not only does Churchville Nature Center offer Lenape Indian educational programs, but you can walk the boardwalk trail to explore the wildlife of Bucks County.

Churchville Nature Center  

Address:

501 Churchville Lane
Churchville, PA 18966

Hours:

Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays

Churchville Nature Center Welcome Sign

So, what is Churchville Nature Center's mission? It wants the public to be more aware and appreciative of nature, and its gifts to humanity.  We only get one earth, so why not appreciate the natural beauty of it? A great way to do this is by walking through the two-mile nature path at the Churchville Nature Center that ultimately leads to Springfield Lake.

The great part about the trail is that you follow a boardwalk-like path around the two-mile trail.  If any of you are like me, I love nature, but I do not like creepy crawlies unexpectedly latching on to me while walking in wooded areas. The Churchville Nature Center is a perfect combination because it offers a nature walk without having to actually step in the nature. However, the nature center also offers non-boardwalk trails as well if you prefer that type of experience.

Nature trails are open sunup to sundown every day all year long.

Here is a color-coded map of the nature trails at Churchville Nature Center.

The events page of Churchville Nature Center provides an upcoming section divided by month, so do not forget to check it out before your visit to plan accordingly.

Lenape Village Program

Hours:

Open to public for tours from April - October every Sunday 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Weekdays are reserved for school trips

Churchville Nature Center Totem Pole Recreation

The Lenape Village Program is an educational event that offers the public the chance to experience first-hand what life was like in Bucks County when the Lenape Indians occupied the area.  It is best described as a living history exhibit.  Exact replications of Lenape teepees, tools, clothing, fire-making sites, cooking sites and hunting tools can be found throughout the Lenape Village.  During the program, you learn about how the Indians survived off the land and what their day-to-day life was like.

Other events that are offered through the Lenape Village Program on the weekends are Lenape Indian Campfire Story Time and Pottery Workshops.  These two activities are great for all ages to experience.

Churchville Nature Center Main Building

Churchville Nature Center Main Building

The Churchville Nature Center offers a more in-depth look at what wildlife to search for while on your nature walk, and don't forget to stop by the gift store to pick up some interesting Native American and Nature keepsakes.

Churchville Nature Center Bunny

Take a walk into the main building and you will find this adorable bunny snuggled up in a ball.  He or she (I couldn't tell) is in Churchville Nature Center's Bird Watch Room.  So, before you go bird watching, say hello to this cute bunny.

Warning: There is a tarantula in a container in the Bird Watch Room along with the bunny.  If you suffer from arachnophobia, I would consider staying out of this room. I would have taken a picture, but I couldn't muster up the courage to look at it for more than two seconds.

Children's Natural Play Area

Children's Play Area 

This is a great place to take young children because it is not just an ordinary playground with slides and swings.

Children's Play Area Teepee

Children's Play Area Lenape Indian Sitting Area

This playground offers the chance for children to run around a traditional Lenape Village camp.  They can get up close and personal to a recreation of a traditional teepee and let their imaginations run wild as they live the life of a Lenape Indian.  The children's area also offers a Lenape Indian campfire recreation.  Among other kid-friendly activities, there are mazes, a tree house, a sandbox and much more for children to enjoy.

Many family-friendly activities are available all year long at Churchville Nature Center, so don't miss out on the fun.  Check out the home page for events, maps, nature information and much more.

Bucks County Farms

Bucks County is filled with farms and activities to partake of, especially in the Fall.  Fall is the ideal time to visit Bucks County farms. It's a great time to buy some apple cider and enjoy a hayride and/or corn mazes.

Here are my top two farm choices for Fall activities because they offer the best hayrides and apple cider in the area. They also offer year-round activities:

Solly's Farm and Market

Address: 
707 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974

Hours:

Vary depending on the season. Please check the website.

Here are the links to the Fall and Spring family events.

Fall Events

Spring Events

Shady Brook Farm

Address: 

931 Stony Hill Road
Yardley, PA 19067

Hours:

Vary depending on the season. Please check the website.

Here are the links to the Fall events.

Shady Brook offers a car tour of a Holiday Light Show every year during December. This is a can't-miss event. Please check the calendar of events for more information about year round activities.

Tanner Brothers Dairy Farm

Address:

1070 Hatboro Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Tanner Brothers Store 

Tanner's is a great place to visit to get fresh milk (my favorite is its chocolate milk), vegetables, fruits and especially its famous ice cream.  The difference between Tanner's products and other supermarket stores is that they come from their farm located directly behind the store, so you know the products are extremely fresh.

Now to get to the most important part. The ice cream. Its ice cream is homemade, and it is nothing like you've ever tasted before.  It is the freshest, most delicious ice cream I have ever had in my life. I usually go for the traditional vanilla flavor, and I am never disappointed. If you are craving ice cream, it is worth the drive to go to Tanner's to get the best.

Once you try Tanner's ice cream, comment below and let everyone know what your favorite flavor is and how your experience went.

Where To Go For Some Fresh Air and Outdoor Fun All Year Long

Here are some great outdoor destinations that are must-sees no matter what month you visit Bucks County.

Tyler State Park

Address:
101 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours: 
Dawn - Dusk every day
Open all year round

Tyler State Park Neshaminy Creek

Tyler Park Creek Bridge

Tyler State Park is located in Newtown, PA, and is roughly 1,711 acres with many fun activities.  While traveling through the park, you will encounter the Neshaminy Creek that adds natural beauty to this state gem.

A multitude of picnic areas are scattered around the park. Bring your own food and drinks and have a nice barbecue with the family.  Barbecue pits are located in the dam area as well as the picnic/playground area in the park.  Restrooms are conveniently located near all picnic areas. This is a pet-friendly park, so bring your dogs as well.

Tyler Park Fire Pit/Picnic Area 

One of my favorite aspects of Tyler Park is the fire pit.  It is great all year round to enjoy.  In the summer you can roast marshmallows while watching kayaks and canoes ride by on the Neshaminy Creek.

Another one of my favorite activities is boating.  Canoe rental and kayak rental are available from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day.  It is one of the most relaxing and fun boat rides you will ever experience gliding down the creek.

Tyler Park is a fishing-friendly area.  The main pavilion (follow signs through park) is where most of the fishing occurs. Not everyone may be fish lovers, so keep in mind that the canoe/kayak rental is in the same area as the fishing if some want to boat instead. More importantly for the kids, the main pavilion area is where the Ice Cream Man makes a stop usually everyday during the hazy, hot days of summer. Who doesn't love ice cream?

If you visit Tyler Park during the winter, you may think there is nothing to do. Not true.  Many winter activities to get involved in such a cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating and sledding. Of course, these activities require the proper weather.  Check the winter report before you venture out.

So, who loves disc golfing? Tyler Park is the perfect location to hone your disc golfing skills to perfection.  The park offers a 27-hole course with the objective of the game being to get the frisbee into the net with as few tries as possible.

Of course, there is also horseback riding that is available for kids, beginners and advanced riders. Before you plan your visit to Tyler Park, take a look at the Things to Do page and the Calendar of Events so you do not miss out on any activities.

Map of Tyler Park

Core Creek Park

Address:
901 Bridgetown Pike
Langhorne, PA 19047

Hours:
8am - sunset
Open all year round

Core Creek Park Entrance

Core Creek Park is also located in Lower Bucks County along with Tyler State Park, but it offers very different activities.  Core Creek Park is approximately 1,200 acres and offers fun activities to enjoy in Lake Luxembourg located in the heart of the park.

Core Creek Lake Luxembourg

Many locations for grilling and picnicking are available throughout the park. As for kid's activities, Core Creek has great playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields and water-fun to explore.

One of the most fun warm-weather activities at Core Creek is the paddle boat rentals (Open May - September). The park also offers kayak, canoe, paddleboat and rowboat rentals, and you can also bring your own small boat for the lake. Take the family for a scenic paddle boat ride while getting some exercise at the same time.

Core Creek Boat Rental Building

If boating is not your forte, take a walk, a bike ride and/or a horseback ride through one of the many nature trails offered. While on the trails, keep an eye out for wildlife and see how many different species you can spot in the park.

In the winter, the lake is open (depending on the lake conditions) for ice skating and ice fishing.

Core Creek Dog Park and Bench Area

Now to my favorite aspect of Core Creek Park, which is the dog park. (All of Core Creek is pet-friendly)

The dog park is an enclosed off-leash dog park for registered members of the only.  The park provides a section for small dogs, and a separate section for large dogs.  Not a member of the dog park? You can still enjoy the sites by relaxing on one of the benches next to the gate and watch the dogs frolic without a care in the world.