This is my favorite bike ride – a circle loop connecting the two canals that run along both sides of the Delaware River. Although you can explore the area by car and foot, my favorite is by bike- the footpaths are wide and flat, making them both kid and adult friendly. The two canals can be linked by numerous bridges to create loops of various lengths. My favorite short ride (about 7 miles) is the stretch between New Hope/Lambertville and Stockton. For a slightly longer ride, I’ll head up to the pedestrian crossing bridge at Bull’s Island. Along both canals you get beautiful canal and river views, remnants of canal engineering, and interesting architecture.
On the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, the canal was originally cut as a feeder canal from Bull’s Island to Bordentown, designed to supply water to the main Delaware & Raritan Canal that ran from Bordentown to New Brunswick. However, from the time it was built in the 1830’s until 1913, it was itself used by canal boats. On the Pennsylvania side, the Delaware Canal was finished in 1832 and stretched from Easton to Philadelphia. The primary cargo along both canals was coal coming downriver from the coalfields of interior Pennsylvania. After a brief heyday in the 1950’s, canals lost out to railroads and both canals closed in the early 1930’s.
There are lots of places to eat in New Hope/Lambertville, a deli in Stockton, and loads of beautiful picnic spots along the way.
If you want to continue your explorations, there is plenty to do in the area. For history fans, there are two Washington’s Crossing Parks, one each in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Trenton: A Turning Point in the Revolution) that focus on the pivotal Christmas battle that helped win the Revolutionary War. Both locations have visitor centers, but the park on the New Jersey side also has a museum with Revolutionary War artifacts and movie, a nature center, and hiking trails.
It also has signage marking the path taken by the Continental army on its way to Trenton.
More hiking is available nearby at Baldplate Mountain. Trail Map
For more recent history, check out Howell Living History Farm , a working farm that’s interpreted to 1890–1910. Part of the Mercer County Park system, admission is free and they offer a wide variety of hands-on activities geared towards children. My kids have great memories of ice harvesting, planting corn by horse-power, and collecting maple syrup (Farming Like It’s 1899).
If you are a treasure hunter, check out the giant flea market at The Golden Nugget on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
A perfect post-adventure snack from It’s Nutts…
Secrets of Philadelphia 