which the seeds for the
Revolutionary War were
planted and the US
government came into
bloom. You’ll also find
beautiful, shaded urban
lawns dotted with plenty
of squirrels, pigeons, and
costumed actors.
Independence Hall
(%215-597-8974; Chestnut
St, btwn 5th & 6th Sts) is the
‘birthplace of American
government,’ where
delegates from the 13
colonies met to approve
the Declaration of
Independence on July
4, 1776. An excellent
example of Georgian
architecture, it sports
understated lines that
reveal Philadelphia’s
Quaker heritage.
The Liberty Bell is
Philadelphia’s top tourist
attraction. Made in
London and tolled at
the first public reading
of the Declaration of
Independence, the bell
became famous when
abolitionists adopted it
as a symbol of freedom.
The highly recommended
National Constitution
Center (%215-409-6700;
http://www.constitutioncenter.
org; 525 Arch St; adult/child
$14.50/8; h9:30am-5pm
Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat, noon-5pm
Sun; c) makes the United
States Constitution
interesting for a general
audience through
theater-in-the-round
reenactments. There
are exhibits including
interactive voting booths
and Signer’s Hall, which
contains lifelike bronze
statues of the signers in
action.54 p143
The Drive » Access I-76 west
just over the Schuykill River
which you follow for around 12½
miles until the exit for 202 north
toward King of Prussia. Then
quickly take a right onto US 422
west; the exit for Valley Forge is
a few miles further on.2 Valley Forge
After being defeated
at the Battle of
Brandywine Creek and
the British occupation
of Philadelphia in 1777,
General Washington
and 12,000 continental
troops withdrew to
Valley Forge. Today,
Valley Forge symbolizes
Washington’s endurance
and leadership. The
Valley Forge National
Historic Park (%610-783-1099; http://www.nps.gov/
vafo; cnr N Gulph Rd & Rte
23, park grounds; h6am-
10pm, welcome center &
Washington’s Headquarters
9am-5pm) contains 5½ sq
miles of scenic beauty
and open space 20 miles
northwest of downtown
Philadelphia –
it’s a remembrance of
where 2000 of George
Washington’s 12,000
troops perished from
freezing temperatures,
hunger and disease,
while many others
returned home. Its
wide fields are dotted
with soldier’s huts and
light-blue cannons and
despite the occasional
statue of a horse-
mounted general, the
park has an egalitarian
focus.The Drive » US 202 south/
US 322 east passes along the
eastern edge of the town of West
Chester – the quaint downtown
is only a few blocks long and
has several good restaurants
and cafes (p143). A couple miles
further south make a right on W
Street Rd/PA-926 west.3 Kennett Square
The small town of
Kennett Square, which
was founded in 1705,
boasts several art
galleries, bistros and
cafes but is generally
known for two things: it
is the ‘mushroom capital’
of the United States
(60% of the nation’s
mushrooms come
from the area) and the(^8) TRIP HIGHLIGHT
The Jersey
Shore
From AC, you have your
pick of shore beaches.
Head north or south
on the Garden State
Parkway or Route 9.
9
Bucks County &
Around
You’re already in Philly,
this trip’s last stop, so
just put it in reverse
to explore this scenic
stretch of the Delaware.
LINK
YOUR
TRIP
NEW.JERSEY.&.PENNSYLVANIA.TRIPS.
11
.BRANDYWINE V
ALLEY TO A
TLANTIC CITY