Valley Forge and Montgomery County Offer Plenty of Activities,
Even When Vernal Weather Turns Infernal
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - Punxsutawney Phil may have been a little off
on his early spring prediction this year, but there's no denying that
the hours of sunlight are increasing, so milder temps can't be too far
behind. Which means it's the perfect opportunity to make the most of
your leisure time and get out and about, enjoying Valley Forge and
Montgomery County.
Consider the smattering of options that follow, both inside (remember: no flowers without showers) and out:
Valley
Forge National Historical Park awakens from her winter slumber and
begins to dress in springtime best, perfect for an informative tour or
strolling, biking or horseback riding on 28 miles of designated trails.
April features National Park Week, a cause for celebration at Valley Forge, opening with the challenging Revolutionary 5-Mile Run on April 21 and ending with honorifics going to National Junior Rangers on April 27.
The John James Audubon Center
celebrates the namesake artist John James Audubon, preserving his first
home in America and highlighting its role in his development as a
naturalist. From April 13-28, hundreds of original works will be on
display as part of the center's 8th annual juried art show; the 2013
theme is "Drawn from Nature." Pieces are available for purchase, and a
portion of the proceeds go to support the center.
Eighteenth Century agrarian homesteads spring to life at Peter Wentz Farmstead, Pottsgrove Manor, the Mennonite Heritage Center and Pennypacker Mills,
where a steady rotation of demos, lectures and programs recreate the
agrarian roots so integral to our history. April 13 at Peter Wentz
Farmstead is sheep-shearing day; Pottsgrove Manor demonstrates
iron-forging on April 20; at Pennypacker Mills, you can serenade a
sycamore and sing "Happy Birchday" on Arbor Day, April 20; and the
Mennonite Heritage Center is holding a paper-cutting workshop April 27.
Outdoor plans fizzled by drizzle? Give your abs a worthy workout, flexing them while laughing at the iconic trio of funnymen at The Stoogeum.
This impressive collection of 3,000 Three Stooges memorabilia (out of
10,000 in total) covers three floors and traces the knuckleheads' roots
from vaudeville to feature films. See it once, and you'll definitely be
coming back for Moe.
The Wharton Esherick Studio Museum
nestles in the woods like a storybook cottage, an apt setting for a
craftsman-artist who combined whimsy and practicality. Best of all, the
tours here are very hands-on, as visitors are encouraged to feel for
themselves the different textures and characters of Esherick's natural
medium. Currently exhibited are drawings and carvings inspired by
Esherick's long-standing friendship with American author Sherwood
Anderson (Winesburg, Ohio).
For art inside or alfresco, check out Abington Art Center.
Here, the halls of Alverthorpe Mansion, an 1800s country estate, are
alive with displays of sculpture, paintings, sketches and even
printmaking. Beyond enjoying others' interpretations, you can express
yourself through the center's class offerings. Outside, a 27-acre
sculpture park invites you to wander its pathway, encountering art that
changes with each dapple of sunlight and gentle breeze. Toast the
arrival of spring on April 12 at the presentation "The World of Italian
Wine."
The Historic District of Bryn Athyn is a time-machine,
whisking visitors back to turn-of-the-century opulence and, upon closer
inspection, even further to the art of the Middle Ages. Glencairn Museum
displays religious-themed frescoes, tapestries and stained glass. If
the weather is clear, catch the views from the nine-story-high tower,
with northeastern Montgomery County at your feet and the Philadelphia
skyline on the horizon. On April 12-14 and 20-21, witness the
step-by-step creation of a traditional Mandala, Tibetan Buddhist art
depicting the world in its divine form, rendered in colored sand.
Spring awakening's more than a cliché at Elmwood Park Zoo:
The animals emerge from their winter hibernations, and you should, too.
Bison, bobcats and bighorn sheep beckon, but so do the parrots and
macaws, back from their cold-weather hiatus to show off their colorful
seasonal plumage. On April 21, the zoo hosts international conservation
biologist, Dr. Shaya Honarvar, speaking about her work in Equatorial
Guinea.
It's time to banish the boots, mothball the mittens and
cancel the coat. As the weather moderates, put some spring in your step
and discover what Valley Forge and Montgomery County have to offer. For
more information, visit www.valleyforge.org.
The Valley
Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ltd. is a nonprofit,
membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes
the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and
leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 300-plus
member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Bureau's
website, at www.valleyforge.org, serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents.
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