Valley Forge

I love living in a city and there are a surprising number of parks in Philadelphia (which is definitely one of my favorite things about living in Philadelphia), but sometimes it’s nice to escape the city and get some fresh air. Valley Forge is surprisingly close to Philadelphia (only about a 20 minute drive), and it’s the perfect combination of nature and history (you’ve probably seen how much I love history!). Valley Forge was the military camp where George Washington stayed the winter of 1777-78, and the military faced many hardships during that winter so there are a few monuments spread throughout the park dedicated to the soldiers. There are museums and historic buildings in park where you can learn more about the history of the area (they even have the house that George Washington stayed in!), or you can simply visit for a nice hike (you can get more information and view the hours here). And best of all, it’s free! 

I’ve been to Valley Forge twice already (I featured one trip in my Four Days in Philadelphia post), and I’m hoping to visit more this spring! It’s a beautiful area, and since it’s so large, it isn’t crowded at all. There are lots of different hiking trails to choose from, so you can try a different trail every time you go. And it’s dog friendly, so Annika can tag along 🙂 

This is the house that George Washington stayed in, and you can go in for a little tour

This banister has never been removed or renovated, so it’s the same one that George Washington used. I thought it was pretty neat because it’s so rare to be able to touch historical artifacts in museums 🙂

There’s a beautiful variety of plants and animals!

Annika did lots of hiking and needed a rest!

This is the National Memorial Arch

I loved all the creeks and bridges!

If you want an escape from being in the city while you’re visiting Philadelphia, I definitely suggest going to Valley Forge! 🙂