This article is online on the New York Times today.

I was born and raised in New York City, but as good Italian American families everywhere tried to do, my parents bought a parcel of land with a summer home in Milford, Pennsylvania, a small town which sits directly on the Delaware River. Eventually we moved there permanently, and summers were spent languishing on the banks of the river, or in canoes, floating slowly toward the Delaware Water Gap.

There is so much to see and do in this beautiful corner of Pennsylvania. None of it is very obvious. Small artisan communities such as Peter's Valley (mentioned in the article) thrive, and Milford itself has become a small mecca for creative people streaming out of New York City and Philadelphia.

When I go " home " today, there is nothing which brings me more of a sense of peace then walking down to the river bank of the Delaware, writing, sketching or just simply watching the water flow by.

All of this, and it is truly only an hour and a half from mid-town Manhattan and two and a half hours from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

I highly recommend the Delaware River as a place to explore- whether at the northern point, where New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania come together, or further south near the artisan communities of New Hope and Lambertville, New Jersey, it is a beautiful, peaceful, gentle river with restorative powers.

Diana,

How strange.... Judith & I just got back from the NY area staying one night in East Stroudsburg, PA on our way West to Williamsport and YES, the area is gorgeous. We used I-80 to get to Williamsport and the road winding in and around the Susquehanna was wonderful.

The only sad part was it was dark when we hit the Gap and were low on fuel and energy so we ended up in Stroudsburg which is a really cute little town!! It reminded us a lot of Italy!!

Diana,

Thanks for sharing the article from the NYTimes. Your description, as well as the article, make me want to go back there.

Apparently, we have shared many similar points on the globe over the years. My older brother spent parts of several summers at a scout camp near the Water Gap, on the Pennsylvania side, and my family used to drive up there from NE NJ to visit him and the area.

In addition to the scenery, one of the things I remember most is a great little doughnut shop that sold small, plain, homemade doughnuts that were really delicious. You were tempted to eat several. My brother always insisted that we drive there when visiting. It may have been near Dingmans Ferry.

I tried to find the name of his scout camp on the Internet, but without much success (No-Be-Bo-Sco?). Apparently there were several, and many of them, it seems - no longer camps, have been incorporated into the DWG National Recreation Area.

Ann

Ann, I also spent many summers working at a camp in the area. (right outside Milford--Diana and I have many memories in common )

On our College Roadtrip through PA a while ago, we took a detour and stopped in Milford. It was amazing seeing the changes, yet some details of landscape stayed the same. It's a really lovely area with lots to see and do, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. Just hope few people share my memory of wrapping a canoe around a rock somewhere near Tri-State Rock.

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Ann, I also spent many summers working at a camp in the area. (right outside Milford--Diana and I have many memories in common )

Yes, and while Amy worked at the camp, I attended it.

quote:

Originally posted by AppalAnnie:
Diana,
***
In addition to the scenery, one of the things I remember most is a great little doughnut shop that sold small, plain, homemade doughnuts that were really delicious. You were tempted to eat several. My brother always insisted that we drive there when visiting. It may have been near Dingmans Ferry.
***

Ann

Places like this are part of the charm of small town America. Those driving from NYC on Route 46 may want to stop for a doggie at Hot Dog Johnny's near Route 31 in Buttzville, NJ for a trip back into time!
PS I second the article's recommendation for visiting Bushkill Falls and Dingmans Falls.

Diana ~

Thanks for the article link, and for highlighting one of the more beautiful areas of eastern PA. My husband and I have been planning a weekend trip there this summer, and this article couldn't have been more timely. As a younger adult, friends and I used to go canoeing up there, and I must admit it's been too long since I've been back.

quote:

Just hope few people share my memory of wrapping a canoe around a rock somewhere near Tri-State Rock.

This I did not do. However, do you realize that this means you were in three states, all at the same time? Well at least your canoe was.

Other points of interest for those visiting the areas:

Lord's Valley State Park - beautiful hiking paths through natural wildlife preserves and waterways. Lord's Valley, PA.

Gifford Pinchot Estates (mentioned in the article), Milford, PA. The Grey Towers and grounds were dedicated to forest, wildlife and water conservation programs for the American Public by President John F. Kennedy in the summer of 1963. You can walk the grounds, visit the towers and hike to the beautiful waterfalls.

Stokes State Forest : One of the most beautiful state parks in the New Jersey state park system. Located between Milford, PA and Branchville, NJ. Borders on Culver Lake. Very well known for its water ways and hiking paths.

Thanks people, for the nostalgic walk down memory lane. As a teenager, my parents had a summer home right near Milford, PA. At the time they bought it, it was close enough to NYC to make even a weekend trip feasible and we did it many times. Over the years, as the area became more of an "in" thing, it got more crowded, traffic became a bummer, and we ended up visiting less often.

Years ago, they sold the house and I still have way too much emotions attached to it. Miss it terribly still. And the gorgeous area of the Poconos as well.......

Two places left unmentioned in the article that are very much worth visiting

Bushkill Falls -- privately owned but beautifully maintained, and an extraordinary place on a hot, muggy day when you can stroll the walkways and be cooled by the mist of waterfalls

also

The Lakota Wolf Preserve -- just on the way to the river in New Jersey, where several dozen wolves have been rescued and are being cared for by a nature photographer. The sound of their howling is amazing.

Stu & I took a daytrip to the Water Gap yesterday, and hiked along the Appalachian Trail to enjoy this view. It was plenty hot out, but we were soaring with the hawks.

Terry,

That's a gorgeouos photo of the Water Gap! A perfect perspective...Is it yours?

Ann

Yep, we hiked up there, along the Appalachian Trail. This was the end of the hike, with cliffs jutting out and an amazing view,huh?

Terry, it's a breath-taking view! Glad you had your camera. Barb Cabot

Excellent Terry - we should try to plan a hiking GTG in the fall!

Kim I LOVE that idea. Definitely.