Head on over to Yardley Borough this Memorial Day weekend (or actually any day of the week) for some outdoor fun! What’s great about the small town of Yardley is that not only is it historical in nature, dating back to the 1800’s, but it is also home to the Delaware Canal Towpath and many taverns and eateries that are great for a cocktail during the summer months.

Walking, biking, running, fishing, and photo-taking can be seen by the people that venture out to this incredibly beautiful and open space! It is one of my favorite places to go with family and friends. The towpath runs from Easton to Bristol, Pennsylvania and is 60 miles in length.  On my most recent trip there with girlfriends, we encountered a great blue heron prancing in a nearby creek with its long, skinny legs. That particular species of bird is so fun to watch in action – we were fascinated by his presence!

After walking for a few minutes on the path, we took a turn onto a street that runs parallel with the Delaware Canal. It reminded me of a neighborhood frozen in time. Almost every house has a cozy, small porch on the front. Surprisingly, there is a quaint and almost mysterious church located right in the middle of the block. Although it is presently not in use, it is a historical landmark that was founded in 1817- that is over 200 years ago! After making an accidental turn, we ended up down by the Yardley train station where there are beautifully painted murals in the train tunnel and fragrant flowering trees along the way. The walk along Main Street is completely interesting, with exquisite houses and many wrap-around porches.

We have been to several of the friendly establishments along the Canal in Yardley. Some of my favorites include:

• The Yardley Inn – a quaint eatery that overlooks the Delaware River.
• The Continental Tavern - not only historical, but has the most amazing cheesesteak spring rolls!
• The Cellar - tucked behind the hustle of Main Street, which concocts the sweet and spicy Fire on the Mountain cocktail made with a kick of jalapeno gin.|
  
  The icing on the cake to our outdoor strolling on this fine, warm, spring evening, was our final stop, Vault Brewing Company on 10 S. Main Street, right in town. I have to say this is one of our most favorite gathering places after our traditional three-mile walks!

The Vault has seating connected to the sidewalk on Main Street right in the heart of Yardley Borough, which makes the spot FUN for people watching! The building was built in 1889 and housed several different banks throughout the years until it was available for renting in 2012. The original bank vault is still in the building and is actually in one of the inside seating areas. The bank vault was converted into a fridge where canned beer is stored to be sold.

One of my girlfriends sipped on the fresh and fruity Berry Sangria, while the other two of us enjoyed a beer flight which is a sampler of beers on tap. We agreed that the most unique and awesome of our choices was titled the POG Drips Creamsicle IPA. This interesting beer is brewed with pineapple, orange, guava puree, Madagascar vanilla and lactose. It is hopped with Amarillo, Sultana, and Zappa and has an exciting contrast of acidic pineapple against sweet guava, according to the menu description. Drinking it was truly like having a party in the mouth!

Drinks aside, the food is out of this world! On this spring outing, we thoroughly enjoyed the spicy and flavorful Buffalo Cauliflower, Fire Charred Brussel Sprouts, and the Brown Sugar Buffalo Pizza, which was OUTSTANDING!

The bartending and serving staff, along with the hosts and managers at The Vault are both friendly and efficient, keeping the waters full and treating us like we were at home. This location is a must-see, must-experience taproom and is a sweet ending to some time spent in the outdoors on the beautiful Delaware Canal Towpath in this beautiful county of Bucks!

Some hot spots for drinks along the Canal other than in Yardley include:

• Black Bass Hotel (Lumberville)
• Charcoal BYOB (Yardley)
• Francisco’s on the River (Washington Crossing)
• Golden Pheasant Inn (Erwinna)
• Inn at Philips Mill (New Hope)
• King George II Inn (Bristol)
• Martine’s Riverhouse Restaurant (New Hope)
• Odette’s (New Hope)
• Riegelsville Inn (Riegelsville)
• Stella of New Hope (New Hope)
• The Deck at the Playhouse (New Hope)
• The Landing (New Hope)
• The Narrows (Upper Black Eddy)

Where is your favorite place to go?