There are so many great ways to celebrate an anniversary – flowers, a nice dinner out, jewelry, throwing a party, camping in a state park, a couples massage… the choices are endless. So as my wife and my anniversary approached this year, we brainstormed several ideas until settling on the only thing that makes sense for us: a road trip!
Our celebration planning started with a generous gift to a bed and breakfast from some dear friends. From there, we dreamed up a fun-filled weekend in and around New Hope, Pennsylvania along the Delaware River. Then, on a whim, we decided to kick off our anniversary with dinner at one of our favorite spots at the Jersey shore. From one coast of New Jersey to the other, we celebrated our marriage!
I’d like to invite you to tag along on our anniversary and enjoy it with us… let’s begin:
The Coast to Coast Anniversary
Over a long weekend, our celebrations would stretch from Gateway National Recreation Area in Highlands, New Jersey to New Hope, Pennsylvania, just across the Delaware River and NJ’s western shore.
Mule Barn Tavern
On a Thursday night we signed off of work early and drove east to Gateway National Recreation Area – Sandy Hook. No matter how many times I’ve driven to Sandy Hook, this view never gets old.Our destination: the Mule Barn Tavern. The restaurant is built on the grounds of Fort Hancock, a US Army base that once protected the approaches to New York harbor. Before motorized transport, cargo was moved around the base by mules and their former home is now a charming tavern. With temperatures in the low 80s and a lovely sea breeze, we opted to eat on the restaurant’s patio overlooking Sandy Hook Bay.We started our meal with shrimp and octopus ceviche, served over a bed of avocado and tostada, and topped with a chipotle mayo sauce.My entree was an order of mahi mahi tacos, topped with cilantro lime coleslaw, radishes, and jalapeños. It was quite tasty.My wife easily had the best order of the evening: marinated tuna, jalapeños, avocado, shredded cabbage, and sesame seeds, topped with wasabi and ponzu sauce, and served on a bed of tortilla chips. How was it? Absolutely delicious!After a lovely dinner, we headed back to the car. Before beginning our drive home, however, I had to detour for a mandatory glamour shot of my Acura TLX in front of Sandy Hook Light, the oldest functioning lighthouse in the United States. Of course.Our drive home was not without drama, however. A line of strong storms rolled through Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey Thursday evening. I had hoped that we would be home before they hit. I was overly optimistic.We encountered a wickedly strong storm, with heavy rains and gusting winds. Fortunately, between the TLX’s unflappable all-wheel drive system and its set of Nokian tires, we arrived at home safely and unscathed. Even with the weather, it was a lovely way to kick off our anniversary celebration… but the main event was still to come!
A New Hope Celebration!
Saturday
Two days later, we were back on the road, this time pointing my wife’s Jeep Grand Cherokee westward as we headed to New Hope, Pennsylvania.About an hour after leaving our house we arrived in Lambertville, New Jersey. Street parking in town was challenging, but we found a paid lot tucked away on a side street.First settled in 1732, Lambertville is located directly across the Delaware River from New Hope. The Delaware and Raritan Canal, an important 19th century waterway for shipping goods between Philadelphia and New York, still runs through the city.Down an alley not far from the canal is The Boat House, a tavern that offers both indoor and outdoor seating.With gorgeous weather, we opted to sit outside on the well-shaded patio and enjoy our drinks: an Old Fashioned for myself and a French 75 for my wife. Cheers!The upstairs saloon is worth the visit simply to see the nautical-themed decorations! It was a lovely way to kick off our weekend.We took the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. A ferry service was established in 1717 to conduct passengers and cargo across the Delaware. That service was eventually replaced by a succession of wooden bridges (each washed away by flooding), before finally being replaced by the current structure which was built in 1904 (via Wikipedia).Our accommodations for the weekend: the Pineapple Hill Inn.Built in 1790, the Pineapple Hill Inn has operated as a bed and breakfast for over 45 years.Pineapple Hill Inn was simply lovely. The staff was friendly and accommodating and our room was comfortable and luxurious. We also loved the pool and patio, and made ample use of it for rest and relaxation.Despite planning our trip in advance, we had difficulty finding reservations for dinner in downtown New Hope on Saturday night. We decided instead to turn the evening into a restaurant crawl – drinks and appetizers at several different spots in town. Our first stop? The Dubliner on the Delaware, an Irish pub on Main Street.Cheers again! Here’s to seven happy years of marriage.Healthy… and less than healthy. We split a Pear Salad (mixed baby greens, walnuts, grape tomatoes, poached pears, and goat cheese with champagne vinaigrette) and a plate of French fries. Both were delicious.We decided to get in a little exercise before our next stop and walked up to the New Hope Railroad. Longtime readers might remember my train-themed birthday celebration last year where I took an excursion on the railroad.Our next stop was to church! Well, a restaurant housed in a former Methodist church, that is. Oldestone Steakhouse is the current resident of this building, which was constructed in 1872.Much of the church’s architectural elements were preserved when the building was converted into a restaurant. The mural along the far wall, commissioned for the reopening of the restaurant, depicts a modernized version of the legend of St. George slaying a dragon, a story that dates back to the Medieval period (via Wikipedia).We ordered two appetizers: the crispy calamari, served with cherry peppers and marinara, was excellent.Equally as good were the half-dozen oysters we ordered. The food was excellent, the service was attentive, and we had a fantastic experience.Our last stop was to the New Hope Ferry Market, a fresh food market with over a dozen vendors offering delicious meals, snacks, and drinks.We made a visit toLima Fusion, an eatery celebrating Latin American cuisine.Lima Fusion was excellent! We ordered empanadas (one beef, one chicken) and a plate of chaufa (sometimes called arroz chaufa), a form of fried rice from Peru. The creation of chaufa was influenced by the influx of Chinese immigrants who came to Peru at the turn of the 20th century (via Wikipedia).We finished our eating adventure with dessert from Sciascia Confections – some of the best macaroons either of us have ever had!
Sunday
Although temperatures were supposed to rise into the 90s later in the day, we opted to have our breakfast on the Pinneapple Hill Inn’s patio. A cup of coffee, a glass of orange juice, and a pastry filled with peaches? Yes please!The main entree was a bread pudding made from eggs and bagels – it was very tasty. The home fries were excellent, and the watermelon was a nice treat at the end. Fueled up, we were ready for a challenging morning of sitting by the pool, reading, and sipping coffee.We headed back to downtown New Hope at lunchtime to begin a fun afternoon. We left our Jeep behind and called a ride through Uber. You better believe I approved of our ride – an Acura RDX!We had lunch reservations at Stella, an upscale restaurant overlooking the Delaware River. The dining room was a bit noisy, so we opted for the much more peaceful patio. The patio was covered by a roof, so despite occasional rain showers we were unperturbed by the elements.The view from our table wasn’t too shabby! We were able to look at the shoreline of New Jersey across the Delaware River.My wife dined on an order of avocado toast (2 eggs, avocado mash, bacon, and field greens on gluten-free bread), while I had the Bucks County Breakfast (two eggs, chicken sausage, applewood smoked bacon, breakfast potatoes, and a biscuit). We were also treated to complimentary glasses of champagne in honor of our anniversary! The food was excellent, the service was attentive, and we had a lovely meal. I would definitely go back!Did I mention the view at Stella wasn’t half bad?After lunch, we had tickets to see a musical at the Bucks County Playhouse. The building is a former grist mill, constructed after the Hope Mills burned down in 1790. The building was named the New Hope Mills, and also gave the town its name (via Wikipedia).After its time as a mill ended, it was converted into a playhouse in the 1930s. The Bucks County Playhouse has a long history as a launching pad for actors’ careers. Among those who have performed here are Grace Kelly, George C. Scott, Kevin Kline, Alan Alda, Dick Van Dyke, Rob Reiner, Angela Lansbury, John Lithgow, and many more.We were in the audience for a performance of Leader of the Pack, a musical about the life and work of Ellie Greenwich, a songwriter who penned numerous Billboard hits including “Be My Baby,” “Then He Kissed Me,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” and “Leader of the Pack.” I was greatly impressed by the performance, the quality of the live orchestra, and the excellent view from our seats. The Bucks County Playhouse gets two Open Road Ahead thumbs up!Our next stop was to Havana! Havana New Hope is a bar, restaurant, and concert space on Main Street.A friend had recommended Havana for getting drinks at the outdoor patio. He said the drinks were excellent and affordable, and the people watching is phenomenal. He was right on both accounts. (Pro tip: the mojito at Havana is excellent).After enjoying cocktails at Havana, we took a stroll through New Hope to do a little sightseeing and shopping. I always enjoy stopping by the Parry Mansion. This 18th-century Georgian-style house is one of the oldest homes in New Hope. Longtime readers might remember my visit to the Parry Mansion several years ago.We made our way to our dinner spot of choice: The Salt House. Built in 1751 to refine salt, the building has been used for several purposes including a ticket booth for the ferry, the town library, and for the past few years, a well-reviewed restaurant.We chose to eat in the Library Lounge, located on the second floor. Although not pictured, I was seated in a leather high-backed chair. All I needed was a glass of brandy and a cigar and I could have pretended to be a 19th century robber-baron.We started our feast with an order of grilled octopus, served with potatoes and lemon, and drizzled in olive oil. It was simply perfect.While my wife enjoyed (loved!) her Nantucket Day Boat Scallops (served with polenta and spinach), I positively devoured this crab cake sandwich. Full and happy, we made our way back to the inn for the night.
Monday
The next morning we were treated to another delightful breakfast at the inn. We started with a slice of grilled pineapple and freshly cut strawberries.The main course was amazing – absolutely perfect French toast (gluten-free French toast for my wife), served with bacon and slices of oranges. I’d like to take a moment to give a shout-out to Lori, the manage of the Pinneapple Hill Inn, who greeted us warmly, served some amazing meals, answered all of our questions, and made the experience absolutely perfect. If you’re looking for lodging in the New Hope area, definitely give the Pinneapple Hill Inn a try!Grace, our Jeep Grand Cherokee, did a wonderful job transporting us in comfort and convenience. She’s nearing 124,000 miles now and is still performing strongly! However, if you notice, this is not a photo of Grace’s odometer. It’s my Acura, all ready for our big summer road trip – stay tuned!! (Also, stay cool. It’s hot out!)
Wrapping Up
I hope you enjoyed coming with us on our anniversary celebration! If you’re looking for a romantic getaway weekend, New Hope is an excellent town to visit! From historical sites, to a great restaurant and bar scene, to tons of little shops, there is much to do. And don’t forget to visit the Mule Barn Tavern for a meal if you’re near Sandy Hook in New Jersey!
And thanks, as always, for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead.
I love that you pivoted to a food crawl when you couldn’t get a reservation for dinner. What a great idea! All of the food looked delicious and it looked like a really nice anniversary trip!
In hindsight, the food crawl was SUCH a better idea than just reservations at one restaurant. Plus, we got to celebrate our anniversary several times that night at each place we stopped!
The Open Road Ahead 
I love that you pivoted to a food crawl when you couldn’t get a reservation for dinner. What a great idea! All of the food looked delicious and it looked like a really nice anniversary trip!
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In hindsight, the food crawl was SUCH a better idea than just reservations at one restaurant. Plus, we got to celebrate our anniversary several times that night at each place we stopped!
Thanks for reading!!
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Happy Anniversary to you both!!
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Thank you!!
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