Bensalem: Andalusia on the Delaware River

In Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum sits along a stretch of the Delaware River. The estate combines a historic house with formal gardens and native woodland areas. A visit can therefore focus on several different themes: the history of the house, its art collection, and its cultivated and natural landscapes.

House, Gardens, and History

The Big House is designated a National Historic Landmark and houses a unique art collection. Andalusia offers self-guided tours of its gardens and native woodland areas; seasonal schedules may change. Notable garden features include a former icehouse and Father’s Conifer Walk, named after Jimmy Biddle.

A one-hour guided tour of Andalusia Historic House introduces visitors to the interior rooms and the history of the family that lived at Andalusia from the 1790s through the 1970s. The people discussed include Nicholas Biddle, president of the Second Bank of the United States. The house tour thus combines a look at the interiors with a long span of family history, while the self-guided tours focus on the gardens and woodland areas.

Individual plantings also tell a story about the garden’s history: James “Jimmy” Biddle planted the original Green Walk in the 1960s and the White Garden in the 1990s. Together with the Conifer Walk named after him, these names mark distinct stages in the garden’s design. Visitors particularly interested in how the gardens have developed will find specific connections to people and periods here.

Events and Recreation in Bensalem Township

Andalusia’s annual Garden Symposium includes book signings, lunch, afternoon tea, and a private visit to the gardens. Since the program and dates for each year may vary, it’s a good idea to check the events calendar before your trip. Bensalem Township also hosts the “Celebrate Community Pride” Family Fall Festival every year on the first Saturday in October. The program includes free family entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, an evening concert, and a fireworks display; dates and programming may change.

For music events, the Penn Community Bank Amphitheater is described as hosting weekly tribute act concerts from late May through August. Annual programs may change here, too. Another recreational option in Bensalem Township is Parx East: the 280,000-square-foot facility is next to the casino and is home to Parx Racing. The weekly schedule lists Thoroughbred racing from Saturday through Tuesday; check the racing calendar for your trip.

Bensalem Central Park covers 100 acres and surrounds the Bensalem Municipal Building. Its amenities include walking paths, bocce courts and shuffleboard courts, as well as a children’s playground and restrooms. Amenities and rules may change. Firefighters Field is named in honor of fallen firefighters and public service employees and has fitness walking trails. The site thus combines a memorial tribute with opportunities for exercise.

Imagination Land Playground on Hulmeville Road was specially designed for children with special needs and can also be used by others. For golf, Bensalem Township Country Club offers a public 18-hole golf course, with four sets of tees for golfers to choose from. A Township of Bensalem facility with a skate park is located at the intersection of Richlieu Road and Galloway Road.

Neshaminy State Park in Lower Bucks County

In the wider travel area, in Lower Bucks County, Neshaminy State Park lies along the Delaware River. The park covers 339 acres and has picnic areas, a swimming pool, and a separate water playground for children. Its marina provides boats with access to the Delaware River. Availability of seasonal facilities may change. The park offers a different focus from Andalusia’s garden and house history: here, the riverfront location, picnic areas, and water activities shape the options described.

Explore more destinations: Langhorne, Morrisville, Doylestown, Quakertown, Croydon, Yardley, Andalusia, Warrington

For the broader travel overview: Bucks.