1-Day Explore Valley Forge | Educational Tours & Graduation Trips

Day 1 You'll See:

Entertainment, education, and some serious Pennsylvania enjoyment awaits!

Day
1

Colebrookdale Railroad - Start your Pennsylvania morning off right as you and your group encounter the treasure of southeastern Penn state, the tourist railroad located in Boyertown and Pottstown by the name of Colebrookdale Railroad, otherwise known as the Secret Valley Line. Part of the Secret Valley Natural, Recreation, and Heritage Area, this 8.6 mile long railroad takes visitors back to a place and time when iron rails still connected people, when steam locomotives ruled the transportation world and when soldiers needed a ride back home from the Civil War. This feat of epic engineering and heroic human drama is located deep within the woods sheltering the Manatawny and Ironstone Creeks, a supposedly mythical secret valley that holds white-tailed deer, great blue heron, bald eagles, and a trace of past pioneers and patriots. While here your group will be able to choose from one of several different two to three hour tours of the area.

American Treasure Tour - Welcome to the city of Oaks, Pennsylvania, where you and your group will take part in a one-of-a-kind group tour featuring some of the most retro, hidden, and unique American treasures. This 100,000 square foot, all-indoor, massive collection contains tens of thousands of items, covering over three acres of fun total. Explore the exhibits within, from mechanical music to preserved automobiles. After discovering all the classic cuts and band organs you can go see all the dolls, model planes, circus ware, and patriotic and holiday items throughout the rest of the establishment. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you can take part in a catered buffet for the group or just head over to the Theater Room’s Bistro and Bar. This is the biggest trove of vintage American gems, its sheer volume at the same time exciting and overwhelming, so don’t miss it!

Bryn Athyn Historic District - Your next stop is actually made up of three separate smaller stops, your group's decision whether to see them all or just choose one or two. On the expansive and collective grounds of the district you will see spectacular architecture, well-manicured gardens, informative tours, and even exciting annual and holiday events every now and then. Go back in time to the Gilded Age as you explore the mansion, medieval castle-like museum, or Gothic-Romanesque structure. The Bryn Athyn Cathedral was finished in 1919, an amazingly stunning Gothic and Romanesque style complex with plenty of New Church symbolism within. Next stop at the Cairnwood Estate, a country house from 1895 that is absolutely grandeur and also once owned by John Pitcairn. The Glencairn Museum was built between 1928 and 1939 and provides an area for your group to become educated about the history of religion, local history, and culture through several various artifacts and pieces of art.

Asher's Chocolates - Asher’s Chocolates is the oldest continuously operated Chocolate store in the United States, as well as your group's next stop during your fun Valley Forge Adventure. First established in 1892, Asher’s Chocolates is a family-owned and operated local Pennsylvania business that has been creating the finest chocolates and classic confections for over four generations. While here you can see how it’s all made, as well as explore various gifts, chocolates, jelly belly’s, and other various delicious chocolate covered sweet treats. The Asher’s Chocolates company believes firmly in the old phrase that "one of life’s sweetest pleasures is a simple box of chocolates." Take a tour of the establishment and see a short movie about their production process, visit the Victorian Store onsite, and sample all the chocolate, treats, and information you can while here! You will see why this is considered one of the largest lines of sugar-free chocolates in the country, as well as get to sample and shop all the very best chocolate covered treats.

Green Lane Park - Your last stop of the day will take you to Green Lane Park, a 3,400 acre public park land located in, you guessed it, Green Lane, Pennsylvania. While here our group will have so much to enjoy, from the large sized diverse land and water habitats perfect for bird watching to the natural beauty of the Delaware River and Kittatinny Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. Explore the 814 acre reservoir, two smaller lakes, creek land, flood plains, old forests, meadows, and conifer plantations. Choose between camping, ice fishing, boating, hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, ice skating, environmental education programs, and even live summer concerts. Enjoy the 25 miles of horseback riding trails, as well as hiking and biking trails, before heading over to the pavilions for a picturesque sunset picnic. If you have time be sure to bring some binoculars and get some quality northwestern Montgomery county bird watching in!