Looking for things to do in Montgomery County, PA? You’re in luck! We spend an amazing three days exploring and visiting Valley Forge, aka Montco or Montgomery County just outside of the Philadelphia region and less than a two-hour drive from New York City!
Little did we know, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania had so much to offer from historic sites tied to the American Revolution, outdoor recreational opportunities, charming small towns, fun farm stops, and home to one of the most impressive shopping destinations the country has to offer.
So whether you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway, road trip, or new area to discover, Montgomery County and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania is an outstanding option!
But first, where is Valley Forge, PA?
Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is located in the southeastern part of the state. It is situated adjacent to Philadelphia County and is part of the Greater Philadelphia region.
Depending on where you’re at in the county and where you’re going in Philadelphia, it can be as little as a 30-minute drive to Philadelphia. We drove into the King of Prussia area from New York City in under 2 hours, which makes this an easy escape for New Yorkers or anyone looking to add on to a New York City trip!
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Visit Valley Forge. As always, all opinions and experiences are our own.
Places to Visit in Valley Forge, PA
Valley Forge National Historic Park
One of the most famous things to do in Montgomery County is visit Valley Forge National Historic Park. This 3,500-acre park is a very historic site that served as a pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War. This was the site of the winter encampment for General George Washington and his Continental Army in the winter of 1777 to 1778.
The conditions were harsh and the Army had to endure extreme hardships during the 6 months they were here. But, it was during this period that marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War. It was during this time that the Revolutionary forces underwent training and discipline under Baron von Steuben which transformed the army into a more cohesive fighting force.
In addition to the improved army, around this time was also when American diplomats were successful in obtaining a French alliance, and made the troops more determined than ever to defeat British forces.
The site was turned into a national park site in 1976 to commemorate and preserve the historical legacy of this site and the role it played in the grand scheme of the victory in the Revolutionary War.
The best way to visit all the historic landmarks and points of interest are along the 10-mile Encampment Driving Tour. Be sure to stop at the Visitor’s Center first where you can pick up a map and walk through the museum to get more of a historical glimpse into what life was like here for the troops through immersive exhibits.
Visitors are also welcome to walk or bike along the trails within the park too, which offers another fantastic way for visiting Valley Forge’s historic landmarks.
A few of the most notable stops include the Muhlenberg Brigade, where you’ll get to see an example of the huts that served as the soldiers’ living quarters during their time at the encampment. You’ll also spot several of these log huts throughout the park, during the winter of 1777 and 1778, there were 1,500 of these built to house soldiers!
The National Memorial Arch is a landmark dedicated to George Washington and the Continental Army completed in 1917.
Washington’s Headquarters is the most famous stop, this is the home that belonged to Isaac Potts and rented by the Army for use during their time there. The house served as the office and home of General George Washington. There are park rangers on site to give you information inside the home and you can get a glimpse into notable rooms where important figures in our country’s history gathered and planned including John Laurens and Alexander Hamilton under this roof.
Another great stop is Washington’s Chapel, the church is beautiful and the stained glass windows here depict American history. There’s also a used bookshop and the Cabin Shop which has a few food items like burgers and hot dogs if you need a snack.
Visitors are also welcome to picnic within the park, there are plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Check out Schuylkill River Trail
If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors, you’ll want to check out a section of the 120 miles that make up the multi-use Schuylkill River Trail that runs along the Schuylkill River starting in Philadelphia and stretching through the neighboring counties including Montgomery County and Valley Forge.
There are several points of access for walkers, hikers, and cyclists who want to take advantage of the well-maintained trail along the river. And some sections of the trail go through historic landmarks like Valley Forge National Historic Park!
In fact, that’s where we recommend getting on the trail. We used Betzwood Park, just on the other side of the Schuylkill River from the national park as our starting point. We only did a small section of the trail, as we were looking to enjoy the pretty views of the Schuylkill River as well as enjoy a peaceful walk.
The paved trail is easy to walk along, just watch for cyclists in either direction and be sure to get out of their way. There was also a portion of the trail that ran parallel to the paved trail that we walked closer to the riverfront. Along this we found an old stone building ruins and places to peacefully enjoy the views of the tranquil river by Catfish Island.
You can spend as little or as much time here, there are plenty of places to picnic or just walk to a scenic spot that looks like where you want to take a break. After all our historic sightseeing, this was the perfect resting point before we went on to continue exploring and visiting Valley Forge and the surrounding attractions!
Shop Around Skippack Village
Easily one of the most charming places we visited and one of our favorite things to do in Montgomery County, PA was shop around Skippack Village. This adorable small town is full of independent shops and great eateries in old restored buildings.
Skippack Village is best explored by foot. So you’ll want to park the car, there are a few larger parking areas you can choose from then you can meander up and down Route 73 / Skippack Pike using the sidewalks. Just be careful when you cross the street as this is a high-traffic road.
You’ll want to visit the independent shops and boutiques in all the different homes and buildings. Some of the larger spaces, like the barns have multiple retailers inside and a few of the shops are tucked away off the road a bit too. When you visit your first store, ask for a Skippack Village shopping map or view the digital version.
If you need a pick-me-up, head to Blossom Cafe which not only has an adorable cafe inside but also a floral and home goods shop. Or if you need a drink break, head to the Brothers Kershner Brewing Co. for some local beer.
A few of our favorite shops we went into were Unearth Loft, a cute boutique that also offers spa services, La Ahern was set in the most adorable cottage space and had gifts, clothing, plus home and office goods, Hazel Mac had fun women’s clothing, and Skippack Goldsmiths had some fun antiques to check out.
Oh, and Skippack Village has some great places for those looking for a bite to eat. First, pay a visit to The Grand Fromage, a specialty cheese shop with all kinds of food items that you’ll want to take home with you! We were a bit nervous about buying cheese since it was a warm day and we just started our exploring, but they gave us an ice pack so our cheese would make it home after a few hours of exploring Skippack Village, which was really handy!
All the shopping will likely make you work up an appetite, which is perfect because Skippack Village has some wonderful dining options. We kept asking all the boutique owners where they like to eat and the spot that got mentioned the most was Parc Bistro, which is where we ended up having the best lunch. If you’re feeling really hungry their burger will not disappoint which is what Scott had and it was really, really good. I tried a special of the day, which was also excellent and we watched every dish come out, each looking really good.
When we return to Skippack Village, it will be hard not to eat here again! Speaking of coming back, we discovered Hotel Fiesole, a really beautiful luxury stay in the heart of the village. The old trolley on the exterior is what caught our attention, and that’s when we realized that it’s connected and opens up to the restaurant and patrons can sit and dine from within the car. The lobby was grand and is complete with a library sitting area. We love hotels that have so much character like this and would love to stay here next time we are in the area.
Tour Cairnwood Estate
Okay, so if you’ve used our other travel guides in the past you know we can’t pass up a great Gilded Age mansion tour. There’s something about the level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into these opulent estates that we can’t help but love, so when we discovered that when we were visiting Valley Forge that Bryn Athyn Historic District was home to Cairnwood Estate, we were intrigued.
You can tour the estate, which you’ll want to book in advance, to get a glimpse of life inside this beautiful Beaux Arts country home of industrialist John Pitcairn and his wife Gertrude. Gertrude worked closely with architects Carrère & Hastings to build their countryside home after leaving their city residence for good in Philadelphia.
What was most compelling to us was how subdued this estate is compared to other Gilded Age estates we’ve toured of the same time. Gertrude Pitcairn didn’t want an overly opulent home, although by today’s standards, this is very opulent. If anything, she broke a few traditions of wealthy homes and manors when she designed this home closely with the architects.
Religion and family were very important to her, and this becomes a reoccurring theme throughout the tour from her engagement to John, the designing of their home, their beliefs, and how they raised their children. In fact, the massive and beautiful Gothic cathedral next door was largely funded by John Pitcairn as well.
Cairnwood Estate is also a popular wedding venue, but if you’re into learning about the Gilded Age, this is a great stop. Especially since we hadn’t really heard of the Pitcairns, although he was of the same prominence of other industrialists at the time like Andrew Carnegie or John D. Rockefeller not to mention also a philanthropist.
Visit the Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Within the Bryn Athyn Historic District, you’ll also spot other magnificent works of architecture including Bryn Athyn Cathedral, near Cairnwood Estate.
As mentioned, the Pitcairns were very religious, their family were prominent members of the Swedenborgian Church, a Christian denomination based on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. His faith played a significant role in his life and philanthropic endeavors including the initial funding of this early Gothic cathedral built from 1913-1928 (and not actually completed until 1947).
What’s interesting about this cathedral is that despite its architectural style and when it was built, they used traditional Gothic-era hand-crafted techniques to construct the church without the use of modern machinery or steel. This makes this one of the few cathedrals of its kind in the world to be built in the 20th century.
Pay special attention to the stained glass windows. These were a passion project of the Pitcairns and Raymond Pitcairn, John’s son, learned the craft of making stained glass for the cathedral and worked closely with the skilled stained glass artists who came in and helped create the intricate windows you see today.
There are so many interesting details to this cathedral and after touring Cairnwood Estate and learning how important their religion was to their lives, it was even more interesting to learn about the level of passion they had in bringing this cathedral to life that is still in use today.
You are welcome to visit the gardens and grounds when there is no active services, but visiting the cathedral is best done by booking a tour.
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
Did you know that John James Audubon lived in Montgomery County, PA? That’s right! The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is the site of the first home he lived in the United States and one of the best things to do in Valley Forge if you’re fascinated by his life’s work.
For those unfamiliar, you’ve likely seen Audubon’s work whether you realized it or not. He was a multi-talented individual who blended his passion for art, nature, and ornithology to create a comprehensive visual archive of every bird species he found in North America.
His work would go on to be one of the finest pieces of ornithological work ever completed and he spent time studying birds everywhere including coming up with his own technique of getting realistic drawings of the birds.
Visitors can check out the John James Audubon Center and learn more about his work as well as the species of birds in North America through interactive exhibits as well as seeing some of his work on display.
Visitors are welcome to walk the gardens and property to birdwatch as well, at the very same place where John James Audobon conducted his first studies here in the US along Perkiomen Creek. You can sort of consider this as a pilgrimage site for serious bird watchers and enthusiasts.
Our favorite part about visiting here was actually seeing the home where Audubon first lived in the United States and discovered his passion that would go on to be his life’s work and what he’s remembered for. You’ll want to join one of the historic home tours that are offered on Wednesdays through Sundays.
Check Out Ambler
If you love cool small towns to check out while you’re visiting Valley Forge and Montgomery County, then you won’t want to miss Ambler! The downtown area is full of beautifully preserved buildings and storefronts housing cool independent shops and restaurants.
One of our favorite highlights of Ambler was the gorgeous Art Deco theater, Ambler Theater, and its beautifully restored 1928 marquee.
If you’re a fan of The Three Stooges, you’ll want to pay a visit to The Stoogeum, the only museum in the world dedicated to the Stooges including film props and memorabilia!
And of course, as with any cute small town, there are some great shops! Check out Studio Ambler for some great local products as well as home goods whether you’re looking for a gift for someone or yourself!
Also, if you love learning the history of small towns, Ambler has a fascinating past! The town was once the ‘asbestos capital of the world,’ because of its production of this common product used across many industries (before we knew the health risks). The town’s industrious past is all tied to its asbestos production and you can even see the building the plant used to be in downtown!
Hit up the Breweries
There is one thing there is no shortage of in this county and that is great micro breweries to check out! Every single town we visited had a brewery (if not multiple places to grab a local beer!).
We only had the opportunity to visit a few, but there were plenty more to visit!
In Collegeville, check out Troubles End Brewing where they have over 20 brews on draft, a full menu, and even happy hour specials.
Well Crafted Beer Co. has locations in Ambler and in Landsdale. We were visiting in the fall so we had to try their seasonal pumpkin beers, which did not disappoint. They also were offering up beer cocktails during our visit, which I also tried and did not disappoint! They even had a selection of games, which we grabbed a few and played while we slurped back some suds.
When visiting Skippack Village, a must in our opinion when exploring the best things to do in Montgomery County, pay a visit to Brothers Kershner Brewing Co., you’ll just be steps away from all the cool shops and boutiques in the area too.
King of Prussia Mall
If you’re long overdue for picking out some new threads and doing some shopping, then you’re in luck. One of the best things to do in Valley Forge, PA is visit one of the largest malls in the United States at the King of Prussia Mall!
The mall has 2.9 million square feet of retail space with hundreds of stores plus loads of restaurants. You can find everything from everyday brands to upscale and luxury retailers within the mall.
Living in Southern California, we understood how big of a deal having an epic mall is, we lived close to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, which was a shopping destination of its own. King of Prussia Mall reminds us of that as its proximity to Philadelphia and an array of dining and shopping options make it a really convenient place to go if you need to get some shopping done.
We really enjoyed the dining options too, we stayed at a hotel nearby and found all the restaurants to be really convenient, we ate at Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar as well as Bartaco, and neither disappointed!
So whether you’re looking for somewhere to eat with alot of options or to do some shopping, you will want to check out the King of Prussia Mall!
Visit the Adorable Town of Glenside
As mentioned, we love finding cool little towns while exploring new destinations! Another true gem of a town we stumbled upon during our exploring and checking out all the fun things to do in Montgomery County, PA included Glenside.
The area we spent the most time in was Keswick Village, which resembles a charming English village with its Tudor Revival lane of storefronts and the pinnacle, the Keswick Theatre. This historic entertainment venue first opened in 1928 and is still used as a performance hall to this day with a schedule of big names stopping by here weekly. If you’re looking to catch a show during your visit, be sure to check out their lineup.
There are also a few cute shops and restaurants here too, one that caught our eye was Bettie Jack Gallery, a fun shop selling art and vintage clothing and antiques!
Stop By Jenkintown
Just a few minutes’ drive down the road from Glenside is another cool town, Jenkintown. If you are a fan of the TV show The Goldbergs, this is the town the show is set in!
And with all the cool towns and places to visit in Montgomery County, PA there is another cool theater here! The Hiway Theater has a cool marquee and plays independent films if you’re in the mood to see a movie in a cool historic theater!
Walk up and down the streets, and don’t miss a few of the side streets to find a few cool art galleries and restaurants if it’s time to grab a bite to eat.
Just outside of town, you can visit Abington Art Center, which offers art classes but also has a gallery you can check out and some pretty wooded trails that follow an outdoor sculpture park you can visit for free!
Visit Landsdale
Another historic town center and place to stop by is Landsdale, we took a quick stroll downtown and found one of the coolest vintage arcades at Classic Game Junkie. This video game shop sells and fixes vintage game consoles! We both love the original Super Mario Brothers games and they had all the classic, vintage merchandise and accessories to the old game consoles that took us down memory lane.
This spot also has a huge vintage arcade full of old-school video games you can play! Most places like this make you pay for each individual game, which can add up, but this place offers something unique that made us wish we got here earlier so we could take full advantage of! For $15 you can get a wristband that gives you access to the game room where you can play all the old-school video games and arcade games with unlimited plays!
This is easily one of the more unique things to do in Montgomery County if you’re like us and love playing classic games.
Merrymead Farms
Another cool stop and one of our favorite things to do in Montgomery County, PA was visit Merrymead Farms just outside of downtown Landsdale. This operational farm has all kinds of fun activities for families and visitors!
We were visiting in the fall so there were all kinds of fun seasonal activities like a corn maze, cornstalk tunnel, farm animals to visit, pumpkins, and other Halloween-themed fun!
There’s also a great farm market here where you can shop for dairy products, meat, and all kinds of farm fresh ingredients. But the best part? That would be the ice cream! You don’t get better quality ice cream than directly from a dairy farm! Scott got a big cone of two different flavors, his favorite was the peanut butter vanilla!
Maple Acres Farm Market
This is not only one of my favorite things to do in Montgomery County, PA but also one of the best farm markets we’ve ever been to! Maple Acres Farm Market is located in Plymouth Meeting and has an excellent selection of fresh, seasonal produce along with fun homemade pantry items like jams and preserves to shop from!
We were in visiting in the fall and they had an excellent selection of pumpkins, fall mums, and other seasonal goodies too!
The produce selection they had was overwhelmingly good and I regretted not stopping by right before we drove home so I could fill up the car with vegetables for the week!
Ott’s Exotic Plants
Have you ever been to a botanical garden and thought to yourself, I wish I could take these plants home? That’s the exact thought I had while visiting Ott’s Exotic Plants but this is a place where you CAN take those plants home with you!
Let’s back up though. This is easily one of the most unique things to do in Montgomery County, PA. Ott’s Exotic Plants is a huge garden center that is unlike any other we’ve ever visited or seen in our lives.
First, when you arrive you’ll see the giant ‘mum mountain’ overlooking what looks like a witch’s cottage (the garden center). The mountain is covered in hundreds of mums and has a pathway that you can walk up and check out the view of the surrounding greenhouses from the top. Oh, and there’s a tunnel that cuts through the middle of the mountain that connects you to the garden center and parking areas.
After you take in the views from mum mountain, head into the whimsical garden center and start shopping. Inside you’ll find the connecting greenhouses full of exotic and rare plants along with their own botanical garden to explore!
There’s a conservatory (that reminds me of the conservatory inside the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Ohio) where there’s a waterfall with a pond of koi fish and you can climb to the top through the leafy palm-lined pathway for views from the top!
Better yet, you didn’t have to pay an admission to see this impressive display of tropical plants!
If you have a green thumb, you’ll probably leave with a few new additions to your houseplant collection! If I wasn’t so scared of keeping these plants alive, I would have walked out of there with at least a dozen new plants!
This is not too far from Skippack Village, so be sure to check this incredibly cool plant shop and garden center when visiting Valley Forge!
Try a Tomato Pie
If there’s one thing we love to do when visiting anywhere, it’s try regional or local food specialties! Especially if pizza or pizza-like food is involved. One in particular known to the Philadelphia area is tomato pies.
The origins of the Philly tomato pie tie back to Southern Italy, but these in particular have taken on their own character and are known as a local treat. Tomato pies are served room temperature and consist of a substantial bread crust, like a focaccia bread that’s soft and spongey, a hearty tomato sauce, and a very light dusting of romano cheese.
This is a traditional tomato pie, but you can find other toppings, I ordered one with eggplant on it and it was battered and fried eggplant on top and oh, so delicious.
This is where we took local advice, our friend Sam lives in Montgomery County and told us to try tomato pies from Corropolese Bakery, they have a few locations throughout the Valley Forge area (Norristown and Audubon) and also have many sweets and other baked goodies to shop as well.
So, we were total newbies when trying tomato pie and coming from NYC, we thought when we paid $5.25 for a tomato pie, we were getting a slice. Instead, that gets you a quarter sheet of a pie! (that’s 13″ x 9″) We each bought one not knowing and were happy to have leftovers to take home with us.
Corropolese Bakery has been around since 1924 and has several accolades for their tomato pies, so if you’re curious, you’ll want to seek out one of their locations!
Explore Conshohocken
Another great area to explore is Conshohocken, a little bigger than the other towns mentioned in this guide, Conoshocken has a vibrant downtown and where you’ll find more city-like compared to the other small towns.
You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafes here. We really loved checking out the old storefronts.
If you love a big breakfast, head to Brunch, a cafe that serves up brunch items daily. We had breakfast here one morning and it did not disappoint. I went with a hearty frittata off the specials menu and Scott went with a sweet breakfast opting for the churro french toast with Nutella and topped with a powdered sugar dusting. I am not even a big sweets person in the morning, but that french toast was dynamite!
We also love a good cafe and nearby we got a great cup of coffee at ‘feine.
Be sure to do a lap around Fayette Street where you’ll find a few cool, old preserved buildings. One of the most unique buildings we saw and loved was the one that houses The Great American Pub.
Swing by Collegeville
With a name like Collegeville, you might be wondering if there’s a college here, and if you did, you’d be right! Collegeville is another gem and great place to explore things to do in Montgomery County, PA. Home to the private liberal arts school, Ursinus College is a historic school dating back to 1869.
The campus is absolutely beautiful with stunning architecture, and one of the most notable alumni from here includes Catcher in the Rye author, J.D. Salinger.
If you’re looking for things to do, check out The Movie Tavern, a movie theater with dining and beverages. Go for a walk along the Perkiomen Trail, browse artwork at the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, or enjoy a beer at Troubles End Brewery.
What to do in Montgomery County, PA (Post Summary)
- Valley Forge National Historic Park
- Shop Around Skippack Village
- Tour Cairnwood Estate
- Visit the Bryn Athyn Cathedral
- John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
- Check Out Ambler
- Hit up the Breweries
- King of Prussia Mall
- Visit the Adorable Town of Glenside
- Stop by Jenkintown
- Visit Landsdale
- Merrymead Farms
- Maple Acres Farm Market
- Ott’s Exotic Plants
- Try a Tomato Pie
- Explore Conshohocken
- Swing by Collegeville
There you have it, all the wonderful things to do in Montgomery County, PA to have a fun-filled getaway visiting Valley Forge! If you liked this guide consider bookmarking it for later or sharing it below on Pinterest.
