'The Cornerstone Of Pennsylvania' Is A Hidden Riverfront Borough With Canal Views And Cozy Cafés

For a riverside respite with a small-town feel less than an hour from Philadelphia, the "mural capital of the world," you might look to a borough that identifies as "The Cornerstone of Pennsylvania," also known as Marcus Hook. This moniker comes from its locale, marking the state's most southeastern point, where the Delaware River widens and flows toward the bay. The community is known to have a relaxed, small-town vibe where the main business area, parks, and homes are all within a short walk of each other. This encourages a pedestrian and family-friendly environment that contributes to a sense of neighborliness. Your experience of the borough will certainly be augmented by its canal views on the Delaware River. You can head to Market Square Memorial Park to get to the waterfront, where you'll get views of cargo ships and tankers as they move through the deep-water channel. The traffic of these large boats along the commercial waterway gives the area an industrial, canal-like scene, with a peek into how the area worked back in the day.

When you're looking for a bite to eat, you'll find the foodie scene is made up of comfy, family-operated spots. You will not find many trendy or chain coffee houses here, but rather a more cozy cafe-centric feel. One hot spot is  the Sungate Diner, which is a community staple that serves classic American-style food with large servings and relatively affordable prices. Marcus Hook isn't just warm and inviting; it also has a solid connection to its industrial and nautical history along the river.

Just a heads up that when planning your trip to Marcus Hook you won't find hotels right in the borough, and if you're flying in, you'll need to put up with the airport that has the lowest customer satisfaction in America. After you land at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and drive about 22 minutes, your best bet is to check out the myriad of chains in some of the close by towns. In the city of Chester (about four miles away), you'll find the Candlewood Suites, a Best Western, and a Comfort Inn. You can also travel across the Commodore Barry Bridge into New Jersey (around 12 miles away), where the town of Swedesboro has a Hampton Inn and a Holiday Inn. These hotels give you a home base for seeing Marcus Hook and the Brandywine Valley area. They are all a quick drive away, which makes day trips to Marcus Hook easy.

While there might not be any hotels in Marcus Hook, you will find that the borough's food scene is all about neighborhood spots. If you're in the mood for Italian, head to Italiano's Restaurant on West 10th Street, which is a family-run place that serves traditional dishes like lasagna and chicken parmigiana. Lefty's Irish Pub on Market Street is another good choice for tasty pub food like burgers and sandwiches. If you want a local bar experience, Copley's Tavern on Chichester Avenue is a neighborhood hotspot with cheap drinks and sometimes karaoke. If you're wanting a winery, you can head over to Chaddsford Winery in nearby Chadds Ford and Grace Winery in Glen Mills, which are both between a 23 and 27-minute ride. Grace Winery also has an inn, which might be a nice overnight stay if you get a little buzz from the tasting.

Marcus Hook is filled with history. Check out the Marcus Hook Plank House, which is a long-standing building that's connected to local pirate stories from the 1700s. You'll see the town's patriotic side through its veterans' memorials, with monuments for World War I, Vietnam, and the Korean War. If you're looking for some outdoorsy fun, you can go to Mickey Vernon Park, which is a four-acre space with playgrounds and fields named after a local baseball legend. Market Square Memorial Park is a main spot on the Delaware River, a great place for a picnic where you can watch the ships. For an interactive tour, you can try the "Hooked on Hidden Treasures" scavenger hunt, which is an app-guided walking tour that covers about a mile of downtown areas and landmarks.

You'll find the borough's calendar has many large festivals that bring in people from all over the county. If your visit is in September, you might catch the annual Marcus Hook Pirate Festival, where you'll see the town's past come to life with historical reenactors, music, and games (you might even find yourself grunting "arrgggh" for no reason). The Memorial Day Parade is another community event and is known as one of the largest in Delaware County. You can also check out the Marcus Hook Summer Music Festival to hear local bands play in the park, or the Holiday Parade and Festival of Lights if you're there during the winter. Another cool spot to see is the historic district of Viscose Village, where you can walk through an old-timey industrial part of town and see its unique Tudor-style architecture. And if you want to keep exploring along the Delaware River, head north to the tiny and trendy Pennsylvania town of New Hope, recognized for its underrated arts and culture scene.