Yardley Happening: Spotlight on Yardley, PA

Content & Photography by Elisa Baxt

“Yardley isn't just another quaint town along the Delaware; Yardley has soul,” one long time resident of Yardley borough told us when we asked her about living here.

It's true; there is something uniquely special about Yardley whether you are a resident of the adorable town with a population of just over 2,500, or just visiting for the day.

Centered around picturesque Lake Afton, which is actually a man made mill pond constructed in 1894 to operate a nearby grist mill, Yardley is an idealic blend of old and new. The beautiful red wood and stone grist mill still stands today, now converted to office space and home to several area businesses. Families can enjoy the sense of community and simpler times while ice skating on Lake Afton in the winter months. The adorable Victorian Old Library by Lake Afton, built in 1878, is a focal point of Yardley Borough, yet right across the street there are boutiques, specialty shops, beauty salons, and trendy restaurants.

Yardley is both quaint and modern with its accessible walk-ability to grab a hand-crafted sandwich, grab your morning cup of joe, or indulge in an after-dinner ice cream cone. Yardley is even home to its very own microbrewery as well as cultural restaurants that serve authentic Italian or Greek fare. For diners, Yardley offers newer restaurants which feature modern menus and outdoor seating, as well as an Inn which served as a stopping point for farmers traveling to the Philadelphia to sell their goods almost two hundred years ago. The age of many of the buildings in Yardley Borough’s historic section also date back to the mid 1800’s.

The surrounding area is abundant with family farms and their stone farmhouses from that era, along with many beautifully constructed new homes, including the brand new Yardley Walk, the first development in Yardley Borough in ten years.

Another example where history meets modern is Yardley’s canal path.

The scenic canal path that runs through Yardley is part of a national recreation trail. Once used by mule teams pulling cargo boats along the canal, Yardley’s historic towpath is now a popular trail for bicyclists, joggers, kayakers, walkers and bird watchers; and a destination location for fitness enthusiasts and weekend outings. The Delaware River area in Yardley and nearby Washington Crossing State Park, are filled with American history from the era of George Washington and the Revolutionary War, yet Yardley residents can also jump on a train at Main Street’s Yardley Station, and arrive in Philadelphia in just about an hour. New York City is an easy 90 minute drive.

People can enjoy an old fashioned sense of community attending long standing events such as Yardley’s annual street fairs and arts and crafts festivals, as well as Canal-O-Ween, a wonderful display of carved pumpkins lit up along the Delaware Canal the week of Halloween. There are a large amount of playgrounds and parks where children can play, including the township's 92-acre Macclesfield Park on River Road. Yardley-Makefield also boasts a youth soccer program with an excellent reputation, and two different farmer’s markets that are held outdoors from May through October.

Yardley and Lower Makefield Township has been a top finisher in the MONEY Magazine and CNN/Money “Best Places to Live” rankings for the Eastern region of the United States.

Throughout it's rich history, hard-working small business owners and local organizations have been the lifeblood of the Yardley community. Get to know some of the people and places shaping the vibrant community in our Yardley Happening Spotlights below:

ShopRite of Yardley
1603 Big Oak Rd, Morrisville, PA 19067
(215) 595-0078
Owned & operated by the Colalillo family, ShopRite's Yardley store offers fresh produce, meats & seafood, a registered dietitian & ShopRite from Home service.

Pilates Bodies by Patty Witt
10 Penn Valley Drive, Yardley, PA 19067
267.391.9200
Offering diverse, high-energy aerobic fitness and strengthening classes including: reformer, tower, barre, circuit, mystery, indoor cycling, and mat classes.

Drew Ferrara of RE/MAX
73 East Afton Ave, Yardley, PA 19067
215.369.HOME
Ranked #1 of all Bucks County's RE/MAX Agents from 2011 to 2014 and the top 25% of the top 1% of all real estate agents in Bucks County.

Yardley Walk by Orleans Homes
85 N. Main Street (Model: 27 Creekview Lane), Yardley, PA
888-710-6422
Located in the quaint village of Yardley Borough, the new development- Yardley Walk by Orleans Homes – features new designs with 10′ first floor ceiling heights, elegant kitchens and beautiful master suites.

MWA Autumn Fest
Held at on September 19, 2015 at Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd, Morrisville, PA 19067
267.573.9MWA
MWA Autumn Fest is the Makefield Women Association's annual fine arts and crafts festival held on the beautiful open fields of Shady Brook Farm, featuring unique and talented artists and crafters who come together with food trucks, entertainers, community organizations and local businesses for a day of shopping, eating, family fun, charity and community celebration.

Garden of Reflection
1950 Woodside Rd, Morrisville, PA 19067
(215) 493-3646
The Garden of Reflection 9-11 Memorial, created to remember and honor all 2,973 killed on September 11, 2001. It is situated in Memorial Park amid the natural beauty of Historical Bucks County farmland.