Whether you’re visiting West Chester for the first time or you’re a native of this pleasant borough, there’s a range of activities to enjoy in the area. The town may be best known for being the county seat of Chester County and the home of QVC, the TV shopping network.
You can keep yourself occupied by checking out cultural high points and historic places. You can also indulge in some delicious chocolate. Best of all, you can do it all at a relatively low cost. We’ve put together this list of 10 fun things to do in West Chester, PA, that won’t break the bank. Read on to prepare for your next trip to this southeastern Pennsylvania town.
1. Take In a Show at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center
Music, speakers, plays — you can find them all at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, located downtown. It has multiple companies in residence, performing in three different spaces, and it attracts acts from across the country. One night, you might see dueling pianos. The next, you’re listening to a lecture from a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist. No matter what you go to see, you’ll walk away with a thought-provoking experience that will stay with you for days to come.
The center has only been open since December 31, 2016. It took massive renovations to turn the vacant Armory building, which had a single working toilet, into the beautiful performance space we see today.
Cost: Ticket prices vary by show. Check their website for pricing.
2. Visit the American Helicopter Museum and Educational Center
This inspirational museum educates people on the life-saving capabilities of helicopters. The aim is to provide inspiration for the next generation of pilots and also highlight the importance of helicopters in our national history.
Children can explore actual helicopters, sitting in them and touching all the parts, while others may be more interested in a rotating group of exhibits, including one focused on Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals — which visitors may remember from the TV show “M*A*S*H.”
Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for children over 2, students with ID and seniors; $7 for veterans; children under 2 are free. You can get a flat group rate of $7 per person for groups of 10 or more.
3. Explore Stroud Preserve
Want to explore nature in a tranquil setting? Go to Stroud Preserve, a cattle farm that became a nature preserve nearly three decades ago with the aim of providing the Stroud Water Research Center with a place to perform research and experiments. Wander around and check out the miles-long trails or take a kayak out on the water.
Cost: Free
4. Indulge at Éclat Chocolate
When you ask people what to do in West Chester, one of the first things they’ll mention is a trip to this specialty chocolate store, which makes world-renowned treats. The amazing flavor combinations on display will delight everyone from casual chocolate fans to gourmet connoisseurs. Don’t miss the caramels — they’re an Éclat Chocolate specialty.
Cost: Depends on what you decide to buy.
5. Take a Tour of QVC Studio Park
Everyone knows QVC, the TV network that sells everything from artist dolls to lighting contraptions to cubic zirconia earrings. Go behind the scenes to see how products get tested and sourced by going on a tour of the studio, located in West Chester. You can watch shows as they’re filmed and learn how they’re brought to air.
Cost: $10 for everyone over 12; $7 for kids 7-12. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
6. Walk Across Bartram’s Covered Bridge
Once there were more than two dozen covered bridges in Delaware County. Today, only one remains, spanning between Chester and Delaware counties. Bartram’s Covered Bridge offers a fascinating glimpse into local history — at one time, you could even see some Civil War-era graffiti that said, “LINCOLN, Save Union and Congress,” though that was largely eliminated during the last restoration in 1995.
Cost: Free
7. Visit Historic Sugartown
Take a short drive from West Chester to go back in time to the 19th century. Historic Sugartown is a replica of a town from the early 1800s, where you can step into a book bindery, bank barn, and saddler’s shop to see how things looked a couple hundred years ago.
Cost: Free to walk around. Guided tours cost $7 for adults and $5 for students 3-17. Kids under 3 are free.
8. Run Around at Treehouse World
If you love treehouses, you have to go to Treehouse World. Even if you never cared about treehouses before, you should stop by this amazing example of creativity. Treehouse World showcases a range of different treehouse designs, and offers ropes courses and zip lines for visitors to enjoy.
Cost: An Explorer Pass, the cheapest one-day option, costs $22.50. For that, you get access to six activities, including unlimited bungee trampolining.
9. Ride on the West Chester Railroad
Feeling nostalgic? Hop aboard the West Chester Railroad that harkens back to a bygone era in America. Most routes take 90 minutes, and you can enjoy special themed rides during holidays.
Cost: Varies, depending on the theme. Check their website for pricing details.
10. Go Back in Time at the William Brinton 1704 House
West Chester has a number of historic homes. See period furniture and artifacts authentic to an 18th-century Quaker home at the William Brinton 1704 House.
Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 4-12.
Now that you know about all the cheap things to do in West Chester, PA, it’s time to plan your next visit. If you’re an alum of West Chester University, you can show your school pride by applying for PSECU’s rewards credit card. Use it to earn unlimited cash back on every purchase!
Feature Photo by Michael Stancato, courtesy of Natural Lands.