Peace Valley Nature Center — Attraction in New Britain Township

My wife and I hadn't been to this park since we were very little and we didn't know what we were missing until we took a night class for bird watching and we learned about some really cool birds in our area. Now, we are always glad we stopped in for a visit to this park. The visitor center offers a nice little gift shop and a few windows with feeders set up. The people manning the desk have always been pleasant and when we had questions about what we saw, they got out books to try and help us figure it out. The bird blind just to the right of the visitor center (accessed from New Galena road side, not the other side of the lake... a mistake we made on our first visit on our own in the winter) is always a delight. From the bridge you can occasionally spot various birds like Canadian geese, cormorants, green herons, blue herons, barn swallows, eagles, oh and turtles of course and so many more. From the bird blind we've seen all of the common back yard birds in our area (blue jay, cardinal, gold finch, house finch, sparrows, carolina wrens, red bellied, downy and pilleated woodpeckers, nut hatch, eastern bluebird, morning doves, black capped chickadees, tufted titmouse and so much more...we even saw a wood duck in the water behind the bird blind...once... it was so pretty! Aside from bird watching there are also several picnic areas as you move around the lake. There are very small docks on either side with some small kayaks or row boats you can rent. My family hosted a reunion event there a couple of times but I have no clue about costs involved or maybe not. I would check if reservations are needed. At least one picnic spot has a playground area for kids. Wish we had visited this place as adults years ago... oh and we recently found that there is a delightful little italian restaurant just down the road Roman Delight in Fountainville. We've stopped in there most recently with our parents as part of our birthday festivities and the portions were generous and everyone enjoyed what they ate... I know that's not necessarily about Peace Valley so much but it makes for the possibility of spending a day there...

Peace Valley is especially good for walking and biking. It’s a solid choice for a picnic as well with picnic tables at various locations. Peace Valley is very popular locally on a nice summer weekend so parking can occasionally be a challenge but there are multiple lots available. Peace Valley is good, but not great for kayaking. I say that because Nockamixon is much better. Go there instead. The most interesting part of Peace Valley, the nature reserve at the far end of the lake, doesn’t allow kayaks to enter. Sadly, this would be the best kayaking. The nature center is under major refurbishment but does have a bird watch area that can be fun to visit. The area also some shorter but excellent trails near the nature center. You may need to pay attention to find the trail heads at the nature center parking lot but the trails are generally well traveled and enjoyable walks through the trees, including the infamous Winnie...

They offer some nice trails that lead to Lake Galena views or more woody trails. If you come with your dog, do not be deterred by all the no pets signs on the trails by the small parking lot. You have to walk across the road to the Nature Center side, to access the dog-friendly trails. Do print or take a photo of their trails before you visit. There was no trail map sign onsite and minimal trail markers enroute. The MiniLoop trail, their most popular, was overgrown so spray for tick protection before venturing there. The Willow Pond by the entrance is scenic and frog-filled. It is carry in/out. Saw no trash cans and only 2 benches along the 3...