From a replica of an English castle perched on a hill to famous botanic gardens and a living history museum that tells the story of the Pennsylvania German community, Pennsylvania is home to many scenic spots that help meeting groups escape the chaos of the city. Unlike a hotel ballroom, these five destinations front rivers, overlook vineyards and farms, or offer clear, unobstructed views for miles.

Stokesay Castle

Reading

Stokesay Castle was built in 1931 as a private home on the outskirts of Reading. Situated on top of a mountain, surrounded by trees, the home was modeled after a 13th-century English castle of the same name. It even includes secret passageways. Guests arriving at the castle via a small lane don’t see the stone manor until they are almost right on top of it.

“It is very quiet up here,” said Holly Becker, marketing director at Stokesay Castle. “It is a wonderful spot for groups looking for something unique, with peaceful surroundings to get away from the hustle and bustle.”

Many groups hosting events at the castle take advantage of the medieval vibe as part of their events. The building can fit up to 400 guests, depending on the layout. The ballroom includes a dance floor and an outdoor terrace with a fountain and firepit.

The Lord’s Dining Room, which features high ceilings, hardwood floors and a fireplace, can accommodate 50 guests. The library is perfect for small board meetings or business dinners.

The Knight’s Pub, attached to the castle, features floor-to-ceiling glass doors on three sides, allowing groups to enjoy the breeze and incorporate the outdoors into their events. The pub can host events for up to 150 guests on the days when it isn’t open to the public.

The all-inclusive property provides an executive chef, bar service and banquet staff.

stokesay.net

Longwood Gardens

Kennett Square

Longwood Gardens was the brainchild of Pierre du Pont, a member of the famous du Pont family, who had a great love of gardening. In 1906, at the age of 36, du Pont purchased the Peirce farm and began designing beautiful gardens, including a Flower Garden Walk and gardens in the Italian and French styles.

Over the past 120 years, the gardens, which cover 400 acres, have expanded and improved. At the end of 2024, Longwood opened its West Conservatory, a 32,000-square-foot glass conservatory with a Mediterranean-inspired garden. It also added a restaurant and event space.

The Fountain Room, which overlooks the Main Fountain Garden, can host 200 for a banquet or 400 for a reception. Longwood also updated its existing gardens, including the Waterlily Court, expanded its ornamental kitchen garden and added a Bonsai Courtyard.

The Legacy Room and Music Room can host groups of 50, or The Conservatory can accommodate up to 400 for a banquet or 1,000 for a reception. Groups hosting events in the gardens can add walking tours, hands-on activities, educational courses, such as flower arranging, or a personalized main fountain performance to their events. Groups can choose and arrange songs for the performance, which includes illuminated fountains that move and dance to the music.

The gardens, which are 45 minutes from Philadelphia and 12 miles from Wilmington, Delaware, also offer full-service catering.

longwoodgardens.org

Hauser Hill Event Center

Biglerville

The view from Hauser Hill Event Center in Biglerville is incomparable. Not only can guests see for 30 or 40 miles in every direction from its perch on top of a hill, but it is surrounded by mountains, apple orchards, farms and vineyards. The event center sits on 172 acres in what is considered apple country and is about 8 miles from Gettysburg with its famous battlefield.

Conveniently located about a 1.5-hour drive from Washington, D.C., visitors often compare the area to Napa Valley in California.

Jack’s Event Room, Terrace and Deck can host up to 80 guests. The space offers 360-degree views, vaulted ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling natural stone fireplace, a circular natural stone bar with oak accents, and hardwood floors. The terrace and shaded deck can hold up to 70 guests.

The 6,000-square-foot Hauser Ballroom downstairs features 20-foot ceilings, bistro lighting and a large barrel bar that allows plenty of room to spread out. The space, which once served as a production facility when the building was an active winery, can host up to 100 guests.

Larger groups can make use of both indoor and outdoor spaces by utilizing a large tent that overlooks the vineyards. Hauser Hill has a preferred list of caterers, but groups are allowed to bring in their own alcohol for their event if it is served by the facility’s certified bartenders.

hauserhill.com

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

Lancaster

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum in Lancaster is a living history museum that interprets Pennsylvania German cultural history between 1740 and 1940. It is located at an actual crossroads village and includes original buildings as well as some that were moved there or built to represent historical buildings. The museum has been in existence for over 100 years and features an active farm program and a Victorian village where docents teach traditional classes and offer demonstrations throughout the day.

The property has several event spaces, including the Yellow Barn, which can hold 225 at banquet tables or 300 in a classroom setup and also features a courtyard. The Firehouse can accommodate up to 100 guests. For smaller events, there is an auditorium at the visitor’s center that can hold up to 100.

The 1856 Landis Valley House Hotel no longer hosts overnight guests, but groups of 30 to 40 can utilize its spaces for events.

Meeting attendees can visit the museum as part of their rental, add on a tractor-drawn wagon ride, tour the museum’s historic spaces with one of the museum’s demonstrators, or learn how to do a period craft project, such as tin punching or needle felting.

All of the event spaces have easy access to the outdoors. After the museum closes at 4 p.m., groups can host picnics or bring in musical entertainment.

landisvalleymuseum.org

River House at Odette’s

New Hope

In New Hope, about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia, River House at Odette’s is a 36-room boutique hotel with two small guesthouses on the banks of the Delaware River. The property stands on the spot where a musician and actress known as Odette Myrtil once operated a 1920s cabaret.

The River House, which opened in 2020, features several event spaces that overlook the river. The Rhapsody Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling folding and sliding glass doors that can be opened to let in the breeze. Groups can take breaks or eat lunch on the outdoor veranda. The ballroom can accommodate up to 200, or it can be divided in half with an air wall to host two groups at once.

The Union Mills building is a more intimate environment away from the hotel. The upstairs study has a fireplace and river views. The downstairs drawing room can be used as a dining area or breakout space for up to 20.

The Roof is a members-only Speakeasy that is only available for hotel guests. Odette’s Steakhouse is another popular option for guests who want to dine on-site.

Team-building activities are available, from dragon boating to culinary or mixology classes. The River House is an eight-minute walk from downtown New Hope. It is also within walking distance of Lambertville, New Jersey, just across the river. There are restaurants, antique shops, an art gallery and Bucks County Playhouse in town for those who want to explore the area, or guests can borrow one of the property’s bicycles and take a ride along the river’s towpath.

riverhousenewhope.com