It is a posh B&B in Bucks County, PA just outside Philadelphia. The owner Christine is a lovely proprietress of the establishment and she has overlooked no details (in addition to the usual LCD/Plasma TVs, you have the Egyptian cotton linen, Bulgari toiletries, period antique furniture hailing from different corners of the world - Louis XIV meets Pekingese wedding bed).

There are 3 main buildings which comprise this establishment - the 1740 Manor House, the 19th century stone barn and the Guest cottage. The property once belonged to George Kaufman and each room/suite is named after one of his plays. Kaufman used to entertain his guests here including John Steinbeck to name but one.

The view from the "Dancing in the Dark" suite was breathtaking. Breakfast was healthy yet hearty. With the exchange rate the way it is, with a little over 200 pounds, you can stay at a spacious suite with free drinks (soft/wine) and snacks galore - which is a bargain in these parts. The surrounding countryside is reminiscent of the Cotswolds - which is a pleasant surprise in the mall-ridden, heavily industrialised NE USA. However if it is the stereotypes you're after, there's mall shopping available within 15 minutes' walk in the town of Lahaska. For those with kids, the place is child friendly with farm animals and a junior Olympic size pool. Overall, a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Philly and New York with breathtaking European scenery and US convenience.

www.barleysheaf.com/

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Philadelphia is where the US Constitution was written and signed, making it a major tourist attraction not just for school parties. The area around Independence Hall, where it was actually signed, is devoted to telling the history of the site and the constitution. Most attention is focused on visiting the Liberty Bell and being guided around the historical buildings, but I enjoyed the museum devoted to the constitution much more.

'Museum' makes it sound dusty and antiquated, but what this is, is a multi-media festival, charting the history of the United States through the constitution, its upholders and detractors, and the battle to amend it. The experience starts with a live-action show, telling visitors about the circumstances that led up to the signing of the Constitution. You then go up to the gallery, where interactive displays allow visitors to be sworn in as President or become a Supreme Court Justice, and there are sound and visual displays alongside more traditional glass cases of artefacts. The story is told through the battles of the times - about slavery and states' rights, votes for women, prohibition, desegregation and civil rights, the Equal Rights amendment, right up to the present-day debate about gay marriage.

After travelling through the displays, visitors get a chance to add their names to the constitution, in the giant visitors' book, standing among the statues of the original signers. I can't think of a UK museum that so powerfully demonstrates the impact of politics and political decisions. This is a must-see on any visit to Philadelphia, for adults and children alike.

www.constitutioncenter.org/

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