BUCKS COUNTY, PA – This spring and summer, Bucks County, Pennsylvania boasts a full itinerary of family fun with the opening of two kid-friendly museum exhibitions and a vibrant schedule of activities at Sesame PlaceÒ in celebration of the theme park’s 25^th birthday. And that’s not all! Just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia and a little over an hour from New York City, Bucks County is situated along the scenic Delaware River making the region a destination for canoeing, tubing and fishing. The many state and county parks are perfect for outdoor family adventures including biking, horseback riding and camping. Bucks County is also an historical hotspot featuring Washington Crossing Historic Park, the location where General George Washington led his troops to victoriously change the course of the American Revolution. Steam locomotive rides aboard the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad provide entertainment for all ages. Giggleberry Fair, an indoor family fun center located at Peddler’s Village, offers a grand carousel, game room and obstacle course. For information on hotel packages and coupons, plus family attractions and dining options visit www.ExperienceBucksCounty.com. Among the many highlights beginning this spring:

Ultimate Birthday Party with Elmo & Friends

Sesame Place Celebrates its 25^th Birthday

May 7 – October 29, 2005

Sesame Place, Langhorne, Pennsylvania

215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com

The ultimate party begins on Opening Day, May 7 with the red carpet arrival of the Sesame Street characters and culminates with a gala costume contest during the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular on October 29. The celebration lasts all season long at the only place where Sesame Street comes to life through rides, water fun and playtime with friends plus special guest appearances, entertainment and a parade in honor of the 25^th birthday. Sesame Place, a licensee of Sesame Workshop and a division of Busch Entertainment Corporation, was developed to bring the Sesame Street television show and its values to life for children through play. What began as a three-acre theme park 25 years ago with physical activities and minimal entertainment has grown to 14 acres with over three dozen interactive activities, including water attractions, an action packed roller coaster and choreographed live stage shows and a musical parade. Parents bring their children to Sesame Place to tap into their child’s sense of wonder and imagination. But children gain so much more when they visit Sesame Place. They are learning, growing and building a sense of self-confidence as they meet their television pals and discover fascinating challenges around the park.

The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons

April 23 – July 3, 2005

James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

215-340-9800, www.michenerartmuseum.org

Since 1930, the “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” of Warner Bros. have delighted audiences young and old with their wit and surprising sophistication. Such Warner phrases as “What’s up, Doc?,” “That’s all, folks!” and “I taut I taw a putty-tat” have become part of the national vocabulary, as have such colorful characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, the Road Runner and Yosemite Sam. Originally part of a four-month tribute at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons is a comprehensive overview of a legendary Hollywood animation studio, the rambunctious birthplace of characters who have become part of American folklore. The exhibition is a greatly expanded version of the MoMA show, consisting of over 160 drawings, paintings, “cels” and related objects used in the making of Warner’s classic cartoons from the 1930s through 1960.

Dolls From the Attic

April 30, 2005 – September 3, 2006

Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

215-345-0210, www.mercermuseum.org

Dolls From the Attic invites visitors of all ages to explore, imagine and remember the world of dolls and doll play in a fun setting reminiscent of “grandmother’s attic.” The hands-on exhibition features more than 100 historical and international dolls from the museum’s collections, along with dollhouses, furniture, clothing and other accessories. Children can re-enact a Victorian doll tea party, dress and care for a baby doll using reproduction artifacts, play with an old-fashioned dollhouse, try on clothing, shoes and accessories modeled after those worn by dolls in the collection and take a doll and doll buggy on a stroll through the museum. At an interactive video station - the Storytelling Kiosk(tm) - adults and children alike can record and play a story about their own dolls and doll play, today or in the past. Old photographs, twentieth-century mail order catalogs and memory-provoking questions found throughout the exhibit will help spark recollections visitors may wish to share.