Cheap Trips: Art, Shopping and History

Each week Patch suggests a few interesting destinations you can get to on one tank of gas, or less, round-trip. This week's ideas—the Merritt Gallery in Haverford, the Cabela's Outfitter in Hamburg and the Medal of Honor Grove in Phoenixville.

Merritt Gallery

Address: 385 Lancaster Ave, Haverford
How Far From Malvern: About 15 miles or 30 minutes.
Admission: Free
Hours:

• Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, call for appointment

About: Located in the Haverford Shopping Center, the Merritt Gallery is one of three locations on the east coast where resident can get a look at art from both local and well-known creators. The gallery is home to a number of special events, including vintage poster shows and a “Master’s Show,” which, according to the gallery’s website, includes original works from “Picasso, Matisse, Warhol and Dylan, to name a few.”

Links:

• Website

Cabela's Outfitter

Address: 100 Cabela Drive, Hamburg
How Far From Malvern: About 60 miles or 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Admission: Free

Hours:

• Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Summary: Cabela's retail store off Interstate 78 near Hamburg features a 250,000-square-foot showroom with museum-quality animal displays, huge aquariums, a gun library and trophy animals. The store includes a restaurant and delicatessen with both traditional favorites on the menu and exotic game such as elk, bison, ostrich, venison and wild boar. Merchandise spans the gamut of outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, boating, camping, prospecting, astronomy and bird watching.

Links:

• Website
  

Medal of Honor Grove

Address: 1601 Valley Forge Road, Phoenixville
How Far From Malvern: About 9 miles or 20 minutes.
Admission: Donations accepted
Hours: Open daily till dusk

Summary: The Medal of Honor Grove is owned by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, but is now maintained by the Friends of the MOH Grove, a newly formed non-profit organization. The Medal of Honor Grove consists of 52-acres on the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge and is the oldest Medal of Honor memorial in the nation. Each state area has a 7’x7” obelisk centered on a 25 foot square brick plaza.  Each Medal of Honor Recipient is identified by a stainless steel marker with the name and organization of each recipient and the date and location of the act of valor.  The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces.

Links: 

• Dinniman Dedicates Medal of Honor Grove Highway
• Website