Guide to the Brandywine Valley (West Chester, PA and Wilmington, DE) - A Visit to American Royalty, the DuPonts

Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA)

There are plenty of things to visit when visiting the Brandywine Valley area, but I believe there are three places you must visit. The first place is Longwood Gardens. Built by Pierre du Pont and opened to the public in 1921, contains 4600 different types of plants, trees, and fountains. The garden doubles as a research center for college students getting into professional horticulture. If you happen to catch the gardens at the right time, there are events throughout the year, such as fireworks, concerts, and what I think is the best time to visit is during the holidays. The Longwood Gardens during the holidays is something of itself. At night, the place lights up with its Christmas light decorations. Pierre du Pont spared no expenses, including building an open-air theater and an Italian Water Garden, based on his travels to Italy. There is a huge Conservatory that has even more to see (over 47,000 plants). Pierre du Pont’s weekend home still exists on the grounds of Longwood; it's not as grand as the gardens, but it is a peak into the way of life of the du Ponts and their rich history in American society. You could literally come back every few months, when the season changes, and see an entirely different place. You can spend the whole day there, but I would time it for an afternoon tour, ending with dinner at 1906. The food is excellent for a museum restaurant

Winterthur (Wilmington, DE)

Winterthur was the home of Henry Francis du Pont. As you tour the inside of the estate, you will notice why it is the "largest and richest museum of American furniture and decorative arts in the world." Like Longwood Gardens, Winterhur has different themes as the season changes. During a holiday season visit, they exhibited the different Christmas ornaments they had collected. Outside of the home, do take advantage of the trolley tour. You can walk the grounds, but it's huge. The trolley takes you around the entire grounds and provides stopping points along the way. It is acres and acres of preserved land. There is no charge to walk the grounds, but the admission is worth it to see the entire ground inside and out. Pack a picnic lunch and wonder around the grounds to find a spot for lunch.

Nemours Estate (Wilmington, DE)

Nemours Estate is only open from April to December. Built by Alfred du Pont and inspired by Versailles’ Petit Trianon. Inside you will see 18th-century French furniture and 16th-century religious art. After visiting Longwood and Winterthur, you would not expect anything less for its gardens. The gardens are just as spectacular, consisting of sunken gardens, a maze garden, a reflecting pool, and more. Take your time visiting the 77-room mansion and the chauffeur's garage with vintage cars.

Kennett Square

Kennett Square is known as the mushroom capital of the world. If you have bought mushrooms at a farmer’s market along the east coast, chances are it came from Kennett Square, PA. Downtown Kennett Square is worth a stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you have time, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and little shops.

Downtown Wilmington, DE

You may have driven through Wilmington at some point. It’s easy to miss. Beyond the du Pont estates, there are other things to do in the surrounding Wilmington, DE, including Brandywine Museum of Art, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, and the Brandywine Zoo to name a few places. There are more gardens than the ones I talked about. Catch a baseball game with the Wilmington Sharks. Head down to the waterfront and grab a bite to eat.

Where to Stay

I would recommend staying in downtown Wilmington, DE and making that your central location. The Quoin is a great option off Market Street in downtown. From there, you are just a short 20-30 minute drive to the locations above. Another option is the Hotel du Pont, located downtown. Once the headquarters of the DuPont company, now you can be transported to a luxury hotel, built in the Gilded Age era.

Kennett Square, PA area

• 1906 at Longwood - Make a reservation for 1906 for after you finish walking the grounds of Longwood.

• Talula's Table - Head here for coffee and snacks. Their prepared foods are excellent; stop by on your way our and grab some food to take home.

• Antica - Italian

Wilmington, DE

• Le Cavalier - If you are staying at the Hotel Du Pont, this is a French brasserie that is convenient after a days walking and touring.

• Bardea and Bardea Steak - Located next to each other. Bardea leans Italian and Bardea Steak serves rare-breed steaks (Wagyu, Holstien, Pidemontese).