Brandywine Valley Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Spread over northern Delaware and part of Pennsylvania, 7 mi/10 km north of Wilmington, this scenic and historic valley is a must-see for any visitor to Wilmington.

The top draw is Winterthur, the former estate of Henry Francis du Pont. The mansion contains one of the top collections of American antiques and decorative arts in the U.S., and the 60-acre/24-hectare garden showcases plants from around the world. Take one of the many tours to learn more about Winterthur's history.

Near Winterthur is the Delaware Museum of Natural History, with its fascinating exhibits of prehistoric animals and marine life, as well as collections of birds and shells from exotic locales throughout the world.

The Hagley Museum, which includes the original 19th-century mills, estate and gardens of the du Pont family, sits on 230 acres/95 hectares of land along the Brandywine River. The museum presents a fascinating look at the evolution of U.S. industry. The nearby Nemours Mansion and Gardens, a 102-room Louis XVI-style chateau with landscaped gardens is another must-see.

If you follow the valley north into Pennsylvania, there's more to see. Longwood Gardens, the rural estate of Pierre S. du Pont in Kennett Square, has a beautiful expanse of indoor and outdoor gardens, lakes and marvelous fountains. The seasonal displays at Longwood are spectacular, from the holiday lighting to the fountain shows that run mid-April through mid-October.

The Brandywine River Museum of Art, in Chadds Ford, houses paintings by American artists. Paintings by three generations of the Wyeth family are on display, including those of N.C. Wyeth, who lived in Chadds Ford from 1911 until his death in 1945. His house and studio on the grounds are open to visitors.

Annual events in the area include the Point-to-Point Steeplechase at Winterthur—horse races in a historic setting held annually on the first full-weekend Sunday of May—and Yuletide at Winterthur, a holiday celebration in the Early American tradition. Monthly ghost tours (weekly in October) are conducted at Rockwood Museum, a 19th-century estate north of Wilmington.

Overview

Introduction

An area of exceptional historical and cultural interest, the valley of the Brandywine River (where southeastern Pennsylvania meets northern Delaware) is a popular weekend getaway for residents of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Brandywine Valley is 25 mi/40 km southwest of Philadelphia.

Several sights are located in Chadds Ford. The Brandywine Battlefield State Park was the location of an important Revolutionary War battle in 1777, where Gen. Washington's Continental Army was bested by the British. After their defeat, Washington's forces waited out the winter in Valley Forge. Chadds Ford is also the home of the Brandywine River Museum, housed in a converted gristmill. It displays the artwork of Andrew, N.C. and Jamie Wyeth in addition to works by other artists. The N.C. Wyeth Studio is also open to visitors: The artist's workplace has been restored and includes paints, props and even an unfinished work on an easel. The Chadds Ford Winery is Pennsylvania's largest, producing more than 30,000 bottles of wine each year. Along with tours and wine tastings, the winery offers Summer Nights Under the Stars, a series of outdoor concerts.

Elsewhere in the valley, Governor Printz Park is the site of the state's first permanent European settlement. And Longwood Gardens was once the estate of Pierre S. du Pont—its beautiful expanse of formal gardens, lakes and marvelous fountains is considered one of the world's premier horticultural display gardens.

Just across the state line in Delaware (near Wilmington) are Winterthur (a museum, garden and library founded by Henry Francis du Pont that contains one of the world's finest collections of decorative arts) and the Hagley Museum and Library, located on the site of a mill village from the 1800s (where the DuPont Co. got its start). The museum's exhibits focus on the evolution of U.S. industry.