Exciting Tours that You Can Take in Your Car, and at Your Leisure

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Each tour is designed in a pattern that forms a reasonable and easy driving loop…you can enter the loop from any direction…and simply follow the attractions back to your original entry point for an easy return home. Of course you may also juggle the sites to fit your particular schedule. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you visit the web sites of those attractions you plan to visit, to make sure they are open during the season and hours you expect to be here. Most of our sites are open year round and at least 5 days a week. But a few places are closed in the winter and a handful do tours only by appointment. (Smaller historic sites manned by volunteer-only staff, are open limited hours, but are glad to do tours by appointment)

1. Our Tour-For-Two includes many of the sites and attractions visited by couples who come to Brandywine Country, including tours of award winning vineyards and art museums, taking an afternoon sail on the Delaware River, exploring historic sites, a Wildlife Refuge and spending a glittering evening of food and fun at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Race Track.

2. The Family Fun Tour features several tours and activities where everyone takes part in the action, like canoeing down the Brandywine River, picking your own fruit and vegetables from a family orchard, taking a trolley ride and visiting a Helicopter Museum. There a many unique places where the prices are good and the fun quotient is off the chart!

3. We also list a sample Garden Tour and History Tour. Many visitors to our region come because we are a perfect match for a particular interest they have. Two of the top 5 reasons people visit Brandywine Country are to visit our gardens and to soak up America’s earliest history. As part of the birthplace of freedom, Brandywine Country is a ‘must visit’ destination for history buffs…and our famous gardens draw both professionals (botanists and naturalists) and amateurs (all lovers of things that bloom, home gardeners and nature lovers).


NOTE: There are many more museums, wineries, and attractions to choose from than just those listed as part of the tours below. There are automobile museums, sculptor’s studios, year-round Christmas shops, a special tourist commuter train, bronze artisan studios, Battleship New Jersey tours, the PA Veterans Museum and much more. Please explore this web site and click on the links to those types of places you might enjoy visiting.

1. Touring-for-Two












Brandywine River Museum

If you are a couple visiting Brandywine Country for the first time – consider this 3Day/2Night romantic driving tour that creates an escape for those who want to combine a little hand holding with an exploration of art, history, nature and adult-only fun like a visit to Harrah’s Chester Casino and Race Track.

Day One
MORNING
Brandywine River Museum – Explore this Historic Grist Mill showcasing the art and studios of 3 generations of Wyeths and other top American artists.
Rte. 1, Chadds Ford, PA
AFTERNOON
Brandywine Battlefield – home of one of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War. See Washington’s & Lafeyette’s Headquarters, Troop encampments and more.
Rte 1, Chadds Ford, PA
Chaddsford Winery – a beautiful award-winning vineyard whose wine is enjoyed all over the world.
Rte 1, Chadds Ford, PA

Shop and Explore the quaint town of West Chester – bursting at the seams with restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, and cheerful bars and pubs.
West Chester, PA

Or… spend the afternoon going “up, up and away!”
Visit the US Hot Air Balloon Team – For year-round pleasure and adventure take a hot air balloon ride – flights daily. Call in advance.
800-763-5987, St. Peters, PA
EVENING
Dinner: Choose a fine local restaurant including the historic Dilworthtown Inn with multiple fireplaces and candelight, Fuji Fusion Steakhouse and Sushi, Chadds Ford Tavern or Brandywine Prime, a hot spot for the locals serving outstanding food in an intimate renovated tavern.
A full list can be found on our web site. Those with an address in Glen Mills, Concordville and Chadds Ford are all local to this area
Stay the Night (Click below for direct link to lodging)
…at one of these fine B&B’s or Hotels just minutes from the attractions above:
Hammanassett B&B
Brandywine River Hotel
Sweetwater Farm B&B
Comfort Inn & Suites
Staybridge Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites
Day Two








Longwood Gardens

MORNING
Longwood Gardens – a world class garden providing hours of discovery and adventure for nature lovers...
Rte. 1, Longwood, PA
AFTERNOON
Nemours Mansion and Gardens – a Premier North American Estate, modeled on Le Petit Trianon Versailles and located on 222 acres with ponds and gardens.
1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE
EVENING
Harrah’s Chester Casino and Race Track – enjoy slots (with other games to come), plus horse racing, four fabulous restaurants and a variety of musical and comedy shows throughout the year.
Overlooking Delaware River, on Rt. 291, Chester, PA

Stay the Night
...at one of these fine B&B’s or Hotels just minutes from the 3 attractions above:...
Hilton Philadelphia Airport Hotel
Renaissance Hotel, Philadelphia Airport
Cheshire House, Upland (near Chester)
Red Roof Inn, Essington
Airport – Motel 6, Essington
Best Western Philadelphia Airport/Chester –at Widener University
 Quality Inn, Essington
Star Hotel, Marcus Hook


Day Three











John Heinz Wildlife Refuge

MORNING
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge – a hidden treasure of 2100 acres of flora and fauna surrounded by 5 million people
Just off I-95, in Tinicum Township
AFTERNOON
Take a half day Sail on the Delaware River from SailTime
(Call or email to book river-sails in advance – 215-822-0183 or 215-275-8037 –www.sailtime.com

Leave for home

2. Family Fun Tour

Veterans Museum

Families will find lots of fun and exciting activities and attractions that appeal to all ages. Fortunately many of those ‘family-friendly’ events and sites are free or reasonably priced! In addition to upscale restaurants and hotels, there are many that are affordable and/or designed comfortably for families – with indoor pools, game rooms and other options that please a variety of tastes and expectations. Listed below are activities for both children and adults, along with several highlighted restaurants that put ‘fun’ and great prices on their menus as well as great food!

Day One

MORNING
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge – a hidden treasure of lush flora and native fauna surrounded by 5 million people! Award winning green Visitor Center features exhibits, displays, gift shop and more. 10 miles of hiking & biking trails, great fishing and canoeing. Located just minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport.
Off I-95, in Tinicum Township
AFTERNOON
PA Veterans Museum and Trolley Ride through Downtown Media – see hundreds of artifacts, uniforms and living history replicas from every war
Media, PA

Lunch: Consider Margaret Kuo’s Peking Restaurant on State Street…choose from Japanese or Chinese fare, and kids will love the challenge of trying to eat with chopsticks! There are also many great pizza places, sandwich cafes not to mention top Bistros, French and Italian eateries all along State Street!

EVENING
Visit the Media Theater, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, People’s Light and Theater, Hedgerow Theater, Darlington Arts Center or take in a musical show at Rose Tree Park during its Free Summer Concert Program (45 nights of live shows with a state-of-the-art amphitheater). (Bring blankets or lawn chairs)

More theaters are listed on our web site for seasonal specials and show schedule.

Dinner: The Town of Media is bursting at seams with great restaurants for all tastes and budgets. The landmark Rose Tree Inn is a fine food, upscale restaurant that recently underwent a beautiful renovation. Sligo is an Irish Pub with a ‘cheery’ atmosphere and well priced food. Stephen’s and Fellini’s are popular choices and Iron Hill Brewery is a local chain with great tasting brews made on the premises. For more choices, click on the Dining link of our website
Stay the Night
…at one of these fine B&B’s or Hotels just minutes from the attractions above.
Hamanassett B&B
Days Inn, Springfield
Magnolia House B&B, Swarthmore
Longfellow House B&B, Swarthmore
Purcell Darrel House B&B, Swarthmore (children must be 10 years or older)
Quality Inn, Media
Motel Providence, Media









Day Two
MORNING
In the spring, summer and fall…
Visit Linvilla Orchards – One of the oldest farms in the county – and you can pick your own fruit and vegetables! Plus farm animals, hayrides, country store and more.
Media, PA

In the winter visit IceWorks – four skating rinks plus game rooms, pro shop, restaurants – with public skating times, hockey tournaments to watch and more! It is also the training center for recent Olympic and World Medal winning figure skaters!
Open 6am to 2am, 7 days a week.
701 Duttons Mill Rd, Aston, PA

Tyler Arboretum – a unique hiking spot with cool exhibits and great fun activities for children.
Media, PA
AFTERNOON
Lunch is a treat at Jimmy John’s Pipin’ Hot Sandwich Shop – More than 90,000 hot dogs served each year plus see a cool electric train display. Voted to have the best dogs and sandwiches in the county!
Rt. 202, West Chester

Enjoy a family canoe, kayak or tubing trip on the historic Brandywine River
(available daily, year round!)
Wilderness Canoe Trips – Wilmington DE

Or…tour Herr’s Snack Factory – Free factory tours include sampling fresh tasty snacks as they are made…with a café, gift shop and videos
Nottingham, PA
EVENING
Do a little shopping and dining at one of these great local malls!
The Shops at Brinton Lakes are upscale stores for kids and adults including a Barnes and Noble, plus experience the American Bar and Grill for dinner
Glen Mills, PA

Olde Ridge Village is a quaint village of specialty stores for beading, scrapbooking, beer and wine making, etc. Great ice cream stores and eateries including Big Fork Restaurant.
Chadds Ford, PA

Enjoy dinner at family-priced-right restaurants, pizza places and sandwich shops, including:
Pescatores Italian Restaurant
Fuji Fusion Steakhouse and Sushi
Big Cheese Pizza
Concord Steak Shop
Hank’s Place Restaurant
Pig Out BBQ Pit
The Gables at Chadds Ford

Stay the night
…at one of these fine hotels or B&Bs:
Days Inn, Wilmington
Comfort Inn and Suites of Brandywine Valley, West Chester
Staybridge Suites of Brandywine Valley
Hampton Inn & Suites of Chadds Ford
Sweetwater Farm, Glen Mills
Brandywine River Hotel, Chadds Ford













Day Three
MORNING
Brandywine Battlefield – Site of one of the fiercest battles of the Revolutionary War; Walk the fields where thousands of our troops fought and died…plus visit both Washington’s and Lafayette’s Headquarters.
Rt. 1, Chadds Ford, PA

American Helicopter Museum – one of the few helicopter museums in the country –also an education center. Call for dates of air tours, and more.
American Blvd., West Chester, PA
AFTERNOON
US Hot Air Balloon Team – For year-round pleasure and adventure take a hot air balloon ride – flights daily. Call in advance.
800-763-5987, St. Peters, PA
Leave for home…

3. Garden Tour

Nemours Mansion & Gardens

If you have a green thumb or just appreciate the work of those who do – visit our famous and amazing gardens, as well as one of the most unusual nature ecosystems in the country (The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge). The attractions below have been written about in travel magazines and are among some of the finest gardens in the country. Each one is different, unique and memorable. Visit a pleasure garden at the only Main Line estate home that is open to the public…another blooms under miles of concrete highway that carry hundreds of thousands of people to work and home again. Some were based on renowned European gardens…and others are meditative in their divine tranquility. But while each is unique, all are both spectacular and memorable. Be sure to bring your camera!

Day One

MORNING
Nemours Mansion & Gardens – Just received a dazzling renovation by world class architects, gardeners, engineers and craftsmen, restoring this premier North American estate to its turn of the century magnificence…a stunning place of history, elegance, rare antiquities and blissful gardens.
Wilmington, DE
AFTERNOON into Early Evening
Longwood Gardens – A half day is barely enough time to explore 1,050 acres and 20 indoor gardens featuring exquisite flowers, ancient trees, opulent architecture, fountains, exotics and more. Hours are 9 to 5, but the garden often stays open later to feature early evening music and lighted fountain entertainment (skating shows in the winter)
Kennett Square, PA
Lunch: Dine at the Longwood restaurant or to choose a nearby eatery, click on ‘dining’ for a list.
EVENING
Dinner: Select a great local eatery, click on ‘dining’ for a list.
Stay the night
…at one of these fine hotels and B&B’s

Kennett House B&B
Hilton Garden Inn, Kennett Square
Fairville Inn, Chadds Ford
Pennsbury Inn, Chadds Ford
Sweetwater Farm, Glen Mills, PA
Brandywine River Hotel, Chadds Ford
Doubletree Hotel, Wilmington
Staybridge Suites, Wilmington/Brandywine Valley
Comfort Inn Brandywine Valley, West Chester
Day Two
MORNING
Tyler Arboretum – See collections of native, ornamental, and rare trees, plus natural areas and restored buildings…20 miles of hiking trails. Lots of activities, hikes and events are planned for ages 3 to adulthood. Call them for a list of happenings during your visit.
Media, PA

Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College – It boasts 110 acres of 5,000 different ornamental plants and walking trails on one of the most prestigious campuses in the state. The surrounding town is also unique, full of interesting small retail stores for browsing.
Swarthmore, PA
AFTERNOON
Lunch at georges’ – home of renowned Chef Joseph Frost who worked for Internationally renowned restaurateur, George Perrier
Radnor, PA

Or…click below or on the restaurant page of our website to find more great places to eat in the area, including:
Bistro Casis, Radnor
Glenmorgan Bar and Grill, Radnor
Margaret Kuo’s, Wayne
Floret, Radnor

Chanticleer – You will adore this 35 acre pleasure garden featuring courtyards of tropicals and perennials, a vegetable garden, woodlands, water garden and ruins garden. It is the last remaining Main Line Estate that is still open to the public. It was also named one of North America’s Most Beautiful Secret Gardens by National Geographic Traveler Magazine in 2006.
Radnor, PA
EVENING
September to May – Take in a show at the Players Club of Swarthmore, 300 seat community theater producing 7 shows a season
Swarthmore

Or…People’s Light and Theatre Company – Professional theatre producing a mix of classics, contemporary works and world premiers plus a TARGET Family Discovery Series for the whole family
Malvern

Or…catch a movie at the historic Anthony Wayne Theater in the heart of the downtown Wayne Shopping District

Stay the night…at one of these fine local hotels:
Radnor Hotel
Wayne Hotel
Day Three
MORNING/AFTERNOON
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge – A rare natural ‘gem’ in the heart of a concrete jungle of 5 million people! Bring your camera for fabulous photos…early birds will catch rare shots at dawn. See hundreds of species of birds, flora and fauna in this combination marsh and woodland hideaway. There are 10 miles of wooded/open hiking and biking trails, fishing, canoeing, an award winning ‘green’ Welcome Center with dozens of exhibits and a gift shop.

Tinicum Township, just off I-95 and only 10 miles from the initial Wilmington starting point of this tour.

4. History Tour

This tour of haunting and illustrious historic sites includes only a handful of the most popular places. There are dozens more that draw visitors from all over the country and a full list of history attractions can be seen by clicking on the Historic Sites link. This driving tour begins just off I-95 in Chester…then goes to Norwood…Clifton Heights…Broomall…Media…and finally, to 5 historic sites clustered in the Chadds Ford area and a stunning Estate Mansion in Wilmington, just 10 minutes or so from the starting point of the tour. Like all of our driving tours, this is a looping tour, so you may start it at any place along the way and simply go forward.











Chester Courthouse

Day One
MORNING
Chester City…the site of the original ‘Penn’s Landing’ when he came from England to claim his land grant for “Pennsylvania”
• The 1724 Old Chester Courthouse – This is an amazing structure and home of many of our nation’s greatest debates and court sessions. It is the oldest building in continuous use in the United States. Call for visitation times.
• Next door is The Delaware County Historical Society Museum, Research Library and Archives – a unique place, not to be missed. Dozens of unusual artifacts including an Abraham Lincoln Campaign Banner.
• Just around the corner in Upland is the Caleb Pusey House & Landingford Plantation – the 1683 home of William Penn’s miller plus an 18th century log house and 19th century schoolhouse museum. Open May to Oct.
AFTERNOON
Moving on to Norwood…then Broomall and Newtown Square
• The Morton Morton House is a restored, nationally registered Georgian-style farmhouse built in 1750 by the grandson of the Swedish settler Morton Mortonsen, and cousin of John Morton, an original signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• The 1696 Thomas Massey House is in Broomall, and is a late 17th century English vernacular farmhouse built by a former indentured servant.
• In nearby Newtown Square is the 1842 Octagonal School House – one room, 18th century stone schoolhouse, period furnishings, with classes and group tours by appt.
• Then check out the 1711 Newtown Square Friends Meeting House
• And…the 1860 Bartram Bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in Delaware County. It spans the Crum Creek and connects with Chester County. Built by Ferdinand Wood.
EVENING
Dine at a great local restaurant, such as:
La Locanda Restaurant & Bar
Charlotte’s Restaurant
Country Squire Diner and Bakery
Teikoku Restaurant, Asian cuisine of Japan and Thailand

Stay the night…at a great local hotel in the Media area (where you will start the day tomorrow)
Motel Providence, Media
Hamanassett B&B Days Inn, Springfield
Magnolia House B&B, Swarthmore
Longfellow House B&B, Swarthmore
Purcell Darrell House B&B, Swarthmore







Ridley Creek State Park

Day Two
MORNING
Moving on to nearby Media… Visit the Ridley Creek State Park, home of the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation – a living history museum that recreates life on a working 1770’s PA farm. Many special events are planned so call ahead for the schedule.
Open weekends, April through November.
Take 352 to Rt. 1 and head south just a few miles… To the Nathanial Newlin Grist Mill – 150 acre park and grist mill. Pond fishing on weekends…Picnic Area. Buildings open 9 to 4, daily.
AFTERNOON
Continuing South on Rt. 1…these sites are clustered within a few miles of each other: Brandywine Battlefield Park – Tour Washington’s headquarters, Lafayette’s quarters, troop campsites, a visitor center, museum and gift shop. Hours vary so call ahead.
Brandywine River Museum – 19th century grist mill displays major works of art by 3 generations of Wyeths and other well known American artists.
John Chads House – 1725 farmer’s home for whom Chadds Ford was named!
Open May to Sept, 1 to 5pm, weekends.
Barns Brinton House – Early tavern authentically restored as a living history museum
Open May – Sept, noon to 5pm weekends.
EVENING
Dinner: Choose a great local restaurant including, but not limited to:
Brandywine Prime Steak and Seafood
Fuji Fusion Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Chadds Ford Tavern
Pescatores Italian
Big Cheese Pizza
Concord Steak Shop
The Gables at Chadds Ford

Stay the night
…at one of these fine hotels and B&Bs:
Hamanassett B&B, Chester Heights
Fairville Inn, Chadds Ford
Pennsbury Inn, Chadds Ford
Sweetwater Farm, Glen Mills
Brandywine River Hotel, Chadds Ford
Doubletree Hotel, Wilmington
Staybridge Suites, Wilmington/Brandywine Valley
Hampton Inn and Suites, Glen Mills
Comfort Inn Brandywine Valley, West Chester
Day Three
MORNING into AFTERNOON
Take 202 S. from PA into Wilmington, DE.
Visit Nemours Mansion and Gardens – Modeled on Le Petit Trianon at Versailles, and located on 222 verdant acres with reflecting pond, fountains, parterres and a huge fleur-de-lis jardin. This premier North American estate has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and is simply stunning as both an historic site and landscaped jewel. You will never forget your visit here.
Call for hours and times.

Leave for home…
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