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.

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…