Itineraries

Begin your journey through the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway by traveling to Wilmington, Delaware, located just 32 miles south of Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Those arriving by plane at the Philadelphia International Airport or driving in on Interstate 95 from points north can consider taking the Constitutional Walking Tour in Philadelphia and touring the Philadelphia Museum of Art if time allows, prior to arriving in Wilmington. Downtown Wilmington offers an ample selection of lodging options, none more famous than the elegant Hotel du Pont. After checking into your accommodations, stroll through Rodney Square and explore the many dining options on Market Street or catch a show at the esteemed Grand Opera House.

On Day 2, begin your Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway tour by first visiting the Delaware Art Museum located on the Kentmere Parkway. Afterwards, walk through beautiful Rockford Park on the Brandywine and climb the iconic Rockford Tower. For lunch, take a short drive north on Kennett Pike (Route 52) into Greenville to choose from several cafes and restaurants. After lunch, visit the Hagley Museum and Library and/or the Du Pont Nemours Estate before settling into your accommodations at the Inn at Montchanin and treating yourself to a fine dinner at Krazy Kat's, housed in the Village of Montchanin's former blacksmith shop.

Begin Day 3 with Brandywine Valley scenery and exercise by hiking trails at Brandywine Creek State Park or, if you'd rather not pay an in-season entrance fee, make the short drive to hidden gem, Valley Garden Park. After some morning air, take Route 52 to the Winterthur Museum, where you can tour the massive period estate and gardens of H.B. Du Pont. Grab lunch at the museum's onsite cafe or make the short trip up Kennett Pike (Route 52) to Buckley's Tavern in Centreville. Plan your afternoon and evening to provide ample time to tour Longwood Gardens where you have the option of having dinner onsite. Travel back down Route 52 to spend the night at the Mendenhall Inn in the Village of Mendenhall, which features a terrific restaurant for a dinner option.

Make Day 4 an evocative Brandywine Valley experience! Begin with a drive through the valley, taking Cossart Road to Creek Road (Historic PA 100) northbound into Chadds Ford. Grab coffee and a light breakfast at the Brandywine Museum of Art's Riverview Cafe followed by a tour of the museum galleries and optional (in season) tour of the Andrew Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth studios. Once finished at the museum, have lunch at one of the many restaurants in Chadds Ford and shop the Pennsbury-Chadds Ford Antique Mall and/or the Brandywine River Antiques Market for that unique gift or treasure you've always wanted. Finish your afternoon with a self-guided walk around the Brandywine Battlefield Park and learn about the 1777 Battle of Brandywine (Revolutionary War). Finish the day taking the scenic route cross- valley into Kennett Square by way of bucolic Hillendale Road. Check into your accommodations at the historic Kennett House hotel on Hessian Hill where you can easily walk into downtown Kennett Square to select from an assortment of great restaurants for dinner.

Let the peace and tranquility of the Brandywine Valley overcome you on Day 5 by beginning with a visit to the Longwood Progressive Friends Meeting House, a historic Quaker place of worship that played an important role in the anti- slavery movement. Follow that by taking a mid-morning drive up Creek Road, beginning from Route 1 in Chadds Ford. Stop briefly at the John Chads House, a symbol of endurance and relic of colonial America that provides testament to the determination and ingenuity of early American settlers. Continue north along Creek Road and turn left onto Route 52, travelling into Pocopson Township, where the family and kids might enjoy the Pocopson Park playground, walk the trails past historic Barnard Station (underground railroad site), or play on the tennis and basketball courts. Seeking more adventure? Schedule a (May-October) canoe, kayak or tubing trip with Northbrook Canoe Co. along the beautiful Brandywine – jewel of the Byway. Grab lunch at the nearby Northbrook Marketplace followed by a refreshing ice cream at Baily’s Dairy before returning on Route 52 eastbound into West Chester. Spend the afternoon exploring shops in downtown West Chester and take time to visit the Chester County History Center exhibits. Check into your accommodations at the Bookhouse Inn at Faunbrook and then drive into West Chester for dinner at any number of world-class restaurants. For a pre-cocktail wayside attraction, check out the historic West Chester Railroad station at East Market and Railroad Street.

Savor each remaining moment of your Byway sojourn on Day 6 by enjoying a country-style breakfast at Two Birds Cafe. Afterwards, take Strasburg Road west and then S. Creek Road to the Stroud Preserve where you will be treated to some of the most expansive and breathtaking scenery and views in all of the Brandywine Valley. Many artists have been inspired by the landscape before you, so be sure to take photos! Feel free to hike through the preserve and then take S. Creek Road southbound to Route 52, where you will enjoy a scenic drive that meanders along the Brandywine. Turn eastbound onto Route 52 and make your way to Baldwin's Book Barn where you can lose yourself in thousands of rare and common used books housed in a historic barn with lots of little nooks and crannies -- a hidden delight for even the non-readers amongst us! The West Chester Pizza Cafe on Route 52 will offer a comforting (and delicious) lunch before leaving town, with the convenience of a gas station next door.

The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway bids you farewell with fond memories of a rich and pleasurable journey and hopes for your return to a timeless tapestry of gentle lands and flowing waters that is art itself!

Whether arriving at Philadelphia International Airport or driving in from outside the region, West Chester, Pennsylvania is an easy 25-mile drive west of Philadelphia. Begin your Pennsylvania Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway experience by walking through historic downtown West Chester. If there’s time, be sure to check out the exhibits and tours offered at the Chester County History Center. Afterwards, check into your charming accommodations at the historic (1862) family-owned and operated Bookhouse Inn at Faunbrook. For dinner, consider making reservations at Ground Provisions for a culinary treat on the edge of the historic Brandywine Battlefield or choose from any number of fantastic options in walkable West Chester!

Begin Day 2 with a country-style breakfast at Two Birds Café and then take Strasburg Road west to S. Creek Road for a morning hike at the Stroud Preserve where you will be instantly immerged into a timeless and bucolic Brandywine Valley landscape. After a little fresh air, continue down scenic S. Creek Road into the Village of Chadds Ford and visit its array of local shops. Spend the afternoon at Longwood Gardens, which offers lunchtime dining options and endless horticultural splendor in both indoor and outdoor settings featuring world-class gardens and fountain displays. Afterwards, continue for an early evening drive down Creek Road (Historic PA 100) and cut over on Cossart Road to take Route 52 north back to Route 202 where you will pass through and have the opportunity to stop at several historic villages before driving into Kennett Square for a downtown stroll and dinner. The Fairville Inn, located in the Fairville Historic District on Route 52, or any number of lodgings in Kennett Square or Chadds Ford, will offer a comfortable and restful night’s sleep. The Inn at Whitewing Farm is also an option for those looking to remain close to Longwood Gardens while enjoying the Bed and Breakfast options within the Byway.

Begin Day 3 with a trip to the Brandywine Museum of Art where you can enjoy morning coffee and a light breakfast overlooking the Brandywine Creek from the indoor Riverview Café, followed by gallery viewing and optional (seasonal) tours of the Andrew Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth studios. Before leaving town for home, grab a quick lunch in the Village of Chadds Ford and then stop for a self-guided walk around the Brandywine Battlefield Park on Route 202 to view the hallowed grounds of the Battle of Brandywine, one of the American Revolution’s largest battles, land across which General George Washington himself traversed.

The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway bids you farewell with fond memories of a rich and pleasurable journey and hopes for your return to a timeless tapestry of gentle lands and flowing waters that is art itself!