Media Contact: Daniel McCunney, Chair
mdmccunney@delmnh.org
(302) 658-9111 x313.
Get the Kids Out of the House and into Museums and Gardens; Save Up to $350
(Wilmington, DE-May 23, 2014) A family of two adults and up to three children under 18 can save up to $350 on visits to eleven Delaware and Pennsylvania art and history museums and public gardens with a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport The Passport period runs from Saturday, May 24, 2014 (the beginning of Memorial Day weekend) through Monday, September 1, 2014 (Labor Day) and entitles users to one-time free admission to each of eleven attractions during that period.
Here is what some families said about their 2013 Passport experiences in a recent survey by the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance, which issues the Passports:
• "All the attractions I was able to visit with my two toddlers showed appreciation and were welcoming. We had an interesting time on all our visits and the children (and I) learned new things ... Thank you for a fun summer 'staycation.'" (Wilmington, DE)
• "Our family really enjoyed working on our passport this summer. I believe in combining education with fun family time. This was perfect!! ... The price was worth it for a family." (Parkesburg, PA)
• "Looking for museums and other Delaware area attractions to take my grandchildren and saw a link to the Passport ... [Longwood Gardens] was my Grandmother's favorite place in the entire world." (Wilmington, DE)
For just $95 for a family (or $45 per adult), visitors receive a Brandywine Treasure Trail Map and a Passport that allows the Passport-holder to visit eleven Brandywine Valley cultural and horticultural attractions: Brandywine River Museum of Art, Delaware Art Museum, The Delaware Contemporary, Delaware Historical Society & Read House, Delaware Museum of Natural History, Hagley Museum and Library, Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center, Nemours Mansion & Gardens, Rockwood Park & Museum, and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library; some restrictions apply.
Here are some examples of family activities included with admission at the attractions this summer:
• Brandywine River Museum of Art - Museum Explorer Mornings, Thursdays in July, 10am or 11am, ages 3 to 10 accompanied by an adult. Guided tour followed by a creative art project. Free with regular museum admission, but registration requested.
• Delaware Art Museum - Visit Kids' Corner, touch the art on the walls, create wall art using pegs and foam pieces, do magnetic art puzzles, and enjoy children's books. Free with admission.
• The Delaware Contemporary - Take in Daniel Cutrone's Objects of Desire (mixed media glass works) and Scott Kip's Illuminated Structures (delicate model-scale structures). Open Tuesday-Sunday. Families can request free exhibit scavenger hunt packets.
• Delaware Historical Society & Read House - experience the Read House & Gardens, a Federal mansion surrounded by one-and-a-half acres of formal gardens. Open Wednesday-Sunday.
• Delaware Museum of Natural History - Family Fun Day at the Museum, Saturday, June 14, 9:30am-4:30pm. An outdoor celebration with live free-flight bird shows, activity stations, a food truck and more. Free with admission.
• Hagley Museum and Library - By Kids, For Kids - EarthWorks: Resources and Nature, Saturday, June 21, 1-4pm. Learn about the rock used to build the mills, which existed before dinosaurs roamed the earth, make edible dirt, help split a stone using a feather and wedge, and fish in the Brandywine. Free with admission.
• Longwood Gardens - See exotic plants, get up close to insect-catching plants, explore treehouses and enjoy dancing fountains that shoot water 130 feet in the air. The new Meadow Garden opens June 13 with three miles of trails and a nature seek and find for kids. See a performance by Recess Monkey on June 28. All included with Gardens admission.
• Mt. Cuba Center - plan a visit on a Friday or Saturday, 10am-4pm and explore gardens, learn about notable natives, and visit a Discovery Station. Guided walks are available at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Plan ahead, bring a meal and enjoy the picnic area, shaded by mature native trees.
• Nemours Mansion & Gardens - Plan a visit for the moms, dads and teens in the family. Guests must be 12 years of age or older; reservations required.
• Rockwood Park & Museum - The Upstairs Downstairs at Rockwood Manor exhibit includes some interactive (please touch) items in The Cook's Room on the first floor. Learn about those who cleaned, cooked, and cared for the families who lived on the estate from 1854-1972. Free with admission.
• Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library - Enchanted Summer Day, June 14, 11am-3pm. A Faerie Cottage, Troll Bridge, arts and crafts, games, music, storytelling and more are planned for this day of make-believe.
The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport Program is a collaboration of the Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance, whose membership consists of select attractions located within a ten-mile radius centered near Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to providing Passport-holders a convenient summer leisure itinerary, the Alliance aims to entice new visitors to each attraction by offering significant savings: the Passport saves a family of five up to $350 and an individual up to $75. Admission to all eleven attractions can total over $445 for a family of five and over $120 for an individual.
Passports will be available May 24, 2014 at all eleven member sites and at the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau. Or don't leave home at all: purchase online now at www.brandywinetreasures.org and have a Passport delivered by mail in time for Father's Day or graduation.
Passports are non-refundable and non-transferable. If lost or stolen, passports cannot be replaced. Valid for one general admission visit at each site. Passports are only valid May 24-September 1, 2014, regardless of purchase date. Not valid for special events or tours. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply; guests are encouraged to visit the Alliance website or call specific attractions for details.
Reservations are required at Nemours Mansion & Gardens, and Longwood Gardens and Winterthur Museum both require timed tickets. Make time for a meal or tea at Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Hagley Museum and Library, Longwood Gardens and Winterthur, and for award winning gift shops at nearly all of the attractions.
The passport program is funded, in part, by the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For more information, visit our website, and join us on on Facebook and Twitter. High-resolution images are available upon request.
About Us
The Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance promotes the art, culture, history, and beauty of the Brandywine Valley, and provides a central resource for journalists. For more information, visit www.brandywinetreasures.org or contact Michelle Ullman, 610-388-5275, mullman@longwoodgardens.org
Brandywine Museums & Gardens Alliance Members
Brandywine River Museum of Art, U.S. Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA 19317; www.brandywinemuseum.org. Lora Englehart, 610-388-8337; lenglehart@brandywine.org.
Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806; www.delart.org. Jessica Jenkins, 302-351-8558; jjenkins@delart.org.
The Delaware Contemporary, 200 S. Madison St., Wilmington, DE 19801; www.thedcca.org. Sara Monserrat Teixido, 302-656-6466, x. 7110; steixido@thedcca.org.
Delaware Historical Society (includes Delaware History Museum in Wilmington and George Read II House and Gardens in New Castle), 504 Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801; www.dehistory.org. MaryLynn Mack, 302-295-2390; MLMack@dehistory.org.
Delaware Museum of Natural History, 4840 Kennett Pike, Delaware Route 52, Wilmington, DE 19807; www.delmnh.org. Daniel McCunney, 302-658-9111, dmccunney@delmnh.org.
Hagley Museum and Library, DE Route 141, Wilmington, DE 19807; www.hagley.org. Meg Marcozzi, 302-658-2400, ext. 238; mmarcozzi@hagley.org.
Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348; www.longwoodgardens.org. Michelle Ullman, 610-388-5275; mullman@longwoodgardens.org.
Mt. Cuba Center, Inc., 3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE 19707; www.mtcubacenter.org. Sara Stevenson, 302-239-4244 ext. 243; sstevenson@mtcubacenter.org.
Nemours Mansion & Gardens, Alapocas Drive and Powder Mill Road (DE Route 141), Wilmington, DE 19803; www.nemoursmansion.org. Steven Maurer, 302-651-6912, smaurer@nemours.org.
Rockwood Park & Museum, 610 Shipley Rd., Wilmington, DE 19805; www.rockwood.org. Carey Corbin, 302-761-1722; ccorbin@nccde.org.
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, DE Route 52, Winterthur, DE 19735; www.winterthur.org. Liz Farrell, 302-888-4803; lfarrell@winterthur.org.
Tourist Boards
Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, 100 West 10th St., Wilmington, DE 19801-1661; 302-652-4088. www.visitwilmingtonde.com.
Brandywine Conference & Visitors Bureau, 1501 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063, 800-343-3983. www.brandywinecvb.org.
Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 300 Greenwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 484-770-8550. www.brandywinevalley.com.
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