A Girls Trip to Wilmington
As you and your gal pals are planning your getaway, start by insisting that everyone purchase her own Individual Passport to the Brandywine Treasure Trail. At only $45, you’ll each save over $100 on admissions and access to some of the best attractions in Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley. We recommend you start your trip by getting lost in the incredible detail and decadence of the royal family at the “Costuming THE CROWN” exhibition hosted by Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.
Don your most status-forward frocks and accessories when you attend the exhibit at Winterthur! You’ll experience “Costuming THE CROWN” in four sections: Establishing Roles, Dressing the Part, Creating Character and Capturing the Image. Throughout the exhibit, you can spend all the time you like getting up close to 40 of the most iconic costumes from the show--inspired by the real lives of the royals.
Next, head outside. See incredible sculptures and fountains, walk a path under blooming trees and be awed by artist’s visions in blooms. Take in the gardens and newly renovated main fountain garden at Longwood Gardens. The warm weather brings an incredible spectacle of natural hues. Blue-poppies are a rare and wonderful sight; a flower native to the Himalayan Mountains, it isn’t often cultivated outside its natural habitat. As you stroll around, you’ll see varying shades of red, yellow, orange and of course the rich and wonderful greens.
Finally, visit a little slice of France right here in Wilmington. Nemours Estate is the home of the finest formal French gardens in the United States and is modeled after Versailles. The estate includes a 77-room mansion, 200 acres to stroll around and even a Chauffer’s Garage for vintage vehicle fans. Other stops to consider on your gals weekend include Mt. Cuba Center, Read House & Gardens, and the Delaware Art Museum, among others, all included in your Passport.
Family Escape to the Brandywine Valley
Kids of all ages get plenty of hands-on fun at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. This is the place to come and explore all things related to animals and nature. Museum researchers maintain the extraordinary collections of mollusks and birds. Visitors are awed by the dinosaur collection, and children under 10 get to go hands-on in the Nature Nook, where they can hear stories, meet animals, make crafts and learn by doing.
It’s never too early to expose your children to truly incredible works of art. While you’re in the area, spend a morning at the Brandywine River Museum of Art. Housed in a 19th-century mill, the museum is best known for its holdings of the Wyeth family of artists with landscapes, still life paintings and portraits.
History comes to life at the Hagley Museum. It’s set along the banks of the Brandywine and is the site of the gunpowder works founded by the du Pont family in 1802! Visitors can walk among the many exhibitions including restored mills, and the ancestral home and garden of the du Pont family, spread along the 235 acres owned by the museum and library. Set aside time to experience demonstrations and every exhibition that piques the curiosity of your family.
When you purchase a Family Passport, you’ll save up to $516 on admissions to the included museums and gardens when used with a family of five. And if you really want to boost the fun for the whole family, plan your visit to coincide with one of Wilmington’s many festivals – this makes the perfect weekend escape!
Download our Visitor’s Guide to plan every detail of your trip to Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley and learn more about the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.
