Pumpkins, apple cider, falling leaves … fall is a favorite time of year in Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley.
#VisitWilm is one of the country’s best-kept secrets when it comes to fall foliage.
The autumn colors are absolutely spectacular. The leaves start to change as early as late September, and peak season is usually mid- to late-October. Visit us this season, and explore miles of scenic backroads lined with rock walls from another era and mature trees bursting with hues of amber, auburn, crimson and gold.
We are just a short drive from all major metro areas of the Northeast corridor, and the perfect destination for a romantic escape, girlfriend getaway or last-minute weekend trip.
The other big plus? Everything here is so close together. You’ll have time to do it all. In addition to taking in the brilliant colors of the season, stay at one of our lovely inns or top-notch hotels, indulge in a spa treatment, nosh at an award-winning restaurant, and treat yourself to some (tax-free) retail therapy. Fall is also the perfect time to visit one of our breweries or wineries, enjoying the crisp autumn air as you sip the libation of your choice.
So where are the best places in Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley to leaf peep? Here are 11 of our favorite spots:
The Delaware Nature Society’s headquarters, Ashland Nature Center offers 130 acres of woodlands, meadows, and marshes to explore. The best fall foliage viewing is along the Treetop Trail. It begins along the floodplain below the visitor center building and leads up into a large oak-beech-tulip forest on the hillside overlooking the Red Clay Creek. Also, be sure to bring your binoculars. Every fall, up to 20,000 hawks migrate past its Hawk Watch Hill.
Fall is a great time to stop by Bombay Hook and watch birds against the backdrop of the changing leaves. Take the auto tour loop to view the brilliant fall leaves as well as the changing colors of the tidal marsh grasses. You will also see tons of migrating birds as the refuge is directly in the path of the Atlantic Flyway. Among these are the American Avocet which you are most likely to spy in Raymond Pool, one of several freshwater pools within the refuge. In the fall, the refuge is a popular photography spot among amateur and professional birders.
This one-time nineteenth-century mill is also the former family home of famed illustrator N.C. Wyeth and his son, acclaimed American realist painter Andrew Wyeth. After you’ve viewed the treasured nineteenth- and twentieth- century American artworks that line the museum’s walls, follow the river trail, beginning at the corner of the parking lot near the museum on the riverside, for some spectacular seasonal sights. One of the earliest (and showiest) fall foliage is the Black Gum. It bears up to four colors at the same time. Many wildflowers also bloom here in the fall, adding to the explosion of color.
Hike through the meadows or the forest at Brandywine Creek for stunning fall colors in every direction. One of our favorite trails, the Hidden Pond trail, begins at the nature center and winds through the forest and down to Brandywine Creek. The stone walls throughout the park, built in the 1800s by the du Pont family, make an excellent foreground for foliage photos. Every weekend in October, the park also runs wagon rides. Bring a blanket and picnic, and settle in for a relaxing 30-minute trip to enjoy the autumn colors and picturesque meadows. Warm up with a campfire at the end of your journey.
Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802, later to be known as the DuPont Company, and it now includes restored mills, a workers' community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family. In the fall, the colors are a lovely contrast against the stone buildings, and a stroll along the Brandywine Creek surrounded by ancient trees is a sublime way to spend a fall day. On special days, Hagley offers fall hayrides and fall strolls. Check its events page for details.
Pierre du Pont, who reshaped the family company and brought it into the 20th century, personally designed Longwood Gardens, getting inspiration from lush European gardens he’d seen on his travels. The majestic 1000+ acre gardens are an explosion of color and beauty as are the amazing fountain shows. Beginning October 22, 2020, Longwood celebrates fall’s “official” flower with the Chrysanthemum Festival. The highlight is the Thousand Bloom Mum, the largest chrysanthemum plant outside of Asia. This mammoth mum must be seen to be believed.
This park, one of Delaware’s largest, is home to the state’s largest freshwater pond. Bring along your kayak or canoe and paddle along the pond’s perimeter for a panoramic view of the changing leaves from the water. Make a weekend of it with an overnight stay in the park’s campground. Lums Pond also offers some great fall-themed events including hayrides, bonfires and fall-themed hikes. Check its website for the most up-to-date event information.
This botanical garden just earned a top spot in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. Experience the brilliant hues of fall amidst the towering trees of this naturalistic garden as well as one of the most panoramic views of Brandywine Valley scenery from the back side of the property’s estate house. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the lawn or one of the more secluded nooks found throughout the gardens. Mt. Cuba also offers numerous fall-themed classes, including a fall photography stroll. Click here for the most up-to-date information.
