Taking a brief vacation can do wonders for the mind and body. It’s a chance to escape the daily routine and an opportunity to explore something unexpected. If you are looking for a change of scenery, Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley is your destination to get away from it all. Though it is winter, there is no shortage of things to do here. Because it’s the off-season, you can take full advantage of great hotel rates with little crowds. 

Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library will remain open through the winter, something it does not typically do. This means you can explore the estate and lovely gardens in their winter splendor (the snowdrops have started to bloom) in blissful solitude.

The kids will love a trip to the Brandywine Zoo. This lovely little haven for a surprising variety of animals recently added a new Madagascar exhibit. If you visit around mealtime, you’ll hear the bombastic calling of the endangered Lemurs that reside here as they wait enthusiastically for their food.

Or, take a winter hike through White Clay Creek State Park. Keep an eye out for groundhogs (a.k.a. whistle pigs) as they begin to emerge from hibernation.

The Riverwalk along the Wilmington Riverfront and its extension, the Jack A. Markell Trail, are also excellent options if you want to take in the scenery and stretch your legs.

Along the Riverwalk, you will also find an impressive variety of restaurants … offering many great options for a tasty dinner or lunch. Market Street in downtown Wilmington, Trolley Square and Greenville are a few other destinations within Wilmington that offer exceptional dining to satisfy every appetite and every palate. If you are into microbrews or love wine, making a few stops along our wine and beer trails is a fine way to spend a winter afternoon.

Another benefit of it being the off-season? Our hotels are offering some excellent deals and packages right now.

The Hilton Wilmington/Christiana is offering a “Longwood in Luxury” package that includes two tickets to one of America’s most beloved gardens, breakfast for two, and an overnight stay in this lovely, centrally-located property.

Lodging Options

Want to make it a long weekend? AAA members can save up to 15 percent on weekend stays! You have two properties to choose from three excellent Homewood Suites properties: Homewood Suites Wilmington Downtown in our thriving Riverfront area, Homewood Suites Wilmington-Brandywine Valley at the gateway to Chateau Country, and Homewood Suites Newark/Wilmington South conveniently located by the University of Delaware.

Stay in what was once part of the du Pont family’s Winterthur estate and explore the Brandywine Valley with the Inn at Montchanin’s Great Escape package. It includes one night in one of this historic inn’s lavish rooms or suites, a three-course meal at its gourmet restaurant, Krazy Kats. Add in a spa treatment for some extra pampering.

Click here for more information on area hotels and their special offers.

So WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Come see what Travel & Leisure is raving about! Treat yourself to a winter escape in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley. Book your stay today! For more travel ideas and bespoke itinerary suggestions (via our live chat), visit www.wilmingtonde.com.