A lifetime experience to visit historic sites where Revolutionary & Civil Wars battle lines were drawn and changed the U.S. forever.
Those who are looking for out of the box experience have a reason to cheer. The Countryside of Philadelphia offers wide-open spaces and more public gardens than anywhere on the continent. The Countryside and Brandywine Valley in particular, are just a short drive away from Philadelphia and make for the best extended weekend trip. Historically and culturally, the area boasts many museums and gardens which showcase the unique essence of the destination. Explore best of the Countryside’s rich history, culture, and achievements in gardens and nature preservation.
Explore the historic sites where Revolutionary and Civil Wars battle lines were drawn and changed the United States forever. Wander through the Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site as it brings to life the largest engagement of the Revolutionary War, fought on September 11, 1777, between the Continental Army and the British forces. Your next historic stop, take a break to stretch your legs and explore the downtown area of West Chester. Grab a bite to eat at Nudy’s Café, a West Chester breakfast and lunch staple. Then stop by Artillery Brewing Company to taste a crafted brew named for the Battle at Brandywine! Take a self-guided tour through the Paoli Battlefield Historical Park, which commemorates the Battle of Paoli on September 20, 1777.
Brandywine Battle
Next, explore the natural beauty known as “America’s Garden Capital” -home to the largest collection of gardens and arboretums in North America. Spend the morning exploring Chanticleer Garden; it is an oasis of majestic trees and verdant lawns. Foliage and flowers combine with unique containers, plant combinations, and colors. Some highlights of Chanticleer include a ruined garden, a pond garden, and Asian woods. Bridges, benches, paths, and unique stone furniture accentuate the natural landscape to make this “pleasure garden” an unforgettable experience. After a lunch of local farm-to-table fare, enjoy a tour and tasting at one of Pennsylvania’s oldest and largest wineries, Chaddsford Winery.
Stroll the grounds of world-renowned Longwood Gardens which combines the best of Italian, French, and English traditions to create one of America’s most memorable gardens. Longwood encompasses 1,077acres, offering 20 outdoor gardens and a breathtaking conservatory. Longwood is home to the largest collection of fountains in North America. The highlight of this collection is the Main Fountain Garden which features 1,719 jets soaring as high as 175 feet. Enjoy dinner in the outdoor beer garden and as the sun sets marvel at the illuminated fountain performance-set to iconic music.
Start your next day at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library to experience Winterthur’s 1,000-acre country estate encompassing rolling hills, streams, meadows, and forests. Founder Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) developed an appreciation of nature as a boy that served as the basis for his life’s work in the garden. He selected the choicest plants from around the world to enhance the natural setting, arranging them in lyrical color combinations and carefully orchestrating a succession of blooms from late January to November. The Pavilion Café at Winterthur offers delectable selections for lunch or refreshments. Tranquil, stately arboretums round out the horticultural experience in The Countryside of Philadelphia. Wander during the afternoon through Jenkins Arboretum and Garden, one of Pennsylvania’s major horticultural and environmental assets. It preserves and nurtures 46 acres of the natural environment; showcasing native trees, shrubs, rhododendrons, azaleas, laurels, ferns, and wildflowers. Another place of highlight is the Morris Arboretum, the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places. It has over 12,000 plants from North America, Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Japan, and Korea with a focus on Asian temperate species. Some of them are among the largest of their kind in North America while others are exceedingly rare.
Longwood -Tulip Garden
The Countryside of Philadelphia offers experiences for all ages and interests. Spend the day at Marsh Creek State Park and enjoy hiking, boating, and horseback riding. Stroll or ride miles of trails and paths; swim or take a boat out on the 535 -acre Marsh Creek Lake. Plan for picnicking at the park or get lunch at one of the many nearby restaurants. As the sun sets there is no better adventure or view than a hot air balloon ride and float over the rolling countryside landscape. Then dine outdoors choosing from the many restaurants and brewpubs throughout the countryside.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
