WHY GO: There are things to do in Kennett Square PA, in Chester County, that has nothing to do with one of best public gardens in the world – Longwood Gardens – located just three miles away.
Yes, Kennett Square sits within a choice corner of Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley, a short drive west of Philadelphia, that’s been called “America’s Garden Capital.” With 31 world-class horticultural assets within a 30-mile radius, Brandywine Valley encompasses the greatest concentration of public gardens on the continent.
The typical tourist comes to Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley and Chester County PA to see the world-famous Longwood Gardens, and then leaves. But there are other things to do in Chester County for lovers of art, flowers, mushrooms, books, ice-cream, and – um – lovers in general.
Come to see the gardens, then stay to eat some fungi in the Mushroom Capital of the World, followed by ice-cream on farms and shops, and step into the “inner sanctums” of three generations of Wyeth artists.
Of course, all while staying in amazing inns and eating the best cuisine this spectacular region has to offer. Combine this getaway with a deeper dive into West Chester PA.
And this more of Chester County PA – including a very decadent Ice Cream Trail, for a longer respite from urban life.
The Brandywine Valley area encompasses the city of Wilmington DE, where you’ll find incredible Du Pont family historic sites, including the Hagley Museum, Winterthur, Nemours, and Historic Odessa, and Revolutionary War and Civil War sites.
Brandywine Valley PA joins this roster of Top Romantic Getaways in Pennsylvania. You might just get some more romantic getaway ideas.
Things To Do In Kennett Square PA And Brandywine Valley
VISIT: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square
With 11,000 plants on over 1,000 acres, and programming to make a media executive humble, Longwood Gardens has been called a “wildly extraordinary place.” It’s Brandywine Valley’s biggest draw by far, bringing in over a million visitors a year.
One would think that there’s no room for improvement – but Big News! Longwood recently undertook an over $250 million “reimagining,” which brought more acreage under glass (17 acres, in fact), a 32,000 sq. ft “Chrystal Palace” over water, a Bonsai court, Cascade Garden, Mediterranean-style, walks and canals, restaurants, and more.
Although scheduled to be fully complete by Fall 2024, Longwood still provides a stunning indoor and outdoor experience.
Gardeners change out flower beds in the main sun-drenched Conservatory room weekly. As does Mother Nature, Longwood Gardens transforms with the seasons. So even if you come often, you’ll never see the same flowers twice.
The Meadows and Webb Farmhouse Galleries
Meander along three miles of boardwalks and grassy paths that undulate through and around this wide plain. Watch for hawks and other birds that frequent this open area. Climb the hill up to the Webb Farmhouse and you’ll be rewarded with a stop into a small art gallery and bathrooms!
DuPont’s Masterpiece
Pierce’s Park, one of the nation’s finest collections of trees, was originally part of a William Penn Land Grant. in 1907, it was in danger of falling into the hands of a lumber mill. Pierre Du Pont, hobby horticulturist and head of both Du Pont Corp. and General Motors, purchased the property and designed his very first garden on what was to become one of the Earth’s most magnificent public attractions.
Du Pont, a M.I.T Engineering grad, built the 4.5-acre indoor Conservatory in 1919 in order to grow vegetables year round. And then, in 1925, after a trip to Italy, he was inspired to fashion the breathtaking 600-jet Italian Water Garden. Du Pont designed the complicated and intricate hydraulic system himself.
Du Pont’s Home
There’s plenty to do on nearly 1,100 acres, but to understand the history of Longwood Gardens, stop in to Du Pont’s home on the property: initially the 1780 Pierce House. The second wing, separated by a small indoor Conservatory, was added in 1915 after Pierre married Alice.
The Main Fountain Garden reopened after a $92 million renovation in 2017. First built in 1931, the plaza, rooftop, and interior grotto are now welcoming spaces once again, and add to the overall grandeur of the place.
For the Festival of Fountains, fountains dance and soar up to 175 feet and Illuminated Fountain Performances take center stage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings in season. 
The Conservatory houses quite possibly the most exquisite restroom area on the planet. Creeping vines that form the “Largest Greenwall in North America” frame the doors to each of a dozen private privies. If you have to go, you’ll want to go here. Check website for current days open, hours, and entry fees.
AMAZING HISTORY: Einstein at Lincoln University, Near Kennett Square
Although Kennett Square is not a college town (like West Chester), Lincoln University – an HBCU institution – is just 15 minutes away. Interestingly, Lincoln U invited Albert Einstein to receive an honorary degree after the end of WWII. Appalled by Jim Crow laws and blatant racism in the USA at the time, not only did Einstein gladly accepted the honor, but, On May 3, 1946, he was warmly received at Lincoln U, and lectured physics students on his Theory of Relativity. This episode in history was buried for years.
EXPLORE: Birch Street, Kennett Square
Entrepreneurs and visionaries have taken a sleepy, industrial street in Kennett Square and turned it into the place to be to chill, drink beer and spirits, and soon, to bed down in a repurposed hotel called ARTELO. Right now, find the following on burgeoning Birch St.
The Creamery
Though it sounds like an ice-cream shop, The Creamery was a former milk plant. It’s now a cool and funky indoor-outdoor gathering spot and eatery: and, according to its ads, “more than just a beer garden.”
Outside, there are plenty of lawn games, seating, pin lights, and inside a vast space to enjoy fresh fast food. Filed under “If you build it, they will come,” – The Creamery fast became a local go-to to meet up with friends.
Braeloch Brewery
This craft brewery is located inside a 1903 trolley barn. Although it served other purposes over the years, Braeloch Brewery is the latest to make its home here – and has joined other establishments on Birch Street in popularity and interest.
West Branch Distillery and Chaikhana Chai Brewing Station and Café
Right behind Braeloch Brewery, West Branch Distillery operates within what was once a brick storage building, and shares space with Chaikhana Chai Brewing Station and Café.
Although the distillery is not open to the public – it does host pubic events and can be rented for events. Next door, you can enjoy a hot or cold chai drink at the Café. Check websites for hours and events.
SHOP: Favorites in Kennett Square
Clean Slate Goods
You’ll find plenty to like at the ethically sourced, mostly handmade, purveyor of jewelry, pottery, lotions, kids and baby gifts, clothing and more: Clean Slate Goods.
Mrs. Robinsons Tea and Sweet Shop
Displays are adorable both on the tea side and sweets side of the old-fashioned looking, forward thinking, Mrs. Robinsons Tea and Sweet Shop. I found all of my nostalgic “penny candies” from the 60’s here, including wax lips and candy cigarettes.
SHOP/VISIT: The Woodlands at Phillips Mushroom Farm
A bit out of town, learn how the mushrooms grow and taste for yourself at . Situated among about a dozen “mushroom houses,” The Woodlands at Phillips Mushrooms’ retail shop sells everything fungi – with a small exhibit.
VISIT/TOUR: Brandywine Museum of Art and Wyeth Artist Studios, Chadds Ford (10 Minutes from Kennett Square)
The Brandywine River Valley is ground-zero for the prolific Wyeth family. Happily, you can compare the work of all three generations of Wyeths in one place at the Brandywine Museum of Art and Artist Studios. Observe NC’s cruder, prop-driven oils (he did not consider himself a “fine painter”), Andy’s photo-like detail with an almost tactile aspect, and Jamie’s stunning and whimsical work. For example, he painted a portrait of Nureyev on corrugated cardboard.
But visitors won’t want to miss independent tours of NC’s Home and Studio (built with commissions earned from illustrating Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans and other books for Scribner Publishing), Andrew’s home studio, and the Kuerner Farm – the subject of many an Andrew Wyeth painting.
Andrew Wyeth’s Studio-Home Tour
Andy’s hideaway home/studio, a repurposed schoolhouse – was his “inner sanctum.” It opened to the public after he died in 2009. Take the tour for an intimate look at his working process and home life with wife Betsy (who passed away in May 2020) and two sons, Nick and Jamie.
Andrew’s studio is just as he left it. Large windows cast natural light on watercolor studies scattered beneath his easel. A dozen cracked eggs indicate the type of tempera paint he used (egg tempera, one of the toughest paints to mix and apply). And the wall above his phone remains just as he left it – covered with penciled-in names and phone numbers – some still in use. Consult website for times open, tour dates, and admission fees.
Wyeth Studio Tour is one of the most quirky-romantic places to propose in PA.
VISIT: Sanderson Museum, Chadds Ford
These days we’d call itinerant Chris Sanderson a hoarder. He kept everything that came into his possession. But NC Wyeth took a liking to this young man who taught school for years in what was to become his son Andrew’s home and studio. So NC found this place for Sanderson and his mother in 1937, which became the eclectic Sanderson Museum after his death.
Now, you can witness one man’s obsession is crammed into eight rooms. There’s everything from maps to historical posters; cannonballs and other memorabilia from the Battle of Brandywine; an extensive autograph collection including those of Queen Victoria, Babe Ruth and Woodrow Wilson; and portraits of Sanderson painted by NC Wyeth.
This quirky home museum is billed as “A Man’s History; A Nation’s Heritage.” Don’t miss the very first “museum guest” register with doodles by both NC and Andrew Wyeth. See website for dates open, hours, and admission cost.
VISIT/SHOP: The Mushroom Cap, Kennett Square
Kennett Square is called the Mushroom Capital of the World for a reason. Over 500 million pounds of mushrooms, representing 55% of the nation’s total, come from Chester County, PA. So it behooves you to discover the mysteries of the ‘shroom by stopping in to the Mushroom Cap, which serves as both shop and museum.
Sit on a toadstool (of course) to watch a 12 minute video. You’ll learn that mushrooms are the largest cash crop in PA; pound for pound they have more potassium than bananas; and are the only produce that contain Vitamin D. Sure, mushrooms are grown indoors in manure, but the poop, thankfully, is sterilized.
So, order the freshest 3 lb box. Or spring for a year-round Mushroom of the Month Club. At the very least try “the Cap’s” proprietary dehydrated “Snack ‘N Shrooms.” So tasty!
Restaurants In Kennett Square And Nearby
COFFEE: Philter, Kennett Square
There’s a nice hang-out vibe at Philter, which, many say, serves the best artisanal coffee in town.
EAT: Café Emis
From clean juices to vegan gyro’s – Café Emis is a favorite little spot on Kennett Square’s main street.
TASTE: Chaddsford Winery, Chadds Ford
Opened in 1982 (the first in the country), the eye-catching Chaddsford Winery excels in the lesser-known French-American hybrid – red Chambourcin grape. But it’s been gaining a following with its more serious (read: dry) wines lately.
The best way to test out Chaddsford’s Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rose, Red Blends, and Vignoles wines is by signing up for a festive, informative one hour wine-pairing experience in the Barrel Room, where, “classroom style,” you’ll learn all about the Five S’s of Wine.
Integrate Sight, Swirl, Smell, Sip, and Savor into your wine-tasting experience along with 7 other couples or groups at tables a proper distance from each other. Nibble on wine, cheese, chocolate, and salsa, paired with whites, reds, roses, and bubbly wines – Harbinger, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Chamberson and more – being one of the winery’s most popular. Check website for event dates, times, and costs.
EAT: Hank’s Place, Chadds Ford
* Hank’s Place suffered a devastating flood in 2021, and is now rebuilding on its original footprint. A second Hank’s opened in Kennett Square, offering the same “home cooking” as the original.
Hank’s Place remains an icon in the area, due to the fact that when he was alive, Andrew Wyeth was a frequent patron. Wyeth would sit at the counter, and order his favorite home-cooked meals. When rebuilt in Chadds Ford, Hank’s fresh “Homestyle Cooking” will no doubt remain a nothing-fancy but comfort-food landmark in town.
EAT: The Whip Tavern, Coatesville
Formerly a run-down biker bar, you’ll find this Brit-i-sized pub, The Whip Tavern, at a crossroads far from town, surrounded by undulating hills as green as the Emerald Isles. Do you crave Scotch Eggs, Bubble and Squeak, Bangers and Mash, Welsh Rarebit, Shepherd’s Pie, or a bit of Curried Lamb to go with the most refreshing hard ciders (and beer) on tap? You’re in luck! Save room for the house-favorite dessert, Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is sure to make you forget those pesky Weight Watchers points.
EAT: Talula’s Table, Kennett Square
By day, grab fresh baked breads, cheeses, soups and other locally sourced prepared food to either take out or enjoy at one of the butcher block tables. At 7pm, however, Tues-Sun, Tulula’s Table transforms into hotspot for a special “Farm Table Dinner.” Only 8-12 people can indulge in this exceptional 8-course meal per night; just don’t expect to get a seat for at least a year. Check website for availability and costs.
EAT: Locals Also Love in Kennett Square
Kennett Square locals do love their Italian – with both La Tavola and La Verona cited as some of the best restaurants in town. They join Portobello’s, The Naked Olive, and Michoacana Grill (Mexican food restaurant, right across the street from The Bookstore Hotel: see below) as top choices.
Hotels In Kennett Square, Chester County PA
STAY: Bookhouse Hotel, Kennett Square
If your fantasy is staying inside a bookstore overnight – with luxury appointments, and a bathroom seemingly ripped from the pages of a romance novel – then, you’re in luck.
The four-bedroom Bookhouse Hotel, in Kennett Square PA, delivers. Far from commonplace, the Bookhouse has won accolades for its stylish and witty décor.
But you might be thinking, four rooms does not a “Hotel” make. And, with “contactless entry” and no breakfast or dining, you may be right. But The Bookhouse is more like a boutique hotel than a simple guest-house – with rooms that are the at the apex of comfort, coolness, and bookish creativity.
Books abound in every room, piled on furniture, and arrayed on shelves Read them here, but don’t take them home (they are part of the décor). If you start one that you can’t put down, you can order it via a QR Code in the room.
Room 3- The Writer’s Den
There are two sets of narrow curved stairs in Room 3 – The Writer’s Den: one from the front entrance to the main bedroom. Another takes you from bedroom up to a reading and writing nook.
Room 3 is a two-story suite – with a small kitchenette, a couple of sitting rooms (upstairs and down), and King bed.
Each of you can command a writing desk. One in the bedroom sports a manual Remington typewriter. In the upstairs nook, there are a couple of chairs – and a simple wooden desk that could have been used by, perhaps, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The bed is bouncy and oh so soft, with a billowing white duvet. There, you can read by the light of the illuminated cursive sign on the wall behind you that says: One More Chapter. It’s just one of the cutsie decorative elements in the room.
Now, the bathroom. Sexy claw-foot tub – black finish with silver feet; black tiled walls; black and white floor; marble-topped 1920’s-era sink – it’s a room that can most assuredly put you in the mood.
Food and Drink
The Bookhouse Hotel does not have any kind of food service but walk up the street a minute to several coffee shops (open at 7am) for your morning perk, and across the street to the very good Michoacana Grill for Mexican food.
